Materials Needed

• A variety of leaves (different shapes, sizes, and colors)
• Glue stick or white craft glue
• Construction paper or cardstock (light-colored background works best)
• Googly eyes (optional, or draw your own with a marker)
• Markers or crayons
• Scissors (kid-safe)

Instructions

1. Collect Leaves
   Take a little nature walk and gather leaves. Try to find round ones (for beetles or ladybugs), long ones (for dragonfly wings), and pointy ones (for antennae or legs).
2. Create the Bug’s Body
   
   • Use a large oval or round leaf for the bug’s main body.
   • Add a smaller leaf on top for the head.
3. Add Wings & Legs
   
   • Dragonfly: two long skinny leaves on each side.
   • Ladybug: one large round leaf, cut down the middle for wings.
   • Beetle: oval leaves layered for a hard shell.
4. Decorate
   
   • Glue on googly eyes or draw them.
   • Use markers to add spots, stripes, or antennae.
   • Draw extra legs around the leaves to complete the bug.
5. Make a Bug Collection
   Create different bugs on the same paper—a butterfly, beetle, dragonfly, ladybug—turn it into a “Leaf Bug Zoo”!

Extension Ideas

• 3D Bugs: Glue your leaf bugs onto popsicle sticks to make puppets.
• Bug Habitat: Draw grass, flowers, or a tree around them so the bugs have a home.
• Learning Twist: Label the bugs with names and fun facts (great for older kids).