How to Make an Easy Paper Ladybug Craft

August 11, 2022

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Learn how to make a fun paper ladybug craft with a math twist! Your child will practice counting and subitizing in this simple hands-on craft activity.

Learning Goals

This activity will help your child:

Subitize groups of two, three and five
Practice counting
Develop fine motor skills

Materials

Empty toilet paper rolls
Red and black construction paper
Glue stick
Black markers or crayons
Scissors
Googly eyes (optional)

Vocabulary

Subitizing is the ability to quickly identify the number of items in a small set without counting out loud. For example, you look at your kitchen table and see four chairs by scanning it instantly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the ladybug’s wings. Use the red construction paper to cut out a circle. You can have your child use a round object, such as the bottom of a cup, to trace the circle. Cut the circle in half. These are the ladybug’s wings! Make five dots on the ladybug’s wings with a marker or crayon.

2. Make the ladybug’s body. Use the black construction paper to cut out a circle for the body and a smaller circle for the head. Glue the small circle on top of the larger circle to form the ladybug’s body. Then, glue the ladybug’s wings to its body.

3. Decorate the head. Draw the ladybug’s eyes with markers or crayons (or you can use googly eyes). Cut out two rectangles for the antennae and glue them to the ladybug’s head.

4. Add the legs. Cut out six rectangles for the legs and glue them on each side. (Optional: Glue the ladybug onto the toilet paper roll to make it stand).

5. Practice subitizing! Ask your child how many eyes and how many antennae there are on the ladybug. You can say, “How many antennae can you see? How many eyes?” Help your child recognize groups of two. Ask how many eyes the child has, how many arms, legs, ears, etc.

6. Continue to count and recognize groups of three with the legs and groups up five with the five spots (when using two ladybugs, there are 10 spots). Ask your child, “Without counting the ladybug’s dots, how many dots can you see? How did you figure out there were five dots?”

Keep the Conversation Going

Work with your child to make up stories about your ladybug using twos, fives, and tens. For example, “My ladybug wants to rest beneath two leaves. My ladybug wants to have five friends. My ladybug wants to eat 10 aphids.” You can make your own book about your ladybugs.
Have your child look for household items in groups of two, five or 10 and practice recognition of the group, like two shoes, five spoons and 10 toys.

Book Suggestions

“123" / "La pequeña oruga glotona 1 2 3”by Eric Carle (Ages 3-5)
In this beautifully illustrated book, children will count from 1-10 while meeting new animals and comparing dots on each page. Use this storybook guide by DREME with the book.