BBC Teach has a collection of short videos for KS1 that explain the characteristics of minibeasts and insects and how minibeasts use camouflage.

Cody the Caterpillar by Twinkl Originals - Cody loves being a caterpillar, but all her friends keep telling her how nice it will be when she finally turns into a butterfly. She’s nervous about the change, so will she be brave enough to do it? This story is great for teaching butterfly lifecycles and how to deal with change.Generally speaking, no, the majority of minibeasts can’t swim. If they fall into a body of water, they are likely to flap around until they get out, but this is purely a survival instinct. Worms are a special case because they can technically survive underwater for several weeks at a time, as they can absorb oxygen through their skin. However, they still can’t swim. You could also add the Don't Hog the Hedge! eBook to your collection and encourage more discussion around the creatures and minibeasts who live in specific environments. There are tons of different types of minibeast that can be found all over the world, but here are a few common minibeasts for kids to spot in gardens and parks! This list contains a lovely selection of minibeast books for early years, both fiction and non-fiction, that can be used to support your teaching on this fun and engaging topic. These brilliant stories include 'The Bugliest Bug' by Carol Diggory Shields, 'The Bad Tempered Ladybird' by Eric Carle, 'Snail Trail' by Ruth Brown, and lots more, to help you plan some fun and exciting lessons for the little ones. Our Cautious Caterpillar eBook is a lovely story to read in your EYFS setting with an autumnal theme. This beautifully illustrated story is also available as a PowerPoint.

Stories will provide the means for vocabulary growth. With a broader range of vocabulary, they’ll become both more fluent readers and writers.

Storytelling is a great way to engage young children in a relaxing and calming activity. You can use these great suggestions of minibeast books for early years children to help you plan your provisions and target skills in all seven skill development areas. Why not try some themed extension activities? You could use our Incy Wincy Spider Collection to support teaching on Keith Chapman's version of the favoured nursery rhyme. A great story is one that can teach us not just about the topic it covers but about ourselves and the world around us. It is rare to find a book which gives a completely different and exciting perspective on a historical figure, particularly those aimed at younger readers, so ‘Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular’ is a particularly delightful read. Minibeasts can be found in almost every area of the UK. They are most commonly found in wooded areas, like parks for example. However, because of urbanisation it's not unusual to find minibeasts right on your doorstep. As long as they have the necessary means to live like food and a suitable habitat - minibeasts can pretty much thrive anywhere in the UK!

Reading will ensure that young children develop early literacy skills. Early literacy development starts within the first three years of a child's life. It supports all their other future reading, along with writing, language development, and the ability to process speech sounds. So, now we know what minibeasts eat, what eats minibeasts? Well, as discussed before, some creatures, like spiders, will feed on other minibeasts. In addition to this, there are a wide range of animals who eat minibeasts as part of their standard diet. These animals include: To teach the fantastic topic of minibeasts at KS1, you can use our incredible range of minibeasts for kids UK teaching resources. Featuring minibeasts for KS1 life cycle activities, role-plays and interactive games for kids.Despite the fact that they cannot swim, many species of minibeasts live in ponds and rivers. The majority of these creatures spend their lives clinging to stones and plants, or just crawling around the bottom of the water. BBC Bitesize features a range of videos, text resources and a quiz to help children in KS1 learn more about minibeasts. They’ll start to conduct arguments for and against subjects they’ve encountered, draw on theories and conclusions, and form their own opinions and ideas. There are some exceptions to this, including the insect known as the greater water boatman and pond skaters. These minibeasts are super swimmers. Try these fantastic minibeasts for kids resources today!