Bugs are important to have in the garden: they pollinate, protect biodiversity, eat bad things, and are themselves food for other things. In this Lab, we pay homage to these delightful little creatures by making rock images of them to adorn your garden. You can be as realistic or fanciful with your creations as you wish. Find photos of bugs online or get some bug identification books from the library.
MATERIALS
Photos of bugs
Smooth rocks in different shapes and sizes
Pencil
Acrylic paint in all sorts of colors
Small paintbrushes
Polyurethane
Foam brush
1. Make sure the rocks are clean and dry. Select the type of bug you want to paint and outline its design on the rock with pencil. (Fig. 1)
2. Use the paint to fill in the design. Allow paint to dry overnight. (Fig. 2)
3. Cover the entire design with the polyurethane to preserve your creation. Allow to dry. Place your rock bugs in your garden for everyone to admire. (Fig. 3)
LEARN MORE ABOUT BUGS
When someone says the word bugs, he or she usually means any creepy crawly thing with a ton of legs. But by definition, an insect has six legs, three body parts, and a pair of antennae.
No one knows the exact number of different kinds of insects there are in the world. Estimates range from 1 million to 30 million.
The largest beetle in the world is from South America and is close to 8" (20 cm) long.
Dragonflies can fly 35 miles per hour!
Brightly colored insects may be warning others they are poisonous or dangerous if angered. Insects with muted colors are usually trying to blend in with their surroundings for protection.
DIG DEEPER!