Painted Rock Bugs

Transform smooth stones from your backyard into colorful ladybugs and other insects. This project helps kids explore nature and practice their painting and stamping skills.

Tools

• black permanent marker (1)

Materials

• smooth round rocks (3-5)
• white acrylic paint (2 oz)
• red acrylic paint (2 oz)
• black acrylic paint (2 oz)
• googly eyes (10)
• glue stick (1)
• dirt (1 cup)
• moss (1 handful)
• plate (1)

Safety

• Small parts pose a choking hazard. Supervise young children.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Go outside and collect smooth, round rocks that are the shape of a bug.
2. Paint the entire rock white. This acts as a primer so the next colors look bright and shiny. Let it dry completely.
3. Paint the rock in your chosen bug color (such as red for a ladybug). Paint all the way around the rock and let it dry.
4. Using a black marker, draw a line around the smaller end of the rock to create the head, then color in that entire section black.
5. Draw a straight line with the black marker down the center of the rock's back to create the division between the two wings.
6. Dip the eraser end of a pencil into black paint and stamp small circles onto the wings to create ladybug spots.
7. Apply a small amount of glue from a glue stick to the back of two googly eyes and press them onto the black head area.
8. Create a habitat by pouring dirt and adding moss onto a plate.
9. Place your finished rock bugs into their new dirt and moss home.