In this post: Spanish lessons about ‘los insectos’. Learn insect related vocabulary, bug themed songs, books and activities.
Are you looking for ways to teach your children about insects in Spanish?
Thematic learning is a powerful way to help your child acquire Spanish vocabulary!
At Llamitas Spanish® we are passionate about creating thematic curriculum levels to support you in teaching your child Spanish through fun and interactive lessons.
Post contains affiliate links.
Spring is a great time to get back into the garden and discover nature. Plus, insects are always a fascinating topic, sparking much curiosity for little minds!
Table of Contents
Spanish Vocabulary about Insects
How do you say ‘insects’ in Spanish?
Well, this one is actually a cognate. That means it sounds and looks very similar in English! The word ‘insects’ in Spanish is ‘los insectos’. You can also say ‘los bichos’ which means ‘bugs’.
Here are some key vocabulary words to practice with your children:
- Mariquita (mah-ree-kee-tah) = ladybug
- Araña (ah-rah-nyah) = spider
- Saltamontes (sahl-tah-mohn-tehs) = grasshopper
- Libélula (lee-beh-loo-lah) = dragonfly
- Caracol (kah-rah-kohl) = snail
- Oruga (oh-roo-gah) = caterpillar
- Hormiga (ohr-mee-gah) = ant
Related post: El jardÃn: Spanish Lessons about the Garden
Spanish Lessons about Insects
Our Level 1 Llamitas Spanish® Curriculum includes 12 thematic units for beginners and the early years.
In Unit 4, students will learn about ‘el jardÃn’ (the garden) which includes many garden insects. Students will discover the letter ‘ñ’ in ‘araña’, the only official extra letter in the Spanish alphabet, as well as the letter ‘f’ for ‘flor’.
Related Post: El abecedario: Spanish Alphabet for Kids
Students will also learn three beautiful and catchy songs through our popular acapella songs by song producer Andrea Aguilar: ‘Incy Wincy araña’,‘Caracol -col -col’, and ‘Mariposita’.
Students will also study beautiful pieces of artwork and study the butterfly life cycle. Finally, the unit ends with a fun scavenger hunt!
Our units are completely open and go! This means no prep for parents. Just open the lessons, read the scripts in English or Spanish (you pick!) and complete the activities on page.
Related Post: La Primavera: Spanish Unit Study for Spring
Spanish Books about Insects
We also believe that thematic units should be enriched with lots of literature! Reading age appropriate (and language level appropriate) Spanish children’s books about bugs and insects is a great way to build biliteracy skills!
Here are our favorite Spanish children’s books about bugs and insects:
¿Dónde vives, caracol? (Mis primeros libros) (Spanish Edition)
- Hardcover Book
- Horácek, Petr (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 14 Pages – 07/01/2014 (Publication Date) – Editorial Juventud, S.A. (Publisher)
A short but sweet board book for little learners. Practice asking ‘¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?) as you meet different animals and insects.
Sale
Señorita Mariposa
- Hardcover Book
- Gundersheimer (Mister G), Ben (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 08/06/2019 (Publication Date) – Nancy Paulsen Books (Publisher)
We include a video about this book in Level 1 Unit 4 Llamitas Spanish® curriculum. Discover the beautiful Monarch butterfly as it makes its migration in this beautifully illustrated story with rhyming text.
Sale
La oruga muy hambrienta/The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Bilingual Board Book
- Bilingual edition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
- Hardcover Book.
- Contains 32 pages.
- Recommended for ages 0 – 3 years.
- Carle, Eric (Author)
A classic story that every family has read in English! Try the Spanish version of this popular title of the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Sale
La araña muy ocupada (Spanish Edition)
- Carle, Eric (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 22 Pages – 04/10/2008 (Publication Date) – World of Eric Carle (Publisher)
Another classic story by Eric Carle, again for intermediate speakers (too complex for beginners!). The busy spider is too busy building its web to engage with the other farm animals.
La vida secreto de los insectos
Sale
La vida secreta de los insectos (The Book of Brilliant Bugs) (The Magic and…
- Hardcover Book
- French, Jess (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 80 Pages – 10/20/2020 (Publication Date) – DK Children (Publisher)
An absolutely stunningly illustrated book about insects. For older readers, this gorgeous title is like a child’s first encyclopedia about bugs!
Cuenta Los Insectos (Spanish Edition)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Pallotta, Jerry (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 02/01/1993 (Publication Date) – Charlesbridge (Publisher)
Count up to 26 different bugs and learn deep dive facts about these creepy crawlies! Suitable for native speakers only.
National Geographic Readers: De la Oruga a la Mariposa (Caterpillar to…
- Marsh, Laura (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/08/2015 (Publication Date) – National Geographic Kids (Publisher)
Learn about metaphorsis with this fantastic National Geographic Kids reader about the life cycle of a butterfly. Great pairing for this unit!
Me gustan los bichos (I Like Bugs Spanish Edition) (LEYENDO A PASOS (Step…
- Brown, Margaret Wise (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 02/08/2022 (Publication Date) – Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
This is a popular series of leveled readers for Preschool and Elementary ages. This particular title is perfectly paired for the topic of insects!
Be sure to also check out this related post on 21 Spring themed Spanish Children’s books.
Spanish Songs about Insects
Songs are included throughout the Llamitas Spanish® curriculum levels. We pick authentic Hispanic nursery rhymes that are timeless and loved by kids!
We love the following songs on Youtube for learning about ‘los insectos’. Have your kids sing-along!
Incy Wincy Araña by La Granja de Zenón:
La Mariposita by Gallina Pintadita
Caracol by Chiquitines TV
Don’t forget to visit our Llamitas Spanish® curriculum shop for academically robust, beautifully illustrated and culturally authentic Spanish curricula!
Founder of the Llamitas Spanish® Curriculum and former Spanish teacher. Corrie holds a Masters in Spanish and Education and is raising bilingual children in San Diego, CA.