"Bug Party"

Decorations
Draw, colour and cut out bug pictures. Tape to string and suspend from ceiling around the birthday party room.

Goody Bags
Bug jars (either make or purchase) complete with net, magnifier, notepad and pencil, gummy worms. Possible to purchase "bug kits" for under $2.50.

Cake
Caterpillar: Use cupcakes in the amount of children. Turn them upside-down (use no liners). Frost bottoms and sides. Set them side by side to form a wiggly caterpillar. Use gumballs for eyes, cut lengths of licorice or use the sour type whips kids like for the legs and antennae.
Dirt Cake: Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate fudge icing. Cover with crushed Oreos. Add gummy worms and gummy spiders.

Games and Activities
Make a Bug Jar:
Things You Need: oatmeal containers or other cardboard containers with lids and screen mesh.
What To Do: Wrap each container in white butcher paper and glue down. Cut out an assortment of windows. Add mesh to inside and hot glue. Let children decorate outsides with markers. For younger children, have these already made, but let them decorate them.
Bug Hunt:
Things You Need: lots of plastic bugs.
Game: Hide the bugs around the house or outside. Let the children find them, and keep them.
Spider Crawl:
Game: Individual race or team relay. Have the children get into the spider crawl position. Have them race through a course or a set area.
Buggy Safari:
Game: Have the kids use their new bug jars and go on a Bug Scavenger Hunt to see how many different bugs they can find. Have a bug guide book around to identify them. Let the bugs go afterwards.
Craft:
Things You Need: egg cartons (cut down the middle), pipe cleaners, paint or markers, wiggly eyes and glue.
What To Do: Let the children make caterpillars from the egg cartons. Use the pipe cleaners for antennae and legs, and decorate them with paint or markers.
Bugs Inside:
Things You Need: a box, Styrofoam peanuts, shredded paper, candies, gummy worms/bugs, miscellaneous bug toys.
Game: Fill the box with all of the goodies. Mix in toys, candies, etc. Cut a hand-sized hole in one side. Let the kids reach in and feel around...they can pick one item to pull out and keep.