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Bug Songs CD and Activity Book Review by Cindy West
Tom CornwellBug Biz, Inc.
9249 Eastman Park Drive
Windsor, Colorado 80550
800-748-1939
http://www.bugsongs.com/
Who knew insects could be so much fun? Written with education in mind, the 13 original songs included on the Bug Songs CD are intended to teach elementary-age children about various insects. The lyrics draw children into the world of bugs by teaching facts without being overly-scientific. The catchy, fun tunes caught our attention, and we found ourselves singing some of the songs throughout the day! Most of the songs are peppy--ranging in style from jazz to rock, with a couple of slow ballads thrown in as well.
The "stars" of the CD are termites, houseflies, bees, yellow jackets, butterflies, ants, arachnids, grasshoppers, ladybugs and crickets. Some of the songs include more insect information than others. For example, the Carpenter Ant Song incorporates the concepts of the ants nesting in wood, creating sawdust, having queens, and living in colonies. The Grasshopper Hop, on the other hand, encourages children to hop like a grasshopper.
The activity book that comes with the CD includes coloring pages for eleven of the songs and a maze and word search for the other two. Beside each activity or coloring page is a lyric sheet for the corresponding song. Even though the coloring pages aren't realistic, children will hardly be able to resist the cute characters. The pictures are drawn with the younger elementary student in mind and are not overly detailed.
The songs and activities would add a fun, musical aspect to any insect unit. Children who learn well through songs might benefit especially from this CD. There's no need to wait for a unit on insects, though. Listening to the CD on a car ride or while doing chores around the house would be great, too!
If you're looking for something with a lot of meaty information about insects, this may not be what you're looking for. But I do recommend the CD and Activity Book as a fun, lighthearted addition to your homeschool. Preschoolers through middle elementary children will most likely enjoy dancing and singing along.
