From butterflies and beetles to crickets and katydids, these experiments, art projects, and games will bring out the entomologist in every kid. Activities include collecting and sketching insects, making a terrarium for observation, raising mealworms, using math to measure bug strength, gardening to attract butterflies and other insects, and making an insect amplifier. A unique insect board game helps kids learn fascinating bug facts while they play. Sidebars offer a look into the world of professional entomology, as well as gross facts about insects that will provide great playground trivia, including the USDA's guidelines for allowable insect parts per cup of food. Kids will learn that science is not just something to read about, but something they can observe and study in the world around them.
With wanderlust and curiosity that knew few bounds, Cindy Blobaum worked and traveled around the United States and Australia before settling down in Iowa. Her jobs have included positions as a seasonal zoo keeper, quality control technician at a potato chip factory, carnival barker, waitress, and ice skating guard.
Her professional life is as a naturalist (aka field trip lady), educator and mom. Time and experience have shown that her strengths lie in making science understandable and fun through activities and unusual explanations, which she channels through her books, programs, elementary science methods classes, school presentations, and WFH curriculum writing.
