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The Experimental Zone ~ Creepy Crawlies and a Contest!

2:20 AM, May. 2, 2007

Our family's annual insect "unit study" is well under way!

From the time the first caterpillars cross my daughter's path through the first frost in October (ish), our children have a constant parade of insects in and out of the eight (or so) bug and butterfly habitats we've accumulated over the years.

Despite this annual 6 month focus on insects, we continue to be amazed from year to year at God's amazing creation reflected in these creatures.

This week The Experimental Zone is packed with insect information and fun!

I'd like to share what our family has learned about live insect kits (We've had tremendous fun with them!). Plus, below is a link to some fun insect related activities and activity pages.

Then, we're going to give away an Insect Lore Ladybug Land right here in The Experimental Zone!

Our family isl fascinated when we get the chance watch the caterpillar to butterfly/moth transition. Plus, the larva to ladybug metamorphosis is equally intriguing.

If you have not had an opportunity to try one of the live insect habitats from InsectLore, I HIGHLY recommend them. They are well worth the money. Plus, you can reuse the habitats and, for a fraction of the original price, can order additional caterpillars or ladybug larva.

Outlined below are the most popular questions we received when we sold insect habitat kits:

"Is it too late to do butterflies in July and August?"

We have released both the butterflies and ladybugs well into September in our area (southeastern United States).

"Would my 4 year old really get anything out of this?" or "I don't think my teen would really be interested."

You'd be surprised how these kits capture EVERYONE's attention. It's amazing to see such small creatures accomplishing a total change! Our daughter enjoyed watching the caterpillars as young as 2 years old.

"Do the larva and caterpillars ALL arrive alive?

Obviously, there are going to be times when something happens during shipment and the live specimens do not arrive alive. However, we have received 11 caterpillar and 12 ladybug shipments over the last 4 years and all of the speicmens in the combined 23 shipments arrived alive. So, please don't let that concern deter you. Plus, if they do not arrive alive, call and let the company know.

"Can my children dig up ants from our backyard and use them in the Ant Hill?"

No, my children tried this, and removing the dead ants from the special sand is not fun or easy!

If you plan to purchase one of these kits at your homeschool conference, here are some tips to keep in mind:

These kits are extremely popular, if you see it and want it, buy it! Waiting to walk around and see if another vendor has it for $2 cheaper just might work against you. (I've seen this happen at conferences and it can be tough to explain to eager children.)
When buying a Ladybug Land, turn it upside down and make sure the papers are folded and secured underneath the habitat.
When you arrive at home, keep the habitat in a safe place from prying fingers. If you lose the certificate inside the packaging, you will have to purchase a new certificate.
If you have any questions about the habitat or the certificate, contact InsectLore. Typically, the vendor cannot do anything about specimens that arrive in unacceptable shape.

FREEBIE!

This week, I'd like to share a mini-unit on insects - it's full of information, diagrams, activity ideas and some fun activity pages (Creature Log, Mexican ant mask, biography form).

View and download the pages here.

Now, the contest!

Calling all children of bloggers! We want to know which insect is your favorite and why.

The prize is an InsectLore Ladybug Land. FUN! FUN! FUN!

Leave a comment below with your favorite insect. Your family's name will be entered into the contest. We'll put all the names into the official contest butterfly habitat and, again, we'll have a random drawing.

And, as always, if you blog about the contest on your blog, your family's name goes into the butterfly habitat two times!!

The deadline for the contest is Wednesday, May 9th at 12 a.m. EST.

Thank you for taking the time to visit. See you next week!

Michelle

Michelle and her husband have been homeschooling for 9 years. They are the owners of Treasure Box Press. Michelle holds a Master's degree in Child Development and Family Studies. She serves as the Judge Advisor for the North Carolina FIRST (www.usfirst.org) Lego League and a judge for the www.FIRST.org World Festival. She is the author of numerous Sam's Science Adventures, including "RIC: Robots in the Classroom", all available through www.TreasureBoxPress.com. She spent 15 years in the biotechnology industry before turning her heart toward home.

Posted in The Experimental Zone, 26 comments, Link
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Comments
Untitled Comment

8:06 AM, May. 2, 2007, posted by westward

Thank you for the free insect unit. It looks wonderful!

Our favorite insect is the walking stick because it is so very unique and amazingly camoflauged.

The votes are in....

11:15 AM, May. 2, 2007, posted by Jaybird

Favorite insect at our house has got to be---FIREFLIES!

Will blog about it later. (Have to get math and reading done before science.)

Wow, thanks Michelle!

12:03 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by tn3jcarter

What great timing. Our homeschool group is having a special bug day in 2 weeks and I was just looking for fun ideas. Thanks so much!

And I'll get back to you about the favorite bug thing....

Our favorite insects are

2:05 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by tammyrichards

DS (6) & DD (11) Caterpillars because they look pretty and they become butterflies. They tickle when you hold them.
DS (8) (our resident entymologist) Praying Mantis because they eat pests and the way they hunt is neat.
We couldn't decide on just one!!

Great Contest!!

2:53 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by ElCloud

DD (11) likes Monarch butterflies best because they are so big and pretty and I see them most.
DD (10) likes big fat roly-polies best because they're fat and cute.
DD (7) likes butterflies best because they're pretty and they aren't mean.
DS (6) says dung beetles are his favorite, because they gross his sisters out and because they mess with poop -- any excuse to say that word.
DS (3) likes worms, but those aren't insects, so I'm still trying to get him to name an insect -- ahh, at last. Grasshoppers! Because they jump!
DD (1) doesn't care. She'd probably try to eat a bug if she caught it.

I will blog about it now, too.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ElCloud/322687/

April

Edited by ElCloud on May. 2, 2007 at 12:11 PM

Wonderful topic and contest!

3:18 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by 5atkins

We planted a garden for the first time so our girls (ages 8,7 and 4) are learning a lot about which insects are harmful and which are helpful! By far, we are more excited about the catepillars that will be moths or butterflies one day. We also have an unusual bug in the months of May and September down here that we call love bugs. Everyone blames UF for creating this unusual bug. I know God truly is the creator and we love learning about His wonderful designs!

We will blog about the contest too!

Thank you! Eva Atkins

***CONTEST UPDATE****

4:38 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by eyecorn

Wow!! Such bug lovers here on The Front Porch!

How fun to read what our precious blessings have to say about their favorite insect....doesn't it just make you smile?

BIG NEWS! We are going to giveaway a second LadyBug Land.

Thank you for participating.
Michelle

Untitled Comment

4:39 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by nsremom

N (11)----Army ants
S (10)----Rhinocerous beetle. (strongest insect of it's size she tells me.)
R (8)----Praying Mantis
B (7)---Butterfly or ladybug

Insects are big in our household. We'd love the ladybugs!

Untitled Comment

5:42 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by chickadee

dd9- my favorite is the butterfly because of all the pretty colors.

dd7- spider because they are neat.

I blogged about your contest

10:35 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by DixonContestBlog

Hopefully we can come back and enter!!

( ;
-Jacque

GRASSHOPPER

11:20 PM, May. 2, 2007, posted by The Rector Family

And the reason why is because I like it. It can hop really high, run really fast, and it's really hard to catch it and it's really nice to you and that's all.

Entering and blogging! What fun!

9:22 AM, May. 3, 2007, posted by writmm

DS (10) he doesn't really like bugs at all, but he said if he had to pick one it would be....a waterbug because they are neat and can float on water.

DD (7) Actually I have two favorite bugs...caterpillars and butterflies. Caterpillars are cute, fuzzy and fluffy. Butterflies fly, tickle when they land on you and are beautiful!

I will be blogging at www.melissaomarkham.com

Untitled Comment

11:38 AM, May. 4, 2007, posted by ApplesofGold

Thanks for the free insect unit!
My son's(Jonah-9) favorite insect is the click beetle because if you put it upside down on the ground, it makes a click sound, pops up off the ground several inches and lands on it's feet (usually).
My daughter's (Hannah-11) is butterflies because they are so beautiful.
My 2 yr old dd's favorite is ants-she loves to sit back on her heels and watch them crawl around.
Holly

Untitled Comment

6:02 PM, May. 4, 2007, posted by nsremom

I begrudgingly (did I spell that right?) posted your contest on my blog......I was hoping to hoard the chances to myself....but kindness prevailed. And at least this way we get our name in twice. :)

Emily

Untitled Comment

7:53 PM, May. 5, 2007, posted by bigredriver

Troys favorite insect is a worm because they're funny and so cute and you can go fishing with them.

How fun!

11:06 PM, May. 5, 2007, posted by skdenfeld

Just today my daughters were out hunting lady bugs. It was the first time they were ever interested. They caught one and named 'her' Red Rosie. They did not even complain about having to let her go. What a fun idea!

Untitled Comment

9:55 AM, May. 7, 2007, posted by Anonymous

A wooly bear caterpillar is my favorite insect.

Thank you,
MaddieLynn
www.smockityfrocks.blogspot.com

Caterpillars

10:07 AM, May. 7, 2007, posted by Anonymous

Oops! I forgot to say I'm linking to this contest at www.smockityfrocks.blogspot.com

MaddieLynn

Beetles.

9:20 PM, May. 7, 2007, posted by tbrowne

especially these little irridescent shiny blue ones that we hadn't seen before we moved here--- says my 4 yo ds.

He has a bug vacuum and bug pods that his grandma purchased for his birthday-- he loves bugs.

I had to edit I forgot to say Hi- from Terrill and I forgot to tell you that I blogged about it. :-)

Edited by tbrowne on May. 7, 2007 at 6:21 PM

Bugs...Gotta love 'em!

10:10 PM, May. 7, 2007, posted by Anonymous

DD (10) I love caterpillars because they don't fly away. They don't bite and they're furry. They are easy to take care of...and they're breathing!

Mom's translation to the first sentence: Captive audience (pet)! ;)

Buggy Contest

1:09 AM, May. 8, 2007, posted by servingtheKingofkings

My 5 yo son said he liked fireflies best because they flash lights.

favorite bug??

11:13 AM, May. 8, 2007, posted by Denise

son 2 says dragonfly - because it doesn't have eight big eyes looking at him like spiders do. They have beautiful colors and the designs on their wings are amazing!

mine is the Jerusalem Cricket. The first time I saw one, in the dark of night, I thought it looked like something risen from the depths of the earth - it really scared me!! But now that I know about them, they are harmless and eat other pesky insects, I think they are neat and love to see them around. :-)

favorite bug??

11:14 AM, May. 8, 2007, posted by Denise

son 2 says dragonfly - because it doesn't have eight big eyes looking at him like spiders do. They have beautiful colors and the designs on their wings are amazing!

mine is the Jerusalem Cricket. The first time I saw one, in the dark of night, I thought it looked like something risen from the depths of the earth - it really scared me!! But now that I know about them, they are harmless and eat other pesky insects, I think they are neat and love to see them around. :-)

Untitled Comment

11:31 AM, May. 8, 2007, posted by Denise

I blogged about it here -
http://henandchicks.typepad.com/hen_and_chicks/

Thanks! (and sorry about the double posting above -- I know you'll take care of it ;-)

Bugs

1:39 PM, May. 8, 2007, posted by Shelly

My son loves ants. He'll see them crawling on our sidewalks and cries - "hello ants." He also like ladybugs when we see them and wants to count the dots on their back.

contest

6:52 AM, May. 9, 2007, posted by Anonymous

Abgail(10) says she likes Lady bugs the best because she likes that they will stay on her and crawl up her arm
Isabella(4) loves Butterflys the best because they love flowers and she loves flowers more than anything
deezie

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