We've been reading about bugs this summer. We have covered lice, dabbled in fireflies, and are now touching on ladybugs. Most of the books were good. They generally had interesting photos and they listed the essential information about whatever critter was being discussed; but none of them really stood out from the pack in the sense of format or style. That was until we ran across this Backyard Buddies series, and Ladybugology by Michael Elsohn Ross. With this book we discovered a whole new approach to bug studies.
Unlike the other books, the approach of Ladybugology is very much hands-on. Ross still covers the usual bug information. He discusses their life cycle, body parts, what they eat, and what eats them, but only at the end of the book. Before that he focuses on trying to get children to make their own observations. In essence to be kid-scientists!
"Aware Dare" is one of the games he uses to get kids thinking. It starts when a ladybug is placed inside a clear container. Kids then take turns making observations as the subject(s) flies and crawls around. They jot down the results, until no one can't think of anything new to say. The winner is the last one to make an observation!
While this game might seem simple, it actually brings together quite a few activities. Besides practice in taking turns, it helps children to exercise their powers of observation -- a principal task of a scientist-- and then it gives them a fun reason to practice writing.
Other projects involve arts and crafts, measurement and simple math. Everything from making a gym for the ladybugs, to designing costumes. Really, for being so small, this book is full of ideas.
Give This One a Try!!!
Finally, a bug book that's more than just a list of bug attributes. In this one there are lots of hints and ways to expand the experience: ranging from how to make a ladybug hotel to games.
Considerations:
The Accelerated Reading (ATOS) designation for Ladybugology is 5.7 which means that it is a book for the average 5th Grader in the 7th month of school. It may be read, of course, to children of any age. I have used the activities with a 6 year old, and they can probably be used, with supervision, with even younger children.
Kindness and Consideration -- the book emphasizes gentle handling of these small creatures, and releasing them after a day or so.
Reproduction - The topic of reproduction is handled well. On the one page where it is addressed, the author writes: "It is a common sight to see one ladybug on the back of another. ...But examination through a microscope will show that the ladybug getting a piggyback ride is a male.
"Like other male insects, the male ladybug has a special organ, called an aedeagus... through which he delivers sperm to the eggs of the female."
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