Insects and Arthropods

AntWorks Ant Habitat

Book cover: 'AntWorks Ant Habitat'
Publisher: 
Fascinations
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

AntWorks was one of the highlights of our summer natural history studies! This simple kit became a quirky centerpiece on our dinner table, engaging the entire family from the 18-month-old who insists that they are "Nants" to a 40-something daddy. AntWorks comes as a thick-walled plastic home with a stable base; this became important as the little ones spent time watching the ants. We have tried the sand-filled ant farms with dismal spills that freed too many of the inhabitants. The AntWorks home is filled with a blue gel-like substance that provides both nourishment and liquid to the ants. Accompanying literature explains that this gel was developed by NASA for experiments carried out on the Space Shuttle. One of the nicest features is that this gel is translucent, allowing observers to see completely through the tunnels. An optional illuminator is a nice addition which makes an interesting night light, but we thought that it wasn't necessary.

Ants are not included with the kit. You can either catch your own or mail in the enclosed coupon. We opted for the mail-order ants, and that boosted interest in the project for our little ones who love to receive mail. Once the ants are added to their home, the only maintenance that is needed is opening the top for a few seconds a week to allow fresh air to enter. Occasionally you will need to remove a dead ant, but our industrious insects buried their fallen comrades deep in the gel in sealed chambers. It was incredible to observe! This kit, combined with a few books from the library and a couple of diagrams and coloring pages downloaded from the Internet, provided a wonderful investigation into the life of ants for our elementary school-aged students.

Additional notes: 

Science Kit, Dimensions: 6.5"L x 5.5"W x 1.25"D

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
8-24-05

How Do Bees Make Honey?

Book cover: How Do Bees Make Honey?
Author(s): 
Anna Claybourne
Number of pages: 
24 pages
Copyright: 
1994
ISBN: 
9780746017654
Publisher: 
Usborne
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

A small, inexpensive book filled with pictures and lots of other information picture about bees and other insects. You'll learn how to tell bees apart from other insects, how bees live together in colonies and all about their beehives, how bees communicate with each other (my children have really enjoyed trying to re-enact the bee's dances) and of course how bees make honey. The one thing I didn't like is that the material is so disjointed because it jumps around between different kinds of insects.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

Insects do the Strangest Things

Book cover: Insects do the Strangest Things
Author(s): 
Leonora and Arthur Hornblow
Illustrator(s): 
Michael K. Frith
Number of pages: 
60 pages
Copyright: 
1968
ISBN: 
9780394800721
Publisher: 
Random House Step-Up Books
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Interesting and informative stories of the strange but fascinating behavior of various types of insects. The pictures are of the somewhat cheezy 60s variety, but the text is quite good and written at approximately a second grade level.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-4-01

The Insect World of J. Henri Fabre

Book cover: The Insect World of J. Henri Fabre
Author(s): 
Jean-Henri Fabre
Number of pages: 
333 pages
Copyright: 
1977
ISBN: 
9780807085134
Publisher: 
Beacon Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Jean-Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a French naturalist who penned many writings about his beloved insects. These essay/stories describe, in great detail, his encounters with some interesting insects – how he worked with them and what he discovered about them. For instance The material is informative and even humorous at times, but rather dense (definitely not dry!). Here is a sample, from "The Pine Processionary"...

You voracious little creatures, if I let you have your way, I should soon be robbed of the murmur of my once so leafy pines! Today I will seek compensation for all the trouble I have taken. Let us make a compact. You have a story to tell. Tell it me; and for a year, for two years or longer, until I know more or less all about it, I shall leave you undisturbed, even at the cost of lamentable suffering to the pines.

Although it might be suitable for high school students and could possibly be read aloud to younger students, it constitutes a portion of the Freshman Lab studies at Thomas Aquinas College. J. Henri Fabre is listed as one of the authors recommended in Catholic Authors: 4-Sight Edition.

A compilation of some of these stories, titled Fabre's Book of Insects is available from Emmanuel Books.

Additional notes: 

Copyrights 1949/1977

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-4-01