Little Learning Labs: Bugs for Kids, abridged paperback edition: 20+ Family-Friendly Activities for Exploring the Amazing World of Beetles, Butterflies, Spiders, and Other Arthropods (Little Learning Labs, #5)

by John W. Guyton

Little Learning Labs: Bugs for Kids—an abridged paperback edition of Bug Lab for Kids, a finalist for the 2019 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books—presents 20+ fun and informative activities that celebrate all things beautiful, creepy, and crawly.

Prepare to cozy up with spiders, centipedes, butterflies, and bees, to name just a few! In Little Learning Labs: Bugs for Kids, Mississippi State University associate professor, extension entomologist (bug expert), and educator John W. Guyton shares his knowledge and excitement about the world of bugs. Discover experiments, hunt-and-catch and citizen science initiatives, and arts and crafts projects that teach about bugs' physical characteristics and behavior, and how they affect agriculture, health, and water quality.

You’ll also find helpful tips on how to safely handle common insects, and how to easily identify bugs that shouldn’t be held, pet, or touched.
 
The popular Little Learning Labs series (based on the larger format Lab for Kids series) features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, geology, and math—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Little Learning Labs.

• ISBN13: 9781631597930
• Publish Date: 3 September 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 16 December 2022
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Quarry Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 80
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Bugs for Kids is book 5 of (currently) 8 books in the Labs for Kids series. Due out 3rd Sept 2019 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 80 pages and will be available in a paperback format. Aimed at younger readers (grades 2-5+) and their adults (parents, guardians, school resource personnel/teachers etc), it includes more than 20 short lab units for diverse entomology related fun activities.

The book includes a surprisingly diverse selection of scientifically accurate and age appropriate activities. The note-keeping lab journal exercises which accompany the activities promote good observational and recording skills. It's laid out in units which each contain several lab activities. The introductory sections include information and instructions for adults/teachers/guardians assisting young people performing the labs. The following units cover: finding bugs, collecting and preserving, the most common orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, etc), arthropods, and art and science projects involving bugs. The emphasis is on bugs which are native to North America, but the basic information is appropriate and usable by readers in other areas.

STEAM learning is vitally important to our future and training our problem solvers now, and showing our young people how fascinating and fun biology is, is important.

This is a fun and worthwhile book. It would make a great classroom library book, resource book, homeschool book, or support text for kids. There's also a wide range of activities and the labs use easily sourced (relatively) inexpensive materials. The photography is appealing and easy to follow.

Five stars. This is a great book and part of a solid series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.