I had the pleasure of meeting Brenda Cochrane at my state homeschool convention this year and discovering these wonderful unit study kits they have put together. First of all, everything you need for this unit study comes in one sturdy carrying case with a handle that is about the size of a briefcase, and beautifully decorated. You will only need to gather your household glue, markers or crayons, tape, scissors, hole punch and a glue gun. However, they do sell a kit with these items in it for your convenience! (My guess is most of us have these items right in our home already.)

This unit study is geared for ages 6-8 years, but even our four year old enjoyed much of this study as well. Open it up and everything is right there, organized, labeled. The crafts are poly-bagged and labeled to correlate with the lessons by number; it doesn't get any easier! This kit comes with a 60 page "Field Guide to Insects" that gives information on each bug in this study also a place for the child to put a sticker on each of those pages, once you have located that particular bug in your backyard, or a park, or on a hike! The Field Guide does contain minor evolutionary references, but we chose to use these as 'teachable moments.' The overall quality of this kit is excellent!

Insect Adventure also contains 20 projects and the necessary supplies, 40 lessons, 16 recipes and a motivational chart. Just some of the projects: a ladybug thermometer, a bug container, the honeybee game, a beaded butterfly ornament, growing our own 'grassy caterpillar,' and more! There are recipes such as 'Ladybug cookies', "Buggy Biscuits', 'Bug Juice Smoothies' (this one is delicious!), and others.

I don't know how many walks this study encouraged us to do to find bugs......or just explore and see what they might come across! There are some great book suggestions you could check into at your local library. Insect Adventure covers science, math, writing, home economics, art, grammar, punctuation, reading, beginning time, money, counting, measuring, drawing - the list goes on.

My children enjoyed this study, it was just a FUN project to them yet they were learning all the while. The oldest kept brushed up on math and writing skills, through the worksheets that correlate with each lesson. Reading and new vocabulary words were introduced, and the crafts were very simple-yet neat (and many will make great gifts from the children). This is one that dad really got in on too because a lot of the research called for being outside! This kit encourages time spent together, encouraged fun learning, & that makes memories, a definite winner!!