Garden Insects 2006
Distributed by Breathe Deep Productions, PO Box 98, Burkesville, KY 42717; 270-864-4167
Produced by Chris Korrow
Directed by Chris Korrow
DVD, color, 51 min.
K-6
Environmental Studies, Science
Date Entered: 01/14/2008
Reviewed by Janis Tyhurst, Reference Librarian, George Fox UniversityThis is a wonderful documentary for students in elementary school. Chris Korrow is an organic farmer in Kentucky who wrote, produced, filmed and narrated this documentary on the insects found on his organic farm. He starts with an introduction explaining why he chose the insects on his farm in Kentucky--insects in our backyards are just as fascinating as those in foreign lands.
Korrow divides up the insects by species and portrays each species in 12 chapters divisions on the DVD. The chapters are listed by title on the opening screens, allowing you to jump to a particular chapter or start at the beginning.
Each chapter focuses on one particular insect species (ants, aphids, bees and wasps, beetles, butterflies, flies, leaf and grass hoppers, preying mantis, true bugs and spiders). He discusses the life cycle of the various insects and points out interesting facts about them. For example, jumping spiders do not spin webs and they also have the best eyesight of any spider.
The strength of this documentary is in the cinematography. There are many excellent close up shots of insects interacting with the surrounding environment. There are some good shots of insects eating one another that will thrill the boys and gross out the girls. The facts that he shares are brief and basic—a good starting point to get students interested in looking at the insects that can be found close to home.