April/May 2006

A fun magazine for kids!

It's a Bug's Life

On The Cover

Over 180 species of butterflies have been found in Kansas.

For Parents and Teachers:

Kaleidoscope is designed to provide teachers with tools to address the state curricular standards. Because of this issue's emphasis on insects, it reaches beyond history standards and supports life sciences standards. The articles on monarch migration support two benchmarks for grades three and four: Standard 3: Benchmark 1: The student will develop knowledge of organisms in their environment, and Standard 7: Benchmark 1: The student will develop an awareness that people practice science.

Insecta Inspecta

Benjamin Johnson is a ninth grade in El Dorado. In 2005 Ben earned a purple ribbon and the highest number of points possible at the Kansas State Fair for his advanced entomology project.

From the banks of the Kansas River to the High Plains of the west, insects are everywhere in Kansas. They are also part of the history of our state.

The Insect Zoo on the campus of Kansas State University offers visitors a chance to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of insects--from giant cockroaches to tarantulas. www.k-state.edu/butterfly/

The Buzz in Emporia

Athletic teams at Emporia State Univeristy have been known as the "Hornets" since the early 1930s.

What is the largest group of animals on the planet? If you guessed insects, you are right.

In Kansas there are more than 3,500 different types of insects. There could be as many as 15,000.

To Bee or Not to Bee

Perhaps the most popular insect in Kansas is our state insect, the honeybee. It was adopted as our state insect by the Kansas Legislature in 1976.

Bill Howe paints pictures of butterflies. He has for as long as he can remember.

Battling Bugs

During the Civil War, soldiers not only had to worry about surviing battles, they also had to worry about insects. Flies, fleas, gnats, lice, maggots, mosquitoes, and other insects were a daily nuisance

Butterlies and moths can be found in several Native American stories.

A housefly landed on Dr. Samuel Crumbine's kitchen table in Topeka. With a buzz, it left the table and flew onto the lip of his coffee cup.

After the Civil War ended in 1865, cheap land and the promise of a better life brought many settlers to Kansas. Life in frontier Kansas was tough.

Butterfly Road Trip

Monarch butterflies are beautiful as they gracefully flutter in our yards and playgrounds. Their distinctive orange and black markings make them easily recognizable.

In This Issue: