Nature in Dramatics 



Recreational activities can also be considered among the insects. Imagine 

 the Katydids as community singers, the Fleas as dancers, and try to think 

 of others that imitate or change colors to pretend they are the actors. Surely 

 the Grasshoppers play games as they hop about and the Butterflies are play- 

 ing "hide and seek" as they hide behind the leaves and flowers from their 

 brothers and sisters. Study the edges of streams and see which insects can 

 swim. 



A study of Housing could also be carried on in your study of insects. 

 Follow the bed of a stream to see if you can find a Cadis Fly and observe it 

 build a house of stone. It is easy enough to find a hornet's nest and make a 

 study of a house built of paper. The Wasp lives in a house made of mud. 

 The Bees build theirs of wax; in fact, the insects use almost as many mediums 

 as man. Make a study of them and see which you would prefer to have as a 

 landlord. 



There is also a chance for the study of communal life if you want to take 

 the time to work out a long term project. Make a study of the life of the 

 ants with their division of labor, their slaves, warriors, etc. Life as it is lived 

 in a bee hive would be fascinating to anyone that has never read about it 

 before. 



There are endless themes for insect plays and exciting ones too! 



A Shadow Puppet Show 



If you are going to give an evening program, a shadow puppet show is 

 easy to construct, and if well lighted can be presented to an audience of sev- 

 eral hundred people. If the audience is large, just remember to set the stage 

 several feet above their heads to enable everyone to see more easily. You 

 might call the show "Nature Graphs" because any phase of nature can be 

 shown on the screen by means of small figures cut from cardboard. Pretend 

 the screen is one side of an aquarium, add sea weed as scenery, and write a 

 story about what you think the turtles and fish are doing. The above illustra- 



