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What do doodlebugs, spiders, ants and skeeters have in common? Laugh and learn in this comic low-life revue. Students are participating from the very start in a sequence of participatory song, moveme... Read more

What do doodlebugs, spiders, ants and skeeters have in common? Laugh and learn in this comic low-life revue. Students are participating from the very start in a sequence of participatory song, movement and story. Ukulele, harmonica and funky dance tracks will be incorporated in the show. Some puppets will be used to illustrate a food web. Students will become various garden helpers and learn about: worms, spiders, ladybugs, bees, and more. While drumming along to Beebop, students will learn about pollination and how bees dance to communicate. Some physics will be understood through a demonstration of how doodlebugs capture their prey. Students will always remember the Head-Thorax-Abdomen and other parts of an insect after performing the entomological version of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Knowing then that insects have six legs, they'll get a trick question about whether a caterpillar is an insect. After we all enact insect metamorphosis, it will become clear to the students that caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc. are all juvenile/larval stages of insects. I have hours worth of repertoire to draw from and can easily adapt the content according to the grade and curriculum goals. During the program, the classroom teacher only needs to participate along with the students, modeling appropriate audience behavior.

I can describe how all insects start out as crawling larva and go through metamorphosis. I can describe many special features of various insects and remember their body parts. I can describe pollinat... Read more

I can describe how all insects start out as crawling larva and go through metamorphosis. I can describe many special features of various insects and remember their body parts. I can describe pollination and many other ways that insects are beneficial. I can describe how some amazing adaptations enable insects to get their food and avoid predation. I can look at "bugs" differently than I did before and better understand the critical roles they play in the environment.

Jackson's skills as a musician and teacher highlight the program from beginning to end! His mixture of humor, sensitivity, and educational content made him a perfect addition here at the Children's Mu... Read more

Jackson's skills as a musician and teacher highlight the program from beginning to end! His mixture of humor, sensitivity, and educational content made him a perfect addition here at the Children's Museum. - Marilyn Solvay, Director of Education and Public Programs, Children's Museum of Maine "Thank you so much for your stellar performance of "BUGS!" I enjoyed watching the faces of the audience and observed that people of all ages were totally mesmerized and entertained by your show. You provided a perfect blend of education, ecological sensitivity, and humor on the topic of bugs, not an easy feat! You have an uncanny ability to "become" a mosquito, an ant, a doodlebug, a cockroach, a bee, a ladybug with your voice and movement. Seeing a fellow human being take on these roles, gives us a sympathy and understanding for the lives of insects as they struggle to co-exist with us on the planet." - Bonnie Drexler, Education Program manager, Garden-in-the-Woods. "Jackson transformed amidst the backdrop of our exhibit, creating a rich program filled with great music, education, and sheer entertainment. Visitors throughout this performance were mesmerized and engaged as Jackson himself became the many different bugs in this magical traveling revue of doodlebugs, spiders, dragonflies, praying mantises, and many others. With themes of humanity, the environment, and preservation delicately tied into many of his songs and skits, this performance is a natural complement to the overall themes of preservation, conservation, and reflection on the natural world. Anyone interested in a smart, humorous program, should look no further than Jackson Gillman and his amazing one-man show!" - Daniel Dobbins, Manager of Visitor Experience, Heritage Museums & Gardens