Bugsters Tunes & Tales
                                     Lyrics for Music CD

These cute critter songs will have children marching like army ants through the world of insects. They dance the caterpillar conga, hop with the crickets, flash like fireflies, explore and discover as they learn to “look, but don’t touch” their multi-legged friends. This fun collection of songs encourages children to use fine and gross motor skills while teaching them about the wild and wonderful characteristics of insects.
 
Included as a bonus are Tim's 2 award-winning short stories  (Parenting Magazine "Best Spoken Word")  that teach important lessons. “Work It Out” teaches children to work together as a team. “The Mothmen” teaches a lesson about fearing the unknown. The stories feature 7 characters, with an emphasis on cultural diversity. These short stories told using creative dialogue and a wide range of sound effects that bring children right into the Bugster experiences.

The 7 bug characters come to life using sound effects, lively songs, and the colorful animated voices of Tim Russ and Ethan Phillips, from the TV series, “Star Trek: Voyager,” and Chase Masterson, from the “Star Trek: DS9” TV series.

Approx. Running Time: 30 min. tunes & 20 min. tales
Recommended for age 3-8

ISBN: 0-9747064-3-4
UPC: 698731-00028-6 

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Children line up to form one long caterpillar. They place their hands on the person’s shoulders in front of them, and begin stepping with their left and right feet in unison, as directed. They can step forward, backward, to the left or right (crossing over the mid-line in either direction), just as long as they step together.

This is a great line dance song.  Children line up and form a circle, stepping inside and then out.

CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA.

Now everyone get up,
and form one line,
Put your hands on the person’s shoulders
in front of your eyes.
I’ll tell you when to take
a step with your feet.
Left foot right foot when I say,
now Caterpillar with me.

STEP LEFT (2 -3-4 ), CONGA!
STEP RIGHT (2-3-4),  CONGA!
STEP LEFT,  CONGA!
STEP RIGHT, CONGA!
STEP LEFT,  STEP RIGHT,  STEP LEFT,   STEP RIGHT..... 

CATERPILLAR CONGA, CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA, CATERPILLAR CONGA.

The Caterpillar’s got,
so many tiny feet,
And he can move all of them,
right to the beat.
His little legs line up,
in two long rows, 
From his fancy colored tail,
up to his fuzzy nose.

STEP LEFT (2 -3-4 ), CONGA!
STEP RIGHT (2-3-4),  CONGA!
STEP LEFT -  STEP RIGHT -  STEP LEFT, -  STEP RIGHT....
STEP LEFT,  STEP RIGHT,  STEP LEFT,   STEP RIGHT.....      faster!

CATERPILLAR CONGA, CATERPILLAR CONGA
CATERPILLAR CONGA
AND LEFT (and 2 ) AND RIGHT (and 4)  AND LEFT,  AND RIGHT....
AND LEFT, AND RIGHT,  AND LEFT,   AND RIGHT.....
 

Children learn about respecting an insect’s space, and that although fascinating, it is better to “look, but don’t touch” their tiny friends. Some bugs can bite, sting, make you sick, or even make you stink.

LOOK BUT DON'T TOUCH,
LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH,
THAT BUG’S SO TINY YOUR SO BIG,
LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH.
SOME OF THEM MIGHT BITE YOU,
SOME OF THEM MIGHT STING,
SOME OF THEM MIGHT MAKE YOU SICK,
AND SOME CAN MAKE YOU STINK.

ALL BUGS HAVE GOOD REASONS,
FOR THE THINGS THEY DO,
THEY DON’T WANT TO HURT YOU,
THEY’RE AFRAID OF YOU TOO.

ANTS, SPIDERS, BEETLES AND BEES,
THEY HELP THE FLOWERS AND THE TREES.
THEY ARE PART OF THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD
JUST LIKE ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS.

ALL BUGS HAVE GOOD REASONS
FOR THE THINGS THEY DO
THEY DON’T WANT TO HURT YOU,
THEY’RE AFRAID OF YOU TOO.

YOU BOTH MIGHT HURT EACH OTHER
THEN YOU BOTH GO YOUR OWN WAYS


4. Army Ants

Let children practice their counting (whole and ordinal 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) when they first form their line.

Okay soldiers, get up on your feet
and form one line side-by-side.
We’re going to march around the room
and shout "army ants" loud and clear.
Because we’re army ants
and that’s what we do!
You got me soldier??! 
Now start marchin' to my count.
Ready? Hut 2, 3, 4!

ARMY ANTS! We step in time.
ARMY ANTS! We make one line.
ARMY ANTS! That's what we do.
ARMY ANTS! And, you can too.

Early in the mornin',
we form up in one line.
We march all through the forest
and pick up what we find.
We run through leaves and litter.
We scavenge far and wide.
When other insects see us comin',
they all run and hide.

Okay listen up army ants,
here’s what I want you to do.
I want you to find a few things to pick up
that are small, safe and okay with
your parents or teacher to pick up.
It could be a pencil or a piece
of colored paper or a cup.
It could be square or round, long or short.
What ever it is pick it up at the front
of the lines and pass back to rear of the lines.
And don’t forget to keep marching to the music!
Are you ready?? Get to it soldiers!

Army Ants! We don't have wings.
Army Ants! We pick up things.
Army Ants! That's what we do.
Army Ants! And, you can too.

Army Ants! We don't have wings.
Army Ants! We pick up things.
Army Ants! That's what we do.
Army Ants! And, you can too.

You call yourselves army ants?
This ain’t no nature show -  now listen up.
We’ve got a picnic raid tomorrow at 3pm sharp.
Rogers, you get the hot dogs!
Simms, you take the buns!
Jones, you grab the potato chips.
Parker you nab the burgers!
Is that clear?? I don’t hear you.....you.. soldier get back in line.. okay.. drop and give me 20....lets go lets go!

 

CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
WHEN YOU LOOK YOU CAN’T SEE ME.
CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
IT’S A WAY THAT BUGS PLAY HIDE AND SEEK.

I look just like a twig.
I hide in a tree.
I’m a walking stick bug.  
Can you find me?
I use all the shapes,
and colors that I wear.
I’ll be hard to see,
unless you stop and you stare.

CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
WHEN YOU LOOK YOU CAN’T SEE ME.
CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
IT’S A WAY THAT BUGS PLAY HIDE AND SEEK.

I pretend I’m a flower
I pretend that I’m a leaf.
A praying mantis that’s my name
Can you find me???
I use all the shapes,
And colors that I wear,
I’ll be hard to see,
unless you stop and you stare.

CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
WHEN YOU LOOK YOU CAN’T SEE ME.
CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
IT’S A WAY THAT BUGS PLAY HIDE AND SEEK.

I jump into the grass
I blend in while I sit,
If you don’t look real close,
The grass hopper you will miss.
I can use all the shapes,
And colors that I wear,
I’ll be hard to see.
unless you stop and you stare.

CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
WHEN YOU LOOK YOU CAN’T SEE ME.
CAMOUFLAGE, CAMOUFLAGE
IT’S A WAY THAT BUGS PLAY HIDE AND SEEK.

Sharp Eyed Sam, the Insect Detective, uses the characteristics of a lady bug, a bee, a flea, and a cricket to verbally engage children in solving the mystery of the type of bugs he’s looking for.

Hey, Sharp eyed Sam here...The Insect Detective.
I’m on the trail of 4 different bugs.
I gotta find out what their names are
and all I’ve got to go on are a few clues
about where they live and what they look like.
You’ll have to help me find these little guys.
Here’s the first one....

She’s red and sometimes orange with little black dots.
Like most bugs she’s got six legs, and she sits on plants a lot.
It seems that she can also fly,  whenever she wants to move.
If I could think of her name, I’d be in a better mood.
Now, what was her name??
That’s right... a lady bug.

Now the second bug is yellow and black.
He’s been landing on some flowers.
He fly’s around covered with pollen, during the daylight hours.
I’ve heard he lives in a hive, making something called honey.
If you can tell me his name, then I won’t look so funny.
Call his name out of you know it!
That’s right.. a bee!

The third bug is real tiny, and very hard to see.
He lives on dogs and cats and he sometimes makes ‘em scratch.
If he can find some fur or hair, he makes himself at home.
I’ve gotta find his name.
Can you tell me if you know?
Thanks,  that’s right.. a Flea!

The last one I’ve been looking for can either be black or brown.
He likes to make these chirping sounds just after sun goes down.
I’ve heard he’s got large legs, to help him jump around.
I need his name to finish my list.
Can you tell me what I’ve found?
Go ahead, call it out if you know it!
That's it.. a cricket!!!

Well I’ve got my list of bugs, and I’ll be looking for some more.
But that will be another time.  For now, I’m out the door.
Sharp eyed Sam here, the insect detective.
Now, where did I put my magnifying glass?
I thought it was in my drawer.
There it is. Now, all I need is my net.. and a flashlight and a...etc...
 

Choreograph a simple dance routine or performance using mini-flashlights and glow sticks.

Now the sun has set for the evening sky,
My flashing little friend has come out to fly,
with me.....

Flash.....Flash... Flash  ....Firefly.

She flashes on her light, so that I can see
She flashes as she floats,  all around the trees,
for me....

Flash.....Flash... Flash  ....Firefly.

They’re flashing all around, in the in the firefly show,
They’re flashing all their lights in the evening glow,
for me......
     
Flash.....Flash... Flash  ....
Flash.....Flash... Flash, flash, flash.....
Flash.....Flash... Flash  ..Firefly....


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