Featured Music Video

Silly song, serious groove—
'Wetlands Have Real Important Jobs To Do'
(Grades K-5)

What do wetlands, dancing, and Monty Python’s Flying Circus have in common? The answer lies in our featured video "Wetlands Have Real Important Jobs To Do." You see, we at Water Rocks! believe that everybody needs to cut loose from time to time – even the critters that live in Iowa’s wetlands. So, in this featured video we take some time to “talk up” wetlands—while some wetlands wildlife get the chance to “get down”!

Jacqueline Comito, video director, says of the video’s animated critters, “It really was almost like choreography.” Comito created the animation by juxtaposing cut-out pictures of wildlife with actual footage of wetlands in homage to some of the animation techniques of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. “I had fun with the graphics,” says Comito, “For instance, I found photos of actual kidney beans and made them dance and pulse while Todd sang about wetlands serving as the ‘kidneys of the landscape.’ It appeals to kids because it’s silly.”

Todd Stevens, who wrote and sings the song, also enjoys the silliness, “You’ve got this classy, jazz lounge sound… but, you know, we’re singing about wetlands.”

No matter what age you are, do yourself a favor and get your wetland dance on! We promise we won’t make you talk in British accents.  We also have a number of worksheets and enhanced learning activities to accompany the video.

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