Educating the masses

[Hypancistrus]

So I've got two of my 9 snakes in my classroom, and the kids are very much interested in them. My students are between 14 and 18 years old, your standard American high school students. Many of them aren't very interested in school, period, and especially not in their current science classes, whose curriculum has been "adapted" to help them succeed in passing mandated state science tests (if you think biology as a course should be taught without ever touching on the following things-- human body systems, taxonomy, animal phyla, plant physiology & biology-- then move to MD, you'll be right at home).

But it just so happens that I've found a way to get them a little more interested in science... under the table if you will.

My Children's Python, Chaos, is a rather nice snake who doesn't give a rats hindquarters where he eats, so long as the mouse is warm. So I can hold him in my hand and let him eat... and in doing so I can actually walk around my classroom so all the kids can see.

I've done this three times since I discovered how casual he is about where he feeds, always to much applause and enjoyment by my students.

And it's not just about the snake eating the frozen mouse... they ask really good questions. Questions that need answering, like... "Do snakes poop?" "How do they breed?" "How can he fit that big mouse in there?" "What happens once it goes down?" "Why can't snakes eat pellets?"

Among others.....

I actually feel very much accomplished after a snake feeding session. I know it sounds stupid, but I feel like watching Chaos eat just one tiny mouse gets my kids more excited and inspired to question the world around them than the entire year of county mandated curriculum does.

I've also had very few students who wouldn't watch. I had one girl who complained loudly about how "cruel" it was... and she couldn't tear her eyes away once the feeding started.

I am thinking about taking my ambassador snakes into school at some point in the not-so-distant future, and letting kids hold them. My Jungly corn, Rio, is basically bullet proof. He's a real sweet heart-- has never hissed, struggled, bit, thrashed, musked or even pretended to do these things. I can't help but think... if seeing one snake feeding gets them excited... holding a snake would not only put them over the edge, but help to dispel some of the myths surrounding snakes.

Anyone else take their snakes around for community or school outreach? I would love to hear what all people do to rid the world of snake fears and hatred.

 

[wade]

That is cool Hy.

She Who Must Be Obeyed and I take snakes to several schools in our area each year. Usually elementary age kids. We get a great reception from them.

 

[Nanci]

For a time, as a high school student, I wanted to be a biology teacher. I LOVED biology and my teachers, both in high school and college. Your state sucks if the best subjects aren't included in the curriculum!!! What _do_ you get to cover?

 

[Hypancistrus]

What _do_ you get to cover?

The important stuff... you know... cell organelles... properties of water... macromolecules....

The genetics unit is probably the best and most interesting. We have an ecology unit but we rarely have much time-- it is our last unit.

 

[The_Thunderer]

Congrats on finding a way to reach the kids! Tomorrow, I'm actually taking my baby B&W Kingsnake to my daughter's class to set him and and leave there for the school year. I'll be by every few mornings to make sure that the water's been changed and that there are no smelly "poopies" for the kids to gross out about. The seem really excited too.

It is amazing how the kids can get excited over our slithery friends and their ways!

Great job!

 

[tstephe3]

well, at my college we have a biology club.. and our collection of reptiles are stacking up. we currently have a corn snake, ball python, and red tailed boa. we also have other reptiles. this is our first year and at some organizations we've had people ask if we can do demonstrations. and actually tomorrow i'm taking the corn snake into a evolution, something something class. lol

 

[jbrubak1]

Glad to see you teaching kids that snakes really aren't scary and are actually cool. I wish I had live animals in my science classes in high school!

Keep it up!

well, at my college we have a biology club.. and our collection of reptiles are stacking up. we currently have a corn snake, ball python, and red tailed boa.

Sorry this is :-offtopic but Trent, when did we get a Red Tailed Boa? Text me and let me know later!

 

[Hypancistrus]

Summary

First off, yesterday a student in my first period class came up to my desk to ask a question about the lab they were doing as I checked my email and put in attendance. I answered his question and then he looked at the magazine I had on my desk, which happened to be the 2008 Venom issue of Reptiles magazine. He asked if he could borrow it to read and I told him he could have it. DJ's eyes lit up like I'd just given him a guaranteed winning lotto ticket. He finished his lab early and spent the rest of the period pouring through the magazine cover to cover. I then told him I have a whole stack sitting at home on my coffee table. I hate to throw away knowlege, and so I offered to bring them in for him Tuesday so long as he promised that once he was done with them, he'd pass them on to another person. You'd have thought I told him Christmas was coming early, and he agreed. Crikey. This kid always asks questions about the snakes and is very interested in them. I feel pretty good that I get to stoke a young herp fan's interests. Did I mention he took a pic of my cal king, Izzy, in the classroom the other day and has it as the background on his cell??

Second, I did my first outreach event yesterday evening. My goal has always been to do more educational demos and presentations with my herps. I've been doing feeding demos and talking about daily care of herps and fish in my classroom for years now, but I'd like to do more community outreach events. This summer my sister asked me to bring a snake to her daycare (3 year olds) and talk to them about snakes. So when the opportunity came up last night after my flight to Houston to see the NFL game Sunday got hurricaned out, I agreed, and took it one step further, bringing Lucky the box turtle and Luna the leopard gecko as well. The snake I chose to take was my 3 year old jungle "corn", Rio, who I jokingly call my "lap snake." This snake is the calmest, most laid back snake I've ever met in my life. He is completely chill, and will just hang out on you. He's never bitten me or given any indication whatsoever that he might. All in all he is the perfect representative or ambassador for his species.

So I take my three critters to school and I'm given a table to set up on. People immediately flock to me and start asking to hold Rio, which I allowed because I am 100% confident in him. One of my students came over and brought her friend with her. Megan asked to hold Rio, and I handed him over and her friend ended up confessing to me that she is terrified of snakes. Eventually, Megan talked her into touching Rio, and then she held out her hands and Megan laid Rio on them. He just sat... moving a little bit, but not a lot. Eventually she started allowing him to ladder through her hands, and within 10 minutes she was holding him like a pro. She kept coming back over and over again to hold him, and asked Megan to take pics so she could show her mom. Then they asked me to take a pic of them holding Rio together, which I did.

But man, what a feeling for me. I've loved herps since I was a tiny little kid, and to be able to change someone's point of view of snakes in one public outreach session just gives me a total feeling of elation-- like I could spit and knock down the sun. It's crazy. If I could find a way to do this for a living, I'd be happy as a pig in mud. But I guess in a way, my job does allow me to reach a lot of kids. I have promised my students that I will bring one of my "holdable" snakes in before the end of '08, probably the day before Christmas, so that they can hold a snake, and that I'll tell them when so they can bring cameras. They are all very excited, and maybe I can change more minds then, too.

 

[Checkerbelly]

Hypancistrus FTW!