Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone, I posted a while back about identifying a black racer that I found thinking in my ignorance that it may be a black rat. Anyway, last week a fellow teacher's student brought in a hatchling black rat and said that I could have it in exchange for a snake presentation in his class when they get to reptiles in 2 weeks.

I have the general plan laid out...

1. Talk about what a reptile is.
2. Compare snakes, lizards, and turtles.
3. Talk about the "real" dangers of snakes in Southside VA and the publics opinion of dangers.
4. Talk about the ecological importance of snakes, especially their role in rodent control (a big deal in a rural area like this.)

I am going to bring in a painted turtle, a leopard gecko, a ball python, a couple of corn snakes, and my columbian boa. I don't plan on letting the students hold any of the snakes as I don't have liability insurance, but I was thinking that they could "pet" them while I hold the snake securely facing away. I would also bring my hand sanitizer to avoid any problems with bacteria scares.

Does anyone else have any experience with this that could give me some advice? As the only middle school in this county, I've been working really hard to get some snake education in the classroom because it could have such a big effect on the "snake persecution" that's so rampant here and I want this to go as well as possible and create no more bad press.

Thanks for those who finished the book of a post I just wrote.
-----
Black Rat 0.1 (Patty)
Black Racer 1.0 (Alfred)
Ball Pythons 1.1 (Morty & Mary)
Amazon Tree Boas 1.1 (Orville & Aeme)
Corn Snakes 3.2 (?, Bob, Sandy, Candy, and Tye)
Leopard Geckos 1.2 (Leo, Spaz, and Spot)
LOTSO BABIES!
Central Painted Turtle 1.0 (Swim)
Red-Eared Slider 0.0.1 (Harold)
Mississippi Map Turtles 0.0.6
(Modelo, Tecate, Corona, Sol, XX, Bohemia)
Western Painted Turtle 0.0.1 (Picaso)
Columbian Red-Tailed Boa 1.0 (James Jr.)

www.geocities.com/wink0083

We have done some of that type of stuff around here with kids and I feel one of the most important things to add in is information and pictures of what the local snakes look like so when they find a snake they can identify it and respond appropriately. Educating people to be kind and respectful of the wildlife snake population is important and I am always happy to hear of people doing it. good luck to you.

Since I only have 3 local species so far, I will certainly build a display showing the other non-venomous as well as venomous species. I was also thinking about starting off with a picture of a snake and a pit bull puppy and asking the kids which they think is more dangerous. Maybe just maybe the true statistics will make a few of them think.
-----
Black Rat 0.1 (Patty)
Black Racer 1.0 (Alfred)
Ball Pythons 1.1 (Morty & Mary)
Amazon Tree Boas 1.1 (Orville & Aeme)
Corn Snakes 3.2 (?, Bob, Sandy, Candy, and Tye)
Leopard Geckos 1.2 (Leo, Spaz, and Spot)
LOTSO BABIES!
Central Painted Turtle 1.0 (Swim)
Red-Eared Slider 0.0.1 (Harold)
Mississippi Map Turtles 0.0.6
(Modelo, Tecate, Corona, Sol, XX, Bohemia)
Western Painted Turtle 0.0.1 (Picaso)
Columbian Red-Tailed Boa 1.0 (James Jr.)

www.geocities.com/wink0083

instead of a pix of a pit bull? Pit bulls already suffer from such bad press, I would try to keep away from more bad press for the poor pit bulls.
-----
phflame
kingsnake.com host

I was just thinking pit because so many of my students have them. I see what you mean though, maybe I can find a pit and a beagle sitting with each other for balance.
-----
Black Rat 0.1 (Patty)
Black Racer 1.0 (Alfred)
Ball Pythons 1.1 (Morty & Mary)
Amazon Tree Boas 1.1 (Orville & Aeme)
Corn Snakes 3.2 (?, Bob, Sandy, Candy, and Tye)
Leopard Geckos 1.2 (Leo, Spaz, and Spot)
LOTSO BABIES!
Central Painted Turtle 1.0 (Swim)
Red-Eared Slider 0.0.1 (Harold)
Mississippi Map Turtles 0.0.6
(Modelo, Tecate, Corona, Sol, XX, Bohemia)
Western Painted Turtle 0.0.1 (Picaso)
Columbian Red-Tailed Boa 1.0 (James Jr.)

www.geocities.com/wink0083

Here is a great site for info and ideas.

I am willing to bet that some of your kids think that snakes are in league with the devil. We are in the Bible belt as you well know. Ignorence is bliss, and there are some very happy people when it comes to herps out there.

If you can find one to borrow, a hognose snake could be a big hit with the students. They are native to our area.

Good luck with your lesson.
Virginia Herpetological Society Web Site

The satanic rights of the snakes has been brought up before for sure. If it didn't always mean the death of the snake, I would find seeing grown men shriek in fear of baby racers and rat snakes quite entertaining. I am in the process now of trying to convince our librarian to give up her old card catalogues so that I can gut them, line the inside, and make a local snake display for the 7th grade classes. I've now got a black racer, a black rat, and a common corn snake to go into it. Next on the list is an eastern king and an eastern garter. I've seen way to many of those 5 species corpses brought in by students who are positive that they have a copper head or a cotton mouth. Hopefully if students can learn to identify all of the non-venomous species we can get a little bit past the emotion and into the realm of fact. It may be wishful thinking, but if you don't make an attempt, what do you expect?
-----
Black Rat 0.1 (Patty)
Black Racer 1.0 (Alfred)
Ball Pythons 1.1 (Morty & Mary)
Amazon Tree Boas 1.1 (Orville & Aeme)
Corn Snakes 3.2 (?, Bob, Sandy, Candy, and Tye)
Leopard Geckos 1.2 (Leo, Spaz, and Spot)
LOTSO BABIES!
Central Painted Turtle 1.0 (Swim)
Red-Eared Slider 0.0.1 (Harold)
Mississippi Map Turtles 0.0.6
(Modelo, Tecate, Corona, Sol, XX, Bohemia)
Western Painted Turtle 0.0.1 (Picaso)
Columbian Red-Tailed Boa 1.0 (James Jr.)

www.geocities.com/wink0083

When I was in scouts, and went to summer camp, people would kill Copperheads on sight. I even killed a few myself. Now that I am older and a little wiser, if I come across one on the road, I will stop and make sure that it gets safely across.

Why do we kill these wonderful creatures who only want to avoid us? Even worse, we teach our children to do the same thing.

Try to teach your students that snakes left alone are not a danger to anyone and they belong in their little part of the world.

Let us know how your lesson goes over with the students.

SE Va. Black Rat (York Co. rescue)

What grade or age group are you going to be presenting to? I have a few different things that I do for different age groups. Also, if it is older kids, watch out for the smart a$$es. To combat that I donate the book - Reptiles of Virginia and the Carolinas (I live in NC)to each class I go to so the disruptive kids can learn after I leave... With the smaller kids I have little snake, frog and lizard toys that I give out and a special prize ( usualy a book ) for the brave assistant who helps me catch turtles ( do a turtle race with boxies. My set up is more an act though for the little ones.
I also stick to basic facts and neat folklore of my area. The most important thing is to get with theteacher to see if there is something you can add that will re-enforce his/her lesson plan, that way a 1 hour reptile talk can serve 2 purposes!
If you can't put the animals in the school, try to find posters! I always leave posters with the science department in high schools too. I spend about $20 for every free show I do out of pocket but that is a small expence compared to what it can do for our scally friends! Plus one of my most vivid memories of scouts way the snake guy who came and did a show for us and the snakes that were set up at the Naturalist Area.
Rock On, Blue