HOOKSETT BANNER (New Hampshire) 12 January 11 Third-graders want to name a state reptile (Dan O’brien)
A proposal to make the eastern hognose snake New Hampshire’s first official reptile will slither its way onto a legislative bill and become law in the coming months – if a group of local third-graders has its way.
Lisa Baynes’ class at the Strong Foundations Charter School has launched the effort after discovering a group of the endangered snakes lives across the road from their school.
“They have a genuine interest in it,” Baynes said. “They’re learning about something that’s right next to them.”
School officials first heard about the snake’s existence when they tried to build a new school across the street from its current location on Riverwood Drive. The project was halted after discovering the Eastern hognose snakes are listed as endangered by New Hampshire Fish and Game.
After hearing the news, Christina Dixon, who has three children attending the school, said she and her kids decided to research facts about the Eastern hognose snake.
“We’re kind of into the wildlife thing,” Dixon said. “We looked it up and found out the state of New Hampshire has no official reptile.”
It’s true. While the Granite State does have an official amphibian – the red-spotted newt – there is no official reptile.
When the news spread through the third-grade classroom of Dixon’s son, Jeremy, the students said they wanted to do something to change that.
“It’s located here, and what’s special about it is we only have a few of them,” student Henry Harman, 8, said. “It’s not poisonous.”
Experts say the eastern hognose snake could bite or jump at humans out of fear, but that its venom is harmless.
“They play dead” when faced with perceived threats by humans, said 8-year-old Taylor Palmer accurately. State Rep. Phyllis Katsakiores, R-Derry, has agreed to help the students try to get the legislation passed.
The 18 students in Baynes’ classroom worked on their campaign full-force on Friday, Jan. 7, with the kids dividing into groups to undertake different tasks. One group took information from the Internet and wrote letters to lawmakers on why the snake should become the official reptile.
On another side of the classroom, students created campaign posters.
Devin Perry, 8, made sure to draw the snakes’ scales in detail.
“I like to draw everything,” Perry said. “I like to draw sharks, too.”
Another group used playdough to show what a tracking device would look like on the snakes, while a fourth group illustrated the snake’s habitat by also using playdough.
“I think it’s great when students have an idea and adults help bring it to reality,” Principal Beth McClure said. “It teaches important life lessons.”
Baynes said if the State House creates a committee to hear the proposed legislation, the kids will be going on a field trip to attend the session.
“Whenever you’re interested in something that deeply, you’re going to learn more,” Baynes said. “It’s not in the curriculum to do this, but it’s worth it.”
Third-graders want to name a state reptile