Educational Purposes

[lordkovacs]

I was wondering if anyone else puts on educational shows with their snakes? I am an elementary school teacher, and every few months I bring in a snake for the afternoon and give the kids a little lesson about snakes as pets, snakes in teh wild, and some history. You should see their faces light up when I reach in my travel tank and pull out the snake (the kids are 6 and 7 years old). It's amazing. Also, not ONE child has EVER been scared of the snake. They all realize snakes eat rodents as well, so they don't get grossed out. The funny thing here is that almost every adult I show the snake to is either scared or grossed out. Isn't that indicative of the way society is towards reptiles?
Any similar stories?
cheers,
MIKE

[Smilts]

i think that is really neat. I've always believed that we are trained by other adults while were growing up that snakes are bad. So by the time most people get to be adults they dont have a chance, they hate snakes because they were taught to. Its a good thing some of us break away from that tradition. And its really cool that you are sharing that love with children.

[RaVeNo888o]

i used to LOVE when people would bring in snakes and stuff. I think it only happened once that i can remember. We had this student teacher in grade 5 and she brought in her sand boa. I loved snakes b4 that but it just fueled the flame. It was a nice orange one i think. She didnt feed it though :(

[lordkovacs]

The first time I brought a corn to school, I let the 8 and 9 year olds watch it eat... (one at a time they could come up and take a peak. They were to fascinated by it. Absolutely no one refused the invitation to watch the feeding. I think if we get out into the public a little more, i think people will become better educated, and appreaciate what we do, and also appreciate the animals.
Cheers,
MIke

[Lisa]

Originally posted by Coy
i think that is really neat. I've always believed that we are trained by other adults while were growing up that snakes are bad. So by the time most people get to be adults they dont have a chance, they hate snakes because they were taught to. Its a good thing some of us break away from that tradition. And its really cool that you are sharing that love with children.

My cousins are a perfect example of this, when they were young (like 3 & 4 years old) she used to play with the snakes in the garden, her mom would be screaming at her to put the snake down etc. Now my cousin is absolutly terrified of snakes, even pictures on TV freak her out.

Myself on the other hand was never encouraged or discouraged on playing with snakes, I was just told that even though they weren't venomous nor dangerous they might bite out of fear, so rather then getting bitten (a 2-3 foot snake is big when you're 5 years old) I tended to leave them alone, just like I didn't like when frogs peed on me so I left them alone too. Bugs on the other hand freak the heebee jeebees out of me.

[lordkovacs]

very true... at least if you are taught to respect snakes in the wile (and those pets), you can appreciate them as animals. I try to incorporate that in my lessons. I explain that approaching a snake isn't wise for a few reasons, etc etc... basically i try to give the children an understanding and appreciation for the animal. I try to stay away from trying to sell them on snakes as pets issue because I would have a lot of upset parents. Mostly I just stick to snakes in the wild. I do field many inquisitive questions...mostly about how it eats. anyway, thanks for the input...keep em comin!
cheers,
MIKE

[RaVeNo888o]

you didnt like it when the frogs peed on you? what's wrong with you?? lol..
i never came accross snakes near our house or anything, cant really remember why it was i started to love them at a young age, but at the cottage we used to go around catching garter snakes, feed them a few frogs then let them go. Parents never stopped me

[lordkovacs]

you must have enlightened parents! haha...

[Lisa]

Originally posted by RaVeNo888o
you didnt like it when the frogs peed on you? what's wrong with you?? lol..
i never came accross snakes near our house or anything, cant really remember why it was i started to love them at a young age, but at the cottage we used to go around catching garter snakes, feed them a few frogs then let them go. Parents never stopped me

I'm still not fond of frogs peeing on me. :P

[CDN-Cresties]

Yea I have done it before, the kids just love it. I brought my ball python in and gave them a brief intro. They ask all sorts of questions. This up coming year im going to bring in my crested geckos.

My Ball Python named Elvis
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/1671aut_2476-med.jpg


-Steve-

P.S. sorry its not a colubrid, but ill get one eventually :D

[Wrath]

Scary. Have you ever had a kid hurt one of your snakes? I always imagine the one jerk kid who just wants to get a rise out of everyone and squeezing it! :( That would suck.

[CDN-Cresties]

Thats a concern, i also have the concern the the snake might try to strike at a child but im confident that my ball wont, he has never made a attempt at me, he is soo docile. I only let a select few of students touch my ball python, and only at mid-body and when is head isnt facing them (just incase).

-Steve-

[SerpentLust]

Hehe does taking the reptiles out where I work (pet store) and talking to customers for HOURS teaching proper care and temperament count as educational shows?

In school, any Biology or Science class (and even one time in English) I always grabbed at an opportunity to bring my snake to school and do presentations for the class on whatever topic I managed to weasel into the snake world! Hahaha

Jenn

[BoidKeeper]

Hey Mike,

I'm an elementary teacher too! I teach in NB. This past year I did three shows for my school with aprox ten snakes at each. It's so great to expose the students when they are young to the world of reptiles. The younger they are when myths are dispelled the better. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only herp teacher out there!
Cheers,
Trevor

[lordkovacs]

I guess Trevor we are lucky to have such an unbiased and captivated audience in children. they are willing to listen and not have any preconceived notions about snakes. Most, in fact, want snakes as pets after the presentation, so in the last few I have taken the focus away from snakes as pets, and put it more on snakes as part of "Kingdom Animalia". I encourage everyone to get out there and educate. What would be great is if everyone called their old elementary school and volunteered an afternoon to give a class a lesson on reptiles. I think the school would jump at the chance...I know mine would if I wasn't already there. try it; you won't regret it!
Cheers all,
MIKE

[LadyHawke]

i go around and do reptile shows like birthday parties and school shows.....but its not just snakes, i got everything from tarantulas, lizards, snakes of all sizes and a few exotic mammals, i try to help educate kids and adults on reptile awareness, habitat loss and conservation......that even uncuddly animals need to be saved too

[lordkovacs]

hey, that's great... add arachnids to the mix... and get the parents to listen too. i've really started to concentrate on the habitat and conservation angle too. children that are between teh ages of 7 and 12 are particularly sensitive to moral issues, so introducing them to these conservation concerns is very very effective. Good job...
cheers,
MIKE

[BoidKeeper]

I think you're right Mike. Especially since there have been plenty of snakes shows in the past in the province of NB that have had nothing to do with education and everything to do with the $300 price for doing them.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Smilts]

yea i dont like spiders or frogs peeing on me where ilived you oly seen two tps of snakes diamondback rattle snakes and bull snakes. When your small they look alot alike so we were told to leave snakes alone. But i love them anyway.

[Chris_Flowers]

Originally posted by Coy
i think that is really neat. I've always believed that we are trained by other adults while were growing up that snakes are bad. So by the time most people get to be adults they dont have a chance, they hate snakes because they were taught to. Its a good thing some of us break away from that tradition. And its really cool that you are sharing that love with children.

And do you know what started it? The bible! I'm sure I don't need to explain the Adam and Eve section?

[lordkovacs]

that's very true... snakes represented the devil's work..kind of like the messenger for the underworld. it's too bad snakes have that link. good point Chris

[Chris_Flowers]

Originally posted by lordkovacs
that's very true... snakes represented the devil's work..kind of like the messenger for the underworld. it's too bad snakes have that link. good point Chris

Think about it. I'm catholic (although I don't exactly practice my faith) and for the 22 years of my life I've grown up with that religion around me. The Adam and Eve story is drilled into every kid - its a no wonder kids/people are scared of snakes if from an early age they are told they are evil or the devils messenger/worker!

[Scales Zoo]

The bible story opens cans of worms when it comes to snakes. Once a 8 year old boy at a summer church camp remarked that he did not think it was a snake that told Eve to eat the apple. He stated that he beleived if Eve saw a snake in the garden, she would probably take off screaming! We rationalized that the punishment was to be turned into a snake for tricking Eve, and that it was probably some cute animal (fluffy bunny, perhaps?) that actually talked to Eve in the garden

Sheila

[lordkovacs]

hmmm, interesting perspective. never know, could've went down like that.

[Chris_Flowers]

Its funny how in one religion the snake is evil, yet in places like India - the snake is worshipped!

[LadyHawke]

that makes a lot of sense that Eve would have taken off screaming if she saw a snake, and that it is more likely something cute that she talked too
the problem i find with the bible is that it was written by people, and it was originally a different language as well....now i am sure everyone has played this as a kid at some point......you sit in a circle and "play phone".....there is a peson who starts and whispers to the nest.....when it gets to the last person they say it out load, 9 times out of 10 its something completely different, translation can be taken that way as well....somwhere along the road something gets lost or they decide to make it more exciting, its too bad a beautiful animal such as a snake had to get innocently caught up in this and be so feared and hated for no fault of its own.

[BWSmith]

http://www.reptileeducation.com/school1.gif

http://www.reptileeducation.com/northwoods2.gif

:D :D :D :D

[lordkovacs]

2nd pic is awesome...1st is great as well.. cheers,
MIKE

[BWSmith]

That was the only Anaconda I have ever worked with that I would actually use for education. Only bit me twice since I got her and that was when I startled her.

[spyderman]

About 5 weeks ago, when I got our FIRST snake (Bull snake) My our eldest daughter came in & said "Eeewwww....What do you want on of those things for?!?!" Now she holds her & is comfortable with her. We even had to buy the kids a baby corn the other day, just so I could have my Ekans back, all to myself

Our kids had never seen a snake b4, let alone held one. Now, we all keep on at my wife (their Mum) to get more. I'm NOT complaining. My Mrs has put a stop to me having a BURM, though.

[liltattyprinces]

i'm a mother of 2 and will be doing a daycare presentation with my kids and i's snakes 3 very sweet corns and a snoran, we are doing this for nature week and before the school year ended i was asked if i could come in to some of the classes when the year starts again, to do the same thing. I love it and the kids love it i have now pick up the nickename snake lady with the kids at school and daycare...i have been called worse...lol...i was always taught by my grandfather that snakes are an important part of our world and just want to share my love of these amazing creatures with kids

[lordkovacs]

congrats on the good work... it is rewarding and very meaningful. cheers,
MIKE

[Aradya]

I'm not a teacher, but I use my lil ones to help educate my family. I have a 5 year old who was terrified of anything that was cute and cuddly, now she is very comfortable around the snakes. I even have friends who ask about them and are sparking some curiousity. I live in a very small town, and snake ownership is a rarity.

[BWSmith]

I love when people tell you how much they hate and fear snakes, then ask questions for an hour :)

[lordkovacs]

haha...yeah, that's always funny! haha... i thnk they feel they "should" feel scared, but then aren't really.

[crimsonking]

At shows there are always "newbies" that stop by. Nearly all are intrigued with snakes, but have never held one. If there is a youngster along, they'll often get mom or dad to touch one for the first time. When I explain that it is a learned response to fear snakes, they will usually admit one or both of their parents were also (taught to be ) afraid of them. So many things need to be overcome. Even old sayings like "snake in the grass" or "lower than a snake" keep herps in a bad light. Cursed from the day of "upon thy belly thou shalt go..." Keep up the good work enlightening those who will listen.
:Mark

[lordkovacs]

so true, so ture...and thanks...I will.

[liltattyprinces]

i just did my first educational show at my daughter's daycare the kids loved it. Most had never seen a snake up close let alone touched one. i brought in 4 an adult and my babies the kids were amazed that they were the same type of snake. I had my 2 kids give me a hand showing and anwsering questions with me it was fantastik they have already asked me to come back again as well as to to a show for the juniours it was a great day for us all.

Laura

[lordkovacs]

wow...that's awesome Laura. good job!