Search results matching tags 'science' and 'kids'

Inspiring Children to Love Learning – with Reptiles

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:50:39 GMT

Posting by CobraCaroline

Do you know a child who loves snakes? How about a child who loves exploring in the park and asks questions about every leaf, rock, and worm? Or a child who wants to know how an airplane flies or what makes the trash truck so loud? If so, you know a child who is interested in science.

While hiking in the cold winter woods the other day, I began thinking of all the family members, teachers, and other adults who encouraged my interest in snakes , reptiles, and the natural world when I was a child.

Although no one in my family loved (or even liked) snakes, my parents allowed me to explore the woods and swamps near my house, bring home and even the keep garter snakes and frogs I found. My grandparents brought me to reptile lectures at the zoo and baked cakes in the shape of snakes and lizards for my birthdays. When I was 9 years old, my grandma even snake-sat for me while I was on vacation – and my pet brown snake gave birth to over 20 live baby snakes while under her care!

Due to the encouragement of my family, I developed a life long love of and respect for nature and science. My goal in creating Reptiles Alive over 16 years ago was to inspire the same interests for science in other people – especially children.

Watching television shows or looking at a computer screens are two dimensional experiences that have little impact on our senses . Seeing a snake or lizard in a picture will not inspire the same excitement as seeing a real, living, breathing animal up close.

Imagine the difference between looking at a picture of an apple on a computer screen and holding a real apple in your hand. Which experience will give you a better appreciation for what an apple really is?

A child who comes home from a Reptiles Alive show wanting to learn more about reptiles, is a child who has been inspired to learn. An interest in snakes and animals can lead to interests in other aspects of science. A love of nature and animals can lead to compassion for all living creatures and our planet itself.

Hosting Your School Assembly Performers

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:27:31 GMT

The school year is just getting swinging. You have been given the task of hiring and hosting this year’s school assemblies. You have finished hiring your performers – now it’s time to get ready for the show.

Step One: Choosing the Right Location for the Show

A variety of factors make up a good school assembly performance space.

Availability – the performer will need time to set up and break down before and after the assemblies, so be sure the space is available during the full time the performer will be at your school.
Size – More space is always better than not enough. Try to secure the largest possible venue for the performance. Keep in mind the size of your audience and the size of the actual performance space. Also respect FIRE CODE occupancy limits. If you think there may not be enough room to accommodate all the audience members plus the performance area , you may need to book extra shows.
Access: Most school assembly performers come with a lot of baggage, literally speaking. PA systems, props, and especially live animals are not easily transported up stairs or for long distances. Choose a performance space that is easy to load equipment and animals into. Try to choose a location is wheelchair accessable (this makes loading with a cart easy.) If there will be stairs, be sure to let the performer know in advance as stairs may present a problem for some performances.
PARKING: Please be sure you have a close parking spot reserved for your performer. No Parking = No Performance for us here at Reptiles Alive and for many other performers as well.

STEP TWO: Know Your Performer’s Show Set Up Requirements

Closely read ALL of the paper work the performer has sent you: contracts, prep sheets, etc… Contact the performer with any questions you may as soon as possible. If your performer has not informed you of any specific needs or requirements ASK them BEFORE the date of your assembly.
Arrange with your school’s staff to have the performance space set up as needed on the date of the assembly.

Step 3: The Day of the Show

Arrive at the school at or before the approximate arrival time of the performer so you are there to greet them and assist in getting the performer checked into the school, parked, and shown to the performance space.
Keep a phone with you that you have given as your emergency contact number for the performer. This way you will know if the performer is running late or having other trouble getting to your show that day.
If the agreement was for payment to be given on the day of the show, make sure to have the signed check in the proper amount ready to give to the performer.

Now, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Scenes of the Jungle

Anonymous — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:13:57 GMT

I enjoyed one of the most beautiful scenes of a jungle on my trip to Costa Rica. We were high in the mountains above the Pacific Coast rain forests surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens.

Every morning I would watch the clouds rise from the valleys into the sky.

And every evening settle down into the valleys for a long rest.

Many of the mountains were very high. These ones rise above palm plantations.

The trees were amazing. I tried to hug a few, but they were too big.

Many of the trees have enormous buttress roots. They help hold up the massive trees. People used this strategy when building huge buildings before they were built with metal and concrete.

Is this where chocolate comes from?

Not only can the canopy be delicious, but also fun. The animals climb along the massive branches in the dark canopy. We prefer to fly, zzzzzzzzzzip!

Down from the emergent layer in the sun into the dark unknown.

Under the canopy in the understory and forest floor, it sure is dark! No wonder baby trees take so long to grow big.

Down here there is plenty of water. Just not enough sun for many plants to grow on the forest floor.

Speaking of the sun, I think it is time it went to bed. All of this exploring has worn me out.

Good night!

Lets Investigate the Bugs!

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:14:45 GMT

Thought I would share this really cool hands on activity. Remember kids love to explore! This activity was done by Ms. Wendy Smith basso a “Home Child Care provider”.

She says: I took plastic bugs and put them in the Easter grass, the kids then had magnifying glasses to look and investigate the bugs and what kinds they were. What colors were they, etc. There we spiders, ants, preying mantis, and lady bugs.

Try it I’m sure your kids would feel like little Scientists! Thanks Wendy!

The Easy Way to Explain How Dinosaurs Died

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 16:53:00 GMT

For those parents who just don't have the time to explain it to their kids or for those parents who really have no idea how they died, Here is a short, simple and easy explanation to the question: "How did Dinosaurs Die?"