Why do we have pets in the classroom?
A classroom pet creates endless opportunities to make learning fun. Whether it’s setting up a business selling insects for the HSIE unit ‘Who will buy?’ or to cover the Science unit ‘Schoolyard Safari’, students approach learning these subjects, even mathematics and literacy, with new enthusiasm and interest.
Pets also enrich the classroom experience:
• Students with no exposure to animals or nature in their home environment can see, feel, touch and make connections to the wide world of animals.
• Observing and caring for an animal instills a sense of responsibility and respect for life.
• A pet brings increased sensitivity and awareness of the feelings and needs of others—both animals and humans.
• Students learn that all living things need more than just food and water for survival.
• Students will see directly how their behaviour and actions affect others.
• Studies show that the presence of animals tends to lessen tension in the classroom.
OUR COLLECTION
Stick Insects
Spiny Leaf Stick Insect, Extatosoma Tiaratum (caresheet)
Children’s Stick Insect, Tropidoderus childrenii (caresheet)
Giant Walking Sticks, Acrophylla wuelfingi (caresheet)
Ten -Inch Stick, Ctenomorphodes briareus (caresheet)
Crown Head Stick Insect, Onchestus rentzi (caresheet)
Goliath Stick Insect, Eurycnema goliath (caresheet)
They all belong to the group called phasmids. Phasmids are insects that eat leaves and resemble leaves or sticks. more info
Our Stick Insects are kept in terrariums that provide good ventilation. We use thin foam on the bottom and a plastic bottle with pebbles to hold the leaves and water. Our Terrarium Keepers clean out the cage once every couple of weeks and spray the leaves at least twice per day.
Spiny Leaf Stick Insect, Extatosoma Tiaratum
Giant Walking Sticks, Acrophylla wuelfingi
Ten -Inch Stick, Ctenomorphodes briareus
Children’s Stick Insect, Tropidoderus childrenii
Goliath Stick Insect, Eurycnema goliath
Crowned Stick Insect, Onchestus rentzi
Egg (Ova) Collection
it’s nice to learn more about stick insects,
now i know the eggs of the different types
nice name.
why not make it superjojomoejo?
Dear Mr.Rees how many different kinds of stick insects are in the WHOLE WORLD?
Over 3000 in the world and about 150 in Australia.
Do you think you could tell me how many eggs a in our classroom?
thanks!
There are definitely more than a thousand eggs, though you need to remember that they will take between 3 months and 3 years to hatch.
Do you have all the eggs in the pictures?????
thanks!!
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
No, the eggs in these pictures have all hatched. In the large hatching container will be a large mix of all of these species.
I can not belive that we have fish!What happens when term finishes?
They will stay at school and I will come in to feed them.
How many types of stick insects are in the world.
Over 3000 in the world and about 150 in Australia.
hi mr rees I have now got 24 baby stick insects
and i got 7 birds 4 parrots and 3 budgys
Wow!! 24 nymphs, that is fantastic. You will have to keep those birds away, you wont want them munching on the nymphs.
:p
WWOOWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thats a lot of pets and 2 hermit crabs are to much for me!
Which table are you on?
Taylah was in my class a couple of years ago.
oops
cute name i wish i had your name. I`m jealous.
thats alot of pets
i know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi mr rees
it’s lily from 4NR now in the OC 6B i really miss playing with the stick insects. i hope there going well
and where do you teach?
Who? :p I do remember you, it is not that long ago and I am not THAT old. Hi Lily
Stick Insects are doing well. My class this year don’t really get to play with them much, they have to get their work finished first.
I teach at Artarmon Public School, it’s near Chatswood.
Hope you are enjoying your final year of primary school.
hi mr rees
no fair
best day ever! see u on monday
just wrote a really long comment but it said i got the spam wrong
just found a crownd stick insect in the park
my sister screamed when i put it on her back
JoJoMojo
You should highlight and copy the text before sending comment.
Cool, although I don’t think it would have been a Crowned Stick Insect.
thats funny
Awesome, i found a stick insect while i was walking home on tuesday.
Cool! What did it look like?
i need expert help on my poor hermit carb Hermione
she has lost a leg but i know she will grow an other one back anyway i have 2 tanks 1 is small and we Hermione in there.i put her in there because
1. she drowned in water
2. she seems sad
3. she isnt moving much
4. she is acting strangely she isnt sleeping like she is trying to moult!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i tried every thing like giving her favourite food none it seems to work i helped her in water but that led her to drown.
she is the longest living hermit crab i got and i do not want to loose her.she is the best fiend i ever had so please help me
thank you
that will make me and Hermione ,Chocolate and very happy.
Marica
Do you have a heat lap or other type of heating system?
yes i do i have a hermit crab heater and a thing that tells me if it needs to be warmer or more humid.
i dont want 2 over heat
No, some parts of your tank need to be heated and other left cooler.
hermione died
That is really sad to hear.
i made a grave for hermione do u ?
It would depend on the pet. I have so many stick insects and they have such a short life, it would be very difficult to dig a grave for each.
thats a lot of stickinsects we have.How many stick insects nymphs are there.
when i was at the oval there was a whole bunch of stick insects and i didnt know until one of them moved and i ran away and told every one there was a leak that was alive.
Coooool
Mr. Rees-
What a great blog post on the benefits of a classroom pets! By reading the post and seeing the other comments, I can see that your students are really benefitting from your teaching!
Have you heard of the Pets in the Classroom Grant program? It provides financial support to teachers who want a new classroom pet or who have a classroom pet and want financial help in maintaining a classroom pet. Visit http://www.petsintheclassroom.org for more info!
Thank you Rachel, although I don’t think this grant is available to us in Australia.