Customer Reviews

They Dont Have to Die

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The trend in science education today (long overdue, IMHO), is for hands-on. The closer the student can get to some form of manipulation of whatever they're studying, the better they'll learn the material. Gone or going, thankfully, are the days of the 'sage on stage' teacher who stands at the head of the class dispensing nuggets of wisdom for the students to eagerly gobble up (not that there was EVER that much eager gobbling going on...).

Hence, in many contemporary classrooms, there is move away from the color-the-worksheet-on-the- life-cycle-of-the-tadpole technique, and an introduction OF a real-life tadpole into the classroom itself (which, arguably, has GOT to be more interesting).

So, OUT go the pictures of worms and grasshoppers, and IN come the real insects themselves. One problem: what to do with the lil' nippers (the animals, not the students) once the science lesson is over. In the past, most classroom animals and insects have either been released on the playground or given a "burial at sea" in the staff restroom after school is done for the day.

Not necessary now, thanks to Mr. Dunlap. Covering a VERY broad spectrum of living creatures, from ants and worms to much larger creatures like mice & turtles, Mr. Dunlap not only informs the reader how to humanely "reintroduce" the specimen into the wild, he also provides the reader with some even MORE important information: how to keep the animal/insect ALIVE while it's IN the classroom (what heating elements are best for what type of lizards, e.g., what moss is best for earthworms). THIS may, for some classrooms and students, be the major selling point of the book--how best to keep Timmy's prize salamander he found during recess alive during it's week in residence in the classroom without it getting sick or dying.

While written primarily for teachers and classrooms, it is by no means ONLY for these environments. Families with children who are curious about the natural world (and who frequently collect little "pets" from the back yard or garden--I had a friend who's 3 year old had a pet slug for two days) will find this book not only useful, but very educational as well.

A much needed resource book for schools looking to add animals to their classrooms. Easy to read, but not dumbed down. I enjoy to biting satire found throughout the book. Like: You don't want to breed (this animal) you just think you do.