TN Aquarium visits 2nd Grade

Second grade had a special visitor, Bill Haley, from the TN Aquarium come and talk to them about Tropical Treasures. Some of the important facts he shared with the children were:

• Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn
• Tropics lay between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
• Only 1 state in the United States lays in the tropics....Hawaii
• Animals of the Tropics
• Tarantula which is venomous, but only deadly to insects.
• Southeast Asia Giant Spiny walking leaf
• India Lizard - Leopard Gecko eats juicy bugs or carry emergency water in fat, little tail
• East Coast Africa and Madagascar is the home to the Tomato Frog
• Tomato Frog is an endangered animal who used to live in 100 acres of forest but now only has 5 acres of forest in Madagascar
• Tomato Frog uses its color as a defense which tells the other insects and animals he tastes horrible.
• Madagascar Giant Hissing Cockroach hisses at its predators. Several students were given the chance to hold the cockroach.
• African Ball Python molts or sheds its skin

Petting the the African Ball Python.

Each child had the opportunity to pet the African Ball Python.

Mr. Bill Haley explains about African Ball Python to the second graders.

A little nervous about the snakes & bugs.

He is not scared to have the Giant Hissing Cockroach crawl up his sleeve.

Not scared of the Giant Hissing Cockroach.

Placing the Giant Hissing Cockroach on his arm.

Not sure if she likes this Giant Hissing Cockroach crawling up her arm.

Listening to all the information Mr. Haley told them.

Walking around to show them the Tarantula.

Gross!!

Learning about tropical beetles and snakes.

Taking a closer look at the tarantula.

Showing off the Southeast Asia Giant Spiny Walking Leaf.

Everyone got to look at the tarantula.