British Science Week - Animal Encounters Workshop

This afternoon Team EO were very lucky to take part in an 'Animal Encounters Workshop' organised by Miss Fury!

During the animal encounter workshop, the children got to see a tortoise, a millipede, a snake, a hedgehog, a skinny pig and a chinchilla. First, we were shown a tortoise which was brought around for the children to touch. Did you know that a tortoise’s shell is made of keratin which is a type of protein that makes our hair and nails?

Next a millipede was brought round for the children to feel, some of the children held it and said that it tickled their hands. Between the centipede and the millipede, the millipede it actually the nicer of the two. The centipede can feed on bats and mice, whereas the millipede feeds on plants. The most recorded amount of legs on a millipede is 750.

After that a corn snake was shown and some children were brave enough to hold it, even Miss Muckell held it. To hold it, the snake was draped around their shoulders with the child choosing whether or not to support its head on their hand. A corn snake it a constrictor snake meaning that they wrap around the prey to kill it before swallowing it whole by dislocating its jaw.

Then we saw a pigmy hedgehog. The man picked it up in a blanket because of it’s spikes. As he brought it round for the children to see it kept making a huffing sound with a slight jump, The man said that this was it’s defence this breed doesn’t roll up into a ball so it makes this sound to warn people off and the slight jump is it pushing it’s spikes into whatever is holding it. 

Next we were shown skinny pig which is a guinea pig without hair. Guinea pigs are herbivores. It is really important that a skinny pig is kept warm, the temperature must be no lower that 15*C. If it is lower the skinny pig would go into shock and die. Surprisingly the skinny pig’s skin felt like velvet.

Finally, we were shown a chinchilla. The chinchilla’s fur was so smooth and soft. Pet chinchillas require easy access to food, water, and hiding places, where they can sleep undisturbed for extended periods of time. Chinchillas don’t bathe in water, instead they have dust baths.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time so were unable to see the last 2 animals he had brought in which were a rabbit and a bearded dragon.

Team EO demonstrated excellent listening skills and sat really quietly and smartly throughout the workshop - what incredible children we have in Team EO!