Each day last week our classes had the chance to learn about — and create — different habitats and see — and touch — many of the animals that call the habitats home.  We added a clear water table to the Discovery Room to allow children to see above, beside and below. 

On Monday, Chris created a pond with various plants such as lily pads and then introduced the children to different fresh water frogs and fish.  They also got to see a baby duck swim and dive underwater!  Tuesday, Chris and the 4′s created a “brackish” water (part water, part salt) habitat like Long Island Sound.  The mixed the correct amount of salt using a special device (salinator?) so that the proportions were correct.  They added sea stars (formerly know as star fish), terapins (salt water frogs), muscles, clams and different kinds of crabs.  Wednesday, they created a forest habitat with Robin and added toads, tortoises and some other creepy crawlies.  Thursday Chris brought animals that live in the rain forest, including tree frogs, a tarantula, a green iguana named “Rain”, a milk snake named “Leche” and a mama and baby tortoise (Big Red and Little Red).

Friday was dedicated to the Preschool 4′s since this was their last visit with Animal Embassy at CCDC.  Chris told them taht he wanted to give them all a chance to share “some things they know”.  Since he always gives them the message that animals belong in nature, he showed them photos of the Animal Embassy staff returning some terrapins to Long Island Sound.  He reminded them that wild animals belong in nature but that sometimes when they are sold at pet stores they do not know how to live in nature so they are cared for at Animal Embassy.  He brought along an assortment of animals that they had seen throughout their time here including our old friend “India” the leopard gecko!  He brought chinchilla babies, lizards, snakes, turtles and a duck.  He emphasized that all these animals had things about them that were the same and some things that were different — just like people are different.

Chris left them with three things to remember:

1. Be nice to each other
2. Take good care of the earth
3. Come and visit Animal Embassy www.animalembassy.com

Photo albums from the visits can be found in Eileen’s Photos.  Full disclosure:  many of the photos were taken by teachers!