Critter Caravan

Visits Sandy Hook

By Tanjua Damon

The Pratt Center’s Critter Caravan brought insects, reptiles, mammals, arachnids, and amphibians to Sandy Hook Elementary kindergarten classrooms last week through an environmental education outreach program.

Katie DeJohn brought various critters for the kindergartners to see, including a hissing cockroach, a tarantula, a spotted salamander, a snapping turtle, and a ferret.

The students were taught that insects have six legs and antennas that they use to smell. All insects also have wings as well as an exoskeleton.

Ms DeJohn brought hissing cockroaches for the students to touch and see an insect up close. The cockroach is a nocturnal animal.

Arachnids are spiders, ticks, and scorpions. They have eight legs.

Frogs, toads, and salamanders fall into the amphibian category. Amphibians breathe with gills and eat with their tongues. The students were able to see a spotted salamander.

Reptiles consist of snakes, lizards, turtles, alligators, and crocodiles. Ms DeJohn brought a snapping turtle with her that was only a few years old.

Ziggy the ferret was the big hit of the Critter Caravan, as Ms DeJohn finished the presentation by talking about mammals. All mammals have hair and are cute and fuzzy, she told the students.

The Critter Caravan visited all the morning and afternoon kindergarten classes at Sandy Hook School. The Pratt Center is located in New Milford.