Larkrise Primary Oxford
Big bugs and The Animal Kingdom Live

Teacher feedback form

Did the children enjoy it? What indicated this?

Yr 3/4 Children enjoyed it enormously. They talked about it all the following day.

Yr1/2 Yes – their enthusiasm and keenness.

Do you think this experience was valuable for the children? Why?

Yr 3/4 They were able to talk with personal experience about reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds and mammals in a follow up activity.

Yr1/2 First hand experience of bugs etc. in an educating environment.

How much science did they learn from it?

YR 3/4 They learned about the orders of creatures, they were able to talk intelligently particularly about adaptations for survival.

Yr1/2 A lot about classification of mammals, reptiles etc. Information about identification e.g. an insect has six legs, a thorax, head, abdomen etc.

Was the presenter professional in manner with the children and a good communicator with each age group?

Yr3/4 Martin was engaging and humorous as well as being thoroughly professional.

Yr1/2 Excellent

Was this experience better/different from seeing animals in a zoo?

Yr3/4 This experience had the benefit of letting the children experience the creatures without glass or bars between them and the creatures.

Yr1/2 Yes much better. Informed person-answering questions. Ability to get closer to the creatures.

Would you recommend this presenter to other schools? Was it good value for money - £480 for a whole day, whole school and after school show for parents?

Yr3/4 I think £1 per person was excellent value for money, I would happily recommend the show.

Yr1/2 Yes, Yes.

Larkrise after school show - A Grandma’s comments:

I enjoyed the rapport between Martin and the children and also appreciated the patience he showed with them.
They obviously had taken in the experience they had had.
It was lovely to see all the animals; I think the children were very lucky to have the opportunity – very different from my early days as an infant teacher!!

Hi Martin,
Thank you so much for coming to Stewards School Science Specialist, Harlow on Tuesday 17th October 2007. Your ‘Reptiles and Amphibians Show’ was very educational and entertaining. Across the board students from Year 7 to Year 11 were captivated by your animals.

Here are some comments from the students:

I thought that Martin and his animals were ……
‘Excellent! I thought that the animals were very good and Martin explained them very well.’ Lauren Dale 7JH

‘Very cool because snakes are my favourite animals.’ Mark Middlecott 8CW

‘Excellent! The animals were excellent especially the Iguana.’ Harrison Taylor 9RP

‘Really good. I liked holding the snake!’ Oovie Usher 11SG

Comments from Teachers:
‘Beaut! A few memories of home. Antipodean creatures in Harlow. Crikey. If your iguana needs a home, call me!’ Mr A. Taylor (Australian Science Teacher )

‘A great display. A lot of fun and experience for all who came. Lots of excitement around the animals.’ Mr E. Otoo (African Science Teacher)

Again, thank you so much,
Geraldine J
Science Curriculum Development Co-ordinator

Isle of Wight Council – Gifted and Talented Steering Group
The Big Bug Experience

Pupil Feedback

I never knew that:

Bugs were so interesting.
Tarantulas are hairy.
Some centipedes have 42 legs.
Some millipedes have 280 legs.
Some insects look like leaves.
Tarantulas shed their skins.
Some bugs eat other bugs.
Some bugs are called myriapods.
Whip scorpions squirt vinegar.
Some stick insects can fly.
Centipedes are poisonous.
Emperor scorpions use their claws to catch food.
Some stick insects look like scorpions.
Tarantulas can feel, hear and attack with their hairs.
Millipedes have other bugs living on them.
Most big bugs are harmless to us.
Cockroaches are clean animals.
There were so many different types of stick insect.
There are about 1200 species of scorpion.
Stick insects can be so long.
Spiders can get so big.
Once an emperor scorpion gets used to being handled it does not sting.
A praying mantis looks like it’s praying.
A tarantula gets grumpy after it sheds its skin.
Some cockroaches can fly.
Stick insects have hooks on their feet.

I really liked:

All of it – it was exciting.
The big green bug.
When Martin got the spider out.
The giant millipedes.
Hearing about insects.
Holding the insects.
The tarantula.
The leaf cockroaches, because of their camouflage.
Stroking the scorpion.
Learning about creatures.
The whip scorpion.
Seeing the scorpions on the floor.
Holding the big green stick insect.
When the cockroaches ran.
The flying stick insects.
Every bit!

A Year 8 Science Network Event was hosted by LSU on the 5th of July. Pupils from seven neighboring Camden schools attended.
The sheer abundance of life on Earth is almost overwhelming, yet at the same time it is both diverse and closely related.
Dr Sandy Knapp from the Natural History Museum looked at the patterns of these relationships between different animals. Pupils explored how keys and classifications differ and how each is used by scientists studying biodiversity.
After lunch Martin Rapley presented The Animal Kingdom Live with guest appearances by scorpions, a tarantula, giant millipedes, hissing cockroaches, an iguana and others.
Feeding relationships, adaptation and classification were discussed. Pupils were thrilled to see and touch these animals.
There were plenty of photo opportunities for the brave!

From The Headteachers newsletter – La Sainte Union Catholic School -
Highgate Road - London.