Hedgehoggy Education

[CharlieCreek]

Chuffed to say that we are finalising dates for our first school visit to talk to a class about hedgehogs.

Three or four schools have approached us but this will be the first one we are going into. I have been the one delegated by the other half, her excuse being 'well you work as a ranger so you are used to educating and working with children about nature!' (she doesn't like standing up as the centre of attention - I have no choice on the other hand)

This school class sponsors something each year and for this term they are sponsoring us. So each week their teacher has arranged for them to bring something like a tub of mealworms or some cat biscuits to help the hogs out that are under our care. Then towards the end of November maybe early December I will go into the school to talk to them all.

Looks like I need to get a hoggy talk sorted out and some displays aimed at a younger audience and maybe the hog puppet will have to come out too! So far our hog education has been with adults who come to talk to us so this will be a nice new experience.

[Farplace]

Sounds good CharlieCreek. Let us know how it goes please.

[dampflippers]

I'm sure you and they will enjoy it.
Revise your hedgehoggy facts ready for the questions:
How many spines, fleas etc, distance walked, number of gardens, what they eat.

[theresa dockery]

It's wonderful that some schools are now including natural history/wildlife into their lessons

I was once invited along to a primary school (in a rough area) to give a talk about phasmids (stick insects) and was rather terrified by the idea of talking to the children (bad memories of high school and all that).

Despite my initial trepidation, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience - even the 'naughty kids' of the class (who normally misbehaved/disrupted lessons) were not only enthusiastic but enthralled when I brought out a selection of live species to show them. I was really very surprised.

At the end, I got them to make some drawings - I wish I could have photographed some of these - they were spectacular & so creative

So I think you will really enjoy the experience!

I wish my primary school had allowed talks like these - we never had any biology lessons (only maths, english & history) or even a 'nature table'.

[faz]

i have done a few education talks in schools, girl guides, etc children are a good group to talk to as they will ask the question you wont expect ilove talking to the younger genaration

[CharlieCreek]

It will be good to do the talk with them.

Through the ranger service I work with a wide range of children and teenagers who come to the site and every age group has it's good aspects.

The little ones are great because the activities are good fun and they get so enthralled by everything and they do come out with some great questions.

The older groups can be harder work. I also work a lot with teenagers with social behavioural issues who can be very challenging to teach at times but you see sparks there and quite often they totally suprise you.

I have one group one day every week at the moment who are on a conservation course where I am doing a wide ranger of tasks with them from woodland work, heathland restoration, step buidling, bridges repairs etc and at times they are challenging to work with, but at other times they get so stuck in and do a fantastic job. Also each week you see something that has sunk in with them and they have a pride in what they have achieved.

It will be nice to go into the school though with the younger children to talk about the hogs. Really looking forward to it.

[Hedgehoggy]

That's great news, Charlie. Have fun and please do report back to let us know how it went. Love the hog puppet idea to captivate a younger audience

[JeanieandJoey]

Originally Posted by CharlieCreek

Chuffed to say that we are finalising dates for our first school visit to talk to a class about hedgehogs.

Three or four schools have approached us but this will be the first one we are going into. I have been the one delegated by the other half, her excuse being 'well you work as a ranger so you are used to educating and working with children about nature!' (she doesn't like standing up as the centre of attention - I have no choice on the other hand)

This school class sponsors something each year and for this term they are sponsoring us. So each week their teacher has arranged for them to bring something like a tub of mealworms or some cat biscuits to help the hogs out that are under our care. Then towards the end of November maybe early December I will go into the school to talk to them all.

Looks like I need to get a hoggy talk sorted out and some displays aimed at a younger audience and maybe the hog puppet will have to come out too! So far our hog education has been with adults who come to talk to us so this will be a nice new experience.

Hi, Please see my post on hedgehogs and the use of 'frontline' spray for parasites, etc. Want to let as many people know as possible, thanks. Just don't use the stuff. Determined the little juvenilles I was rearing didn't die in vain! Thank you Jean