Some call them creepy crawlies, but Joe Merzlak, of Asheville Wildside, calls them fascinating!
Mr. Merzlak visited Charles C. Bell Elementary School on Thursday to teach first graders about amazing insects, arachnids, and reptiles. The kids got close-up views of a tarantula, a scorpion, snakes, and more. First grade teacher Deanna Buchanan even participated in the demonstration by handling a corn snake. She said her students are learning about “creature features,” the different body parts found across the animal kingdom – like spinnerets on a spider or the metasoma (tail) of a scorpion.
“To have this hands-on learning, it helps them understand it better,” she said.
Mr. Merzlak, who has worked with exotic animals for almost 20 years, said live demonstrations get kids excited about the natural world.
“There’s something we can learn about every single one of these animals across many different subject areas,” he said. “And I love visiting younger students, because they ask questions and they don’t hide their fascination, even with the ones that have a bad reputation.”
“I want them to see these animals before they develop a fear or an aversion to them,” added Media Coordinator Amy Brown.
Olive, one of the first graders, certainly didn’t have that problem. She was very excited to see the animals, especially the hognose and corn snakes.
“I really like the snakes,” she said. “They’re cool, because they have really sharp teeth and cool scales.”
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