Ms. Erin Meadows’s third-grade class learns about reptiles from Birmingham Zoo, presents exhibits
Ms. Erin Meadows’s third-grade class completed their reptile exhibitions and learned about snakes and turtles last week from representatives from the Birmingham Zoo.
Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Catholic School scholars are encouraged to approach natural science with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the complexity of God’s creation. This is due in part to our integrated Catholic curriculum, which draws connections between science, the liberal arts, and our faith.
Ms. Meadows’s class has been learning about different species of reptiles and amphibians.
Students encountered reptile species firsthand when the two representatives from the Birmingham Zoo came to the school and brought a gopher turtle, a pancake tortoise, and a corn snake.
When showing the class the gopher turtle and pancake tortoise, one of the representatives explained that turtles spend more time in water than tortoises.
Whereas corn snakes are not venomous, some snakes, like rattlesnakes native to Alabama, are. He explained that we call these snakes “venomous” and not “poisonous” because “poisonous” refers to something toxic to us when we ingest it, whereas “venomous” species inject toxins into us using fangs or similar organs.
Some non-venomous snakes, like king snakes, look similar to venomous snakes, like coral snakes, to protect themselves from predators.
Throughout the week, third-grade students have been presenting their own 3D projects on different reptile species and sharing facts with their class.
Third-grader Walter Weidner said he “learned a lot” while creating his project on poison dart frogs and rainbow lizards.
Ailin Vega, another SFX third-grade scholar, also said she learned a lot about the axolotl, a salamander species. It is one of the few four-footed animals that can regenerate limbs throughout adulthood. Vega modeled her axolotl out of clay.
“Thank you Birmingham Zoo for sharing your knowledge and love of animals with us,” said Ms. Meadows. “We loved it!”
Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School is an accredited classical Catholic PreK-8 school in Birmingham’s Crestline neighborhood that uses the time-tested Catholic Intellectual Tradition to form students in virtue through the pursuit of academic excellence and service toward God and neighbor.
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