Thanks everyone! We'll see about pics/video. Since this is our first big presentation I think I'd rather do a couple then get a video record (so you all don't see us stumble through it the first go round LOL).
We're sitting down to do a sort of guideline/plan we can follow so we move smoothly through the main points we want to share with the kids (they will be potentially pre-school up to grade 8). Basically starting with misconceptions about snakes aka what do they already "know" about snakes. At this point they won't even see the snakes as they will all still be bagged. I figure this way we can deal with fears and misinformation right up front without a snake being seen.
Then we are showing Emi the albino milksnake first. She's so small and brightly colored she appears almost toylike and should help the kids open up to the concept of snakes being handled in front of them. Also it may be rather funny to see the adults sort out their "fear of the big mean snake" when faced with cutsie pootsie little Emi. LOL
Severus, the boa will be next. He's a lot bigger than Emi so it will be a good contrast to her. Then the ball pythons last.
We'll talk a lot about how snakes are like and not like humans, dogs, cats, etc. I always find with kids if you can get them to equate something to their own personal experience, they get it much faster and remember it much longer. Things like how we hear and snakes hear, how we smell things and how a snake does, etc. What makes a snake hiss or strike and how we can deal with that (emphasis on empathy for the snake and responsiblity on the human). Then a bit about where each species comes from (makes the geography teachers do the happy dance LOL). In this section we'll mention how snakes are religious symbols in some countries (thanks to Robin for offering to gather that research for me!), how they are farmed in Africa and other interesting things about how snakes are seen around the world good and bad.
Then we'll talk a bit about proper snakekeeping, respect for them both in captivity and in the wild. What to do if they see a snake in their yard and why it's good for it to be there. How to behave if they are around captive snakes, safe handling and that sort of thing. Mikey, our 6 year old, will participate at this point showing how to safely and gently handle each type of snake.
Then they can touch the snakes (not their heads of course) and examine various snake sheds we have (hand sanitizer station set up) and we'll take general questions. We are figuring about 45 to 60 minutes tops. Long enough for the snakes and more than long enough for the littler kidlets.
Suggestions? Comments?
P.S. The snakes are going bagged seperately in snake bags as well as being inside secure transport tubs. We don't need an escape or one getting set loose by some curious child when we are distracted.
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