Classroom Visitor

Today, my classroom had a very special visitor.  This week, my year 5 English class has been studying endangered animals.  We are working on grouping similar information into paragraphs, taking notes and even making some small speeches.  In one of the video clips we watched this week, we learned how tortoises are in trouble of dying out.  Sarah, one of the teaching assistants I'm honored to have in my classroom, said, "I raise tortoises, do you want me to bring one in?"  I never expected that sort of offer, but who could turn that down?

Tom was a wonderful visitor with a much livelier personality than I would have imagined!  Tom is nine years old and has grown from the size of silver dollar, and he's not done growing!  His favorite treat is dandelions and he seems to enjoy being held and pet.  I have no idea what the laws say back home about tortoises, but here, as I learned today, it is extremely difficult to become the owner of a tortoise.  A special license must be acquired which includes provisions in your will of how the creature will be cared for as they often live to 100 years old!  These tortoises stay inside, confined to an area of the house during the long winter months and enjoy wandering about the garden during the summer.

Sarah has many tortoises and wants to get into breeding them, but that is even more complicated.  Female tortoises only become fertile after hibernation.  If you leave the animals outside here, they will hibernate, but as the winter is so long, they will hibernate for too long and it is dangerous for them.  Owners can manually hibernate the animals by feeding them less and less, but waking them up can be  treacherous.

I thoroughly enjoyed having Tom in the classroom today, and I learned so much (I think I had more questions than the kids!).  He had a cute personality and reminded me that all animals truly are unique.  What a treat!