Did you know that a Tree Frog eats its prey with its eyeballs? Or that an African Land Snail has ten thousand teeth? And how do you know if a Tree Frog is happy, sad or tired? Apparently, the clue to that last question is in the Tree Frog's colour!

On Friday, as part of our Animals and Humans Science Unit, we had a visit from Kieron from Zoolab, who kindly brought some of his pets for Year 3 to meet.

First, we met Shelby, the baby Giant African Land Snail. The children were allowed to stroke her shell very carefully as Kieron told us that snails can feel through their shells. Descriptions from the children about the texture of the shell were 'rough', 'bumpy' and 'smooth'. We learned that snails eat by licking and that they are part of the mollusc family. One of the children told us that their shell is used for 'protection from predators'.

Charlie the Madagascan Hissing Cockroach was much friendlier than his name suggests!  He walked across the children's outstretched hands and behaved perfectly for his audience. We learned that his superpowers include being able to walk upside-down, walking through fire and living after having been frozen. If he loses his outer head, he can still survive for a while as he has a second head in the middle of his body. Soraya asked if Charlie was from an egg and Kieron explained that cockroaches actually give birth to live young - up to 400 at a time. What a great question! Another child knew that it had an 'exoskeleton'.

We couldn't hold Freddie the Tree Frog, in case he jumped off, but we know that he was happy in school because he was a green colour. If he is sad or cross his colour will change. The Year 3 children were fascinated to learn that a Tree Frog's eyeballs move down into its mouth and throat to push the food down to its stomach, then pop back into place again!

The star of the show was Ruby the Corn Snake. She was the most beautiful pink colour and liked curling herself around Kieron's hand. It was only her second outing as part of Zoolab, so we were very honoured that she was happy to be held and stroked by any child who wished to. 

The children also met a Mexican Flame-Legged Tarantula called Zuka and a grumpy scorpion who looked very much like an alien from outer space with his strange black exoskeleton. At the end of the day, the Year 3s were treated to a further session with Kieron where they could show what they had remembered from his talk. A great way to end a fabulous day!