Video: Elementary Students Get ‘Cold-Blooded’ Visitors

[syndicaster id=’6076271′]

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Students at a Northeast Mississippi elementary school got an up close look at reptiles found right in our backyard.

As WCBI’s Allie Martin reports, it was part of a program that lets youngsters see, feel and touch reptiles that are native to Mississippi.

Wherever Debora Waz goes, she has a captive audience, even if it’s third graders.

Waz brought along turtles, a table full of skeletons, shells and a baby alligator.

It’s part of a program from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and it lines up with curriculum the grade schoolers are studying.

“We talk a lot about adaptations, habitats and for animals that they can see,” Waz said.

Students learn about the differences between turtles living on land and those that live in the water.

And there is even a chance for the students to pet the baby alligator.

Waz says it is something you wouldn’t want to do in the wild.

“We would consider that harassing an alligator, my alligator is very different, I hesitate to call it a pet, prefer to call it a co worker, but very used to people,” she said.

The third graders enjoyed the cold blooded visitors.

“I love reptiles, I’ve been interested in reptiles since I was born. I learned that box turtles had a thing on the bottom shell that made them close up like a box,” said Nate Turner.

“You can tell the difference from girl turtles and boy turtles because boy turtles have lighter colors and girl turtles have darker colors,” said Abby Gonzales.

Waz hopes the youngsters will want to learn more about reptiles and also be conservation minded.  Debora Waz is one of four employees who travel the state providing demonstrations for schools.