Six children, ages six to eight, met Tuesday and Thursday at BYU's Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum to attend the "Creepy, Crawly Critters" Wildlife Adventures program where they experienced hands-on learning about bugs.

Children met Tuesday to learn about arachnids, insects and myriapods through discussions, crafts and live viewings. The same group traveled to Vivian Park in Provo Canyon Thursday to do some bug hunting of their own.

Two BYU students led the group both days: biology major Megan Fuller and wildlife and wilderness conservation major Melissa Landeen.

As the children gathered Tuesday, they introduced themselves by naming their favorite creepy, crawly critter.

Seven-year-old Peter Douglas was eager to show off his bug collection consisting of seven bugs in a shoebox. Peter was excited to collect more bugs for his collection on Thursday.

The children first learned about arachnids, and they hurriedly scribbled into their notebooks as they learned interesting facts about scorpions. They were taught that scorpions glow in the dark and that although the average litter of scorpions is eight or nine, 169 is the record number of scorpions born at one time.

The children also learned that "myriapod" means "many legs." Fuller pointed out that myriapods are decomposers.

"We would live in natural garbage," Fuller said about life without myriapods.

Last on the agenda were insects, a favorite among the children. Fuller explained that most insects have wings and can fly.

Fuller said many humans believe they have nothing in common with bugs, but that is not true. Human hair and nails require the same kind of protein that insects' exoskeletons require.

Halfway through the class, Landeen entered the room with a gallon of ice cream container with something other than ice cream inside. The children were captivated and curious about what could possibly be inside the container.

A hissing cockroach named after one of the Tweedle twins from "Alice in Wonderland" was removed from the container for the children to touch.

Six-year-old Julia Johnson, the only girl in the class, raised her hand to indicate she liked cockroaches.

When class was dismissed, the children proceeded upstairs to work on crafts.

After pledging they would not eat the glue or stick it on anyone else, the children continued their wildlife adventure by creating their own spider webs with wax paper and string. Fuller and Landeen continued answering questions the children had about bugs. One question in particular came from wide-eyed seven-year-old, Keaton Spanos, on behalf of his brother.

"What kind of bugs eat us when we die?" Keaton asked.

Making small talk with teachers, students continued to express their love for "creepy, crawly critters" and discuss their personal lives.

Following the first round of crafts, a millipede was brought for the children to touch. Rosey, a Chilean rose-head tarantula, made an appearance as well. Landeen explained that Rosey uses her hair as a defense mechanism, throwing it in the eyes of predators.

The children then ate a dessert called dirt, consisting of broken cookies, gummy worms and pudding. Discussing plans for their bug-hunting trip Thursday, Fuller and Landeen explained the rules and appropriate attire for their expedition.

The children excitedly discussed their hopes for catching bugs, shouting their potential number counts.

Spanos excitedly shouted, "One million bugs and I'ma catch them all."

Returning from their trip to Vivian Park late Thursday afternoon, Fuller reported the students caught several millipedes and some spiders. At the museum, a gecko and a bearded dragon lizard were brought out to show the children what kind of lizards eats bugs.

Upon completion of her first wildlife adventure teaching experience, Fuller said, "It's nice to take kids outdoors and out of the museum and show them what they are learning about."



Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Jun 2008