Okay, okay. Let me explain why I have these creepy {CREEPY} little hermit crabs.
Well, you see... I am a first grade teacher. Need I say more?
But really, next week we will be reading Moving Day from the Houghton Mifflin reading program.
It's a cute story about a hermit crab who is trying to find a new home. So naturally, I went out and bought two hermit crabs {I was going to just buy one, but the pet store man told me that they are social creatures, so I bought another one. I am such a sucker.} I am hoping that these little creatures will make the story more meaningful for my students and provide us with lots of writing opportunities.
I can't wait to take these hermit crabs to school and GET. THEM. OUT. OF. MY. HOUSE. {EEK!}
This is the story I was talking about above. It always becomes a class favorite!
You can check out the book for yourself {here}. According to Publishers Weekly, "This slight but upbeat story takes place on the ocean floor, where a hermit crab searches for his ideal shell. Like Goldilocks, he rejects a number of possibilities, declaring, "Too long,/ too wide,/ too big,/ too small,/ these shells will not do at all." At last, the picky crustacean discovers a nautilus with "more room inside. Room to grow, room to hide." [Robert] Kalan compares adjectives such as "fancy" and "plain," "heavy" and "light," introducing beginners to a range of opposites."
This will be a fun story and it's use of adjectives will be the perfect time to introduce adjectives to my students! I will be using the activities from my Awesome Adjectives pack. You can check it out for yourself by clicking {here} or on the image below.
Do you have any creepy crawlers at your house???!
You are a FABULOUS! I had hermit crabs at my house several years ago that my boys BEGGED for. Not sure I would get them voluntarily:)
ReplyDeleteThe kids will LOVE them:)
Tammy
The Resourceful Apple
No creepy crawlers here. I've been toying with the idea of getting a class pet, but haven't bit the bullet yet! {They offer grants for teachers at a nearby pet store!}
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw your post, I thought, "Hermit crabs aren't that creepy!!!", but then I saw your close-up pictures! I stand corrected.
Will you give them to students after the unit, or at the end of the story?
Halle
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
@Halle, I'll see how long I can stand them!! They will go to my nephew when I am done with them. :)
ReplyDeleteNo creepy crawlers! Just two kittens :)
ReplyDelete❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
They're kind of cute! No crawlers here either...just three dogs!
ReplyDeleteThey will love them! I teach 5th grade, and believe me, I know how crazy awesome it is to have pets in your class. Hermit crabs seem pretty low maintenance too, so that's good.
ReplyDeleteYou're the cool teacher at the school. I can tell :)
You rock! I think having pets in the classroom automatically makes you a better teacher :)
ReplyDeleteWe have hermit crabs in class too and my kids LOVE them! They will work very hard with the promise of me letting the hermit crabs out to roam the carpet on Friday afternoons - you have never seen 26 kiddos sit that still and quietly as my group waiting for a crab to decide to crawl around lol!
They are very social and need a lot of moisture in the air and warm temperatures too. If you want to see mine check it out here:
http://herdingkats.blogspot.com/2012/04/petco-made-it-right.html
Jennifer @ Herding Kats In Kindergarten
Oh my goodness! You're kids are going to LOVE them! It made me laugh when you said "I'm a first grade teacher. Need I say more?" lol That says it all! :)
ReplyDeleteWe read that story too and my kids always love it!
Have a great week!
Becca
First Grade in Foxwell Forest
Oh my goodness, you are very brave! :) I'm sure your kids will be absolutely stoked though!!
ReplyDeleteKatie
Smiles from 2nd Grade
You are such a devoted teacher. I actually think HC are really cute. I have 3 living in my bathroom at home. Maybe they will grow on you. :)
ReplyDeleteCasey
Second Grade Math Maniac
Second Grade Freebies
WOOHOO! Your kids are going to love and thank you so much! They are really cool to watch and just enjoy. I have to small water frogs, as we're not allowed to have "fur" pets on a regular basis. I foster g.pigs, so from time to time, one or two visit our classroom. In the past, I've had rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, an iguana..and yes, a tarantula! By far the tarantula was the easiest to care for. I have a parent who lets me "borrow" her tarantula in October while we study spiders. I don't do snakes though...eeeek. Anyway, I know you will enjoy them and so excited that for your kids! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of hermit crabs, but ended up with Robo Dwarf hamsters. I have two that live in a 10 gallon tank. Easy, peesy! They are so little and FAST that kids aren't allowed to hold them, but they are just fascinated with them. I love class pets! :)
ReplyDeleteI love hermit crabs. Did you know they are nocturnal? They will wake up for your class if you spray them with a mist of water. They are so cool!
ReplyDeletesusanlulu@yahoo.com
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle is another cute story like that!! There are so many opportunities for writing with little hermit crabs!! They are kind of creepy, but your kiddos are gonna LOVE them :) (What creepy thing doesn't a first grader love??!?!)
ReplyDelete@ miss Ellis, good point! :)
ReplyDeleteHermit crabs sound like an awesome class pet. I would love to have one in my room. I bet your kids will love them! Way to go the extra mile.
ReplyDelete-Maria
Everyone deServes to Learn
two things stood out for me. 1. I love the idea that hermit crabs are in fact social. 2. Who painted them? I had no idea painting crabs was a thing. haha!
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt the kids will adore them - what a cool idea!
saritaagerman.blogspot.it
We are doing the same story this week. I kinda feel like I need to go out and get these little crawlers now. My kids have been begging for a class pet. This might be a nice surprise...I just don't want to take them home each weekend. What do you have to feed them? Can they stay at school over the weekend?
ReplyDeleteYou're an awesome teacher and the kids are going to LOVE you for bringing these in!
Rambling About Reading
What an amazing idea! You are amazing too! Your students are going to love this week.
ReplyDeletesusieqsclass@gmail.com
Your kids are going to be so excited! I think they are a little bit creepy too. Eww.
ReplyDeleteYeehaw! Teaching in Texas
I love hermit crabs! I had 2 as a kid. I do HATE it when they are in a shell that is painted though. For some reason, that makes me crazy. Your students are going to love the hermit crabs! I actually considered getting some for my classroom.
ReplyDeleteHermit crabs are very cool creatures. I have owned them, both as a child and as a teacher. (May I suggest that you read up on what happens when they molt, because if you are creeped out now you may want to make sure your nephew gets them before that happens. =D) we have a water frog for our class pet and the kids just love him!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Think all night…..Teach all day
My nephew got an ant farm for Christmas and I was absolutely enthralled with it when I was visiting. I am thinking I might need to buy one for my classroom and incorporate a nonfiction unit on Ants!
ReplyDeleteIn the spring when we study the life cycle of butterflys I bring in Monarch butterfly eggs and raise them and release them. My students LOVE it! (I do too!)
Christina :)
Apples, Books, and Crayons
applesbooksandcrayons@gmail.com
You know your students are gonna love these guys! :)
ReplyDeleteYour students will be SO excited! What a fun idea. They look pretty cute... when they are not in my house. :) You are such a fun teacher- way to bring in the New Year with some added excitement for your kiddos! Your unit looks great! I LOVE all of your products!
ReplyDeleteSarah
Sarah's First Grade Snippets
I had hermit crabs for several years. They are fun to watch. My own children loved having them at home as much as my students enjoyed having them in the classroom. I got frustrated though when they started crawling out of their shells and dying instead of going into one of te shells I had for them! Have fun with them!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea for a class pet. I used to have a rat, but I had to take it home every weekend and her cage was so big. At least these little friends are easy to transport. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Darling Little Learners
The things I can tell you about hermit crabs :). I used to sell them. I actually worked for the man who originally brought them to the US. He grew up in the Bahamas and remembered playing with them as a child.
ReplyDeleteThey are scavangers so your kids can give them anything as snacks: popcorn, pretzels and chocolate chip cookies are some favorites.
Fish tank gravel is easier to clean, they need at least 2" of substrate so they can bury to molt (do NOT disturb a molting crab!), they only smell if they die, hypoallergenic, if holding in the palm of your hand- hold your hand perfectly flat, never hold the back of their shell while holding them in your palm, if they pinch- submerge in water and they will release, check to make sure their are no cracks inside replacement shells, they love shells like women love shoes, avoid clorine and cold (they are tropical) and they are nocturnal.
HC races are a lot of fun (stick them in the center of a circle, spray with water, whoever gets to the edge of the circle first wins)
I sold them for 3 years..
How fun!! Talk about bringing real life experience into the classroom! :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteSugar and Spice
I think this is a FABULOUS idea! Kudos to you for braving the creepy crawlers. :)
ReplyDeleteMy students struggle most with background knowledge & vocabulary & this is the PERFECT example of how we, as teachers, should be providing as much of this as we can. What a great way to have your kids make connections!
Thanks for the inspiration!