Eco Club Goes Hunting

After the warm sunny weather of the last week or so, today's colder temperature didn't encourage many insects to be on the wing.   However there were plenty of bugs for Dr Key to hoover up from the depths of the heather and grass on the heathland, and around one of the pools suffering from the lack of recent rain.

We returned to the classroom, and the contents of the hoovering was released into a large plastic paddling pool-like container.  The children were shown how to use pooters to collect all the tiny insects.  Those that could fly were caught first!

Once several had been caught Dr Key identified them and added extra details.  A woodlouse that has a 'go faster' stipe, springtails that can spring away from danger, crab spiders who walk in a crab-like way and silverfish that are an insect and not quite an insect!

After refreshments we went outside and were shown how to use a sweep net.  The children examined their catches.

When all the hard work was finished there was a surprise for the children - hunt the Easter Egg organised by Shirley!

It was a very enjoyable morning.  Thank you to Dr Key for organising this and thanks to everyone who helped.