Beck Students about Spider Monkeys
Beck Elementary School was the site of our next presentation. Beck Elementary School happens to be yet another school within the Shikellamy School District located in the heart of the Susquehanna Valley, PA. During the presentation, Tom asked the students to make predictions about the story. Tom further explains that after we see what happens he tells them… “This is what scientists do they make predictions and then set up experiments to test whether their predictions are correct. So this means if you are all scientists. ” One little girl who was in second grade turned to me, with so much excitement and wonder, and says… “My whole life I’ve wanted to be a scientist – Now I am!”. Then we had much excitement because this is the very reason why we come and present to schools…to bring excitement and wonder to young children and their dreams.
As with all the other schools we have visited, the students had wonderful and very smart questions for Tom. “Do monkeys go in water?” asked one student. Tom answered, “Generally they do not because their instinct bewares them of the danger in the water–like crocodiles and anacondas.”
Some of the questions were fun also…another student jumped and asked, “Do any monkeys eat humans?” Trying not to crack a smile, Tom replied with a “No, monkeys don’t eat humans.” This question however started the discussion about what monkeys do eat. Questions like…“Why do they eat fruit?” They eat fruit for energy. Spider monkeys are fruitivores. They only eat fruit and sometimes flowers. By eating only fruit, there is less competition with other types of monkeys because those monkeys eat new leaves or insects and small animals. “How much do they weigh?” About 70 pounds. There are 15-20 monkeys in a troop.
The students also learned… “What are the biggest animals in the rainforest of central and south america?” They jaguar and tapir.
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