Love to Teach: Kids Are Like Tadpole Shrimp?

I love to teach because I cannot wait to open up my Biology class this September with the following summertime story.

Haystack the Tadpole Shrimp:

“One hot summer day in Zion National Park, Momma Haystack laid an egg that would become Haystack the Tadpole Shrimp.  Momma Haystack wanted to avoid fish eating her eggs so she laid her eggs in a hole on a rock that had just a little bit of water in it.  Uh oh - you guessed it - the water evaporated!!   Oh No!!

Don’t fret – Momma Haystack made her eggs extra tough - they can last up to 20 years without water and endure extreme temperature changes before hatching (208 degrees Fahrenheit to well below freezing). 

Soon some water came, and Haystack was born!  Haystack’s birth certificate says Triops longicaudatus, her scientific name, but most of her friends call her Haystack the Tadpole Shrimp.  Haystack grew up quickly reaching her adult stage in 6 days.  She has 3 eyes and is about 3 inches long.  Haystack does lots of good in the world by eating mosquito larvae (helping prevent the spread of West Nile virus).  Haystack and her Tadpole Shrimp friends have a pretty long family history too – having been around since the dinosaurs!*

Imagine if you lived a life like Haystack.  You would grow up to be an adult in 6 days!  You could lay eggs that would not hatch for 20 years!  Your family tree would go all the way back to the times of Tyrannosaurus Rex!

You and Haystack have something in common – cells.  Let’s start our journey into Biology!

Students are kind of like Haystack the Tadpole Shrimp.  They grow up quickly, are tough and resilient, yet also need the right conditions to flourish and grow.  It is our job as educators to provide the right conditions and love that enables every child to become the best Tadpole Shrimp he or she can be.

I enjoy many aspects of teaching such as creating unique lessons, coaching sports, designing inquiry labs, and facilitating student group work.  But I #LOVETOTEACH because of each child’s story.   Each child has a story full of twists and turns like Haystack the Tadpole Shrimp, and my job is to help each child continue his or her story in a positive meaningful way.  By getting to know each child’s story my classroom becomes a safe place where we can dive into Biology and truly grapple with life’s greatest questions: Who are we?  Where do we come from?  How do we work?

I love to teach because I find inspiration in my students and I hope to inspire them.

* I learned about Tadpole Shrimp during my summer vacation this year.   You can find out more information on Tadpole shrimp http://www.nps.gov/zion/photosmultimedia/ranger-minutes.htm

Author:  John Gibney

9th Year Teacher

Frankford High School

School District of Philadelphia