Crickets in the Classroom (and escaping down the hallways)

On Tuesday March 6th the 1st Grade classes came for a Cricket Lab. They learned all about crickets and performed some neat experiments on them as well. They found out by observation if crickets like dark or light, they measured and found out the difference between males and females, they labeled the parts of a cricket, and even jumped the distance a cricket is able to jump. Finally we drew names to find out who got to take home the prized male cricket. What fun. Even the frogs and Spike got to enjoy this tasty lab! Here is an experiment you can do at home with a male cricket:

Here is how to care for the cricket:
1. Keep the soil slightly moist.
2. Feed the cricket small bits of apple, dog food, grass, or dry bread.
3. Let the cricket go after a few days.

Telling the Temperature:
When you hear your cricket chirp (if it is a male) get a watch with a second hand. Count the number of chirps the cricket makes in 15 seconds. How many chirps did you hear – 10? 15? 20? 25? Add 40 to this number. Let’s say you heard 20 chirps. The temperature is 20 + 40, or 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Have fun with your new pet!