After bringing in all the critters we'd found in the pond, we gathered around the microprojector in the pink cabin as Mr. Eddy gave each "bug" its 15 minutes of fame on the white screen at the front of the room. One by one, diving water beetles, dragonfly nymphs, and damselfly nymphs dance and skitter across the screen. Finally, he places the little round shell on its side under the scope, and predicts the future!
"This little snail is going to come out of its shell. Snails are called 'gastropods' which basically means 'foot mouth' because they have this one foot they use to propel themselves forward. Oh! There it comes, and you can see its eyestalk popping out, as well!" he cheers, interpreting the slow, ballet-like motions happening on screen.
He explains, "Imagine laying down, having 200 pounds on top of you, and trying to stand up! That's what it's like for this snail to get that shell upright again. Can he do it?!"
The snail's foot-mouth spreads across the screen like a clover leaf, and the shell slowly begins to move. The whole room is holding their breath! As the shell begins to creep slowly into an upright position, the kids, the adults, (even I) begin to cheer for it.
"Ooh, come on, snail!" I accidentally call out. My stomach burns, hoping with all my might that this little snail overcomes the seeming unlikelihood of hauling that miniature--but giant--shell up and into its righted position. But as it drops gently into place, we all clap, congratulating the snail for something we thought impossible.
Photo courtesy of Mr, Rudy's Goods
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