Cool thing about hermit crabs
Melissa
Yesterday I was talking to a friend about hermit crabs. We've had
several crabs, my son's favorite pets were a couple of two inch crabs
named Hermie and Hermie (original, I know).
One of the most interesting aspects of hermit crabs is the way they
grow. As arthropods, they have an hard outer shell that they shed as
they outgrow. As hermit crabs however, they differ from other crabs
in that they do not have a complete exoskeleton. Instead, their
elongated bodies are soft and must be protected by adopting abandoned
snail shells. We've spent many hours watching the crabs scuttle
around, and laughed at their antics. We've spent probably as much
time concerned when they fell off the climbing wall we built, or
feeding them, bathing them or watering their sponges.
The twist comes in the fact that a predator cannot force a hermit
crab out of it's shell. The tail has four evolved legs that grip onto
the shell. If pulled, the hermit crab will be torn apart before it
will allow itself to be removed from the shell. If you have a crab as
a pet, you must provide shells for the crab to choose from. Because
the hermit crab is so particular about his shell, you must provide
several shells of various shapes and sizes from which he can pick.
Then you step back and assume that nature will take it's course.
The analogy can be made to unschooling. We cannot force our
children's interest, we cannot force them to learn. We can respect
them for who they are. We can place interesting resources and
opportunities around them. We help, providing food and shelter, trust
and love. Then we can watch with joy and excitement, and allow them
to choose which shell they want to carry for this short while.
several crabs, my son's favorite pets were a couple of two inch crabs
named Hermie and Hermie (original, I know).
One of the most interesting aspects of hermit crabs is the way they
grow. As arthropods, they have an hard outer shell that they shed as
they outgrow. As hermit crabs however, they differ from other crabs
in that they do not have a complete exoskeleton. Instead, their
elongated bodies are soft and must be protected by adopting abandoned
snail shells. We've spent many hours watching the crabs scuttle
around, and laughed at their antics. We've spent probably as much
time concerned when they fell off the climbing wall we built, or
feeding them, bathing them or watering their sponges.
The twist comes in the fact that a predator cannot force a hermit
crab out of it's shell. The tail has four evolved legs that grip onto
the shell. If pulled, the hermit crab will be torn apart before it
will allow itself to be removed from the shell. If you have a crab as
a pet, you must provide shells for the crab to choose from. Because
the hermit crab is so particular about his shell, you must provide
several shells of various shapes and sizes from which he can pick.
Then you step back and assume that nature will take it's course.
The analogy can be made to unschooling. We cannot force our
children's interest, we cannot force them to learn. We can respect
them for who they are. We can place interesting resources and
opportunities around them. We help, providing food and shelter, trust
and love. Then we can watch with joy and excitement, and allow them
to choose which shell they want to carry for this short while.
Ren Allen
"The analogy can be made to unschooling. We cannot force our
children's interest, we cannot force them to learn. We can respect
them for who they are. We can place interesting resources and
opportunities around them. We help, providing food and shelter, trust
and love. Then we can watch with joy and excitement, and allow them
to choose which shell they want to carry for this short while."
If you expanded on this beautiful analogy, it would make a lovely
article. Let us know when it's finished.;)
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
children's interest, we cannot force them to learn. We can respect
them for who they are. We can place interesting resources and
opportunities around them. We help, providing food and shelter, trust
and love. Then we can watch with joy and excitement, and allow them
to choose which shell they want to carry for this short while."
If you expanded on this beautiful analogy, it would make a lovely
article. Let us know when it's finished.;)
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Melissa
Well, I'm not much of a writer, I'm more of an idea person. :-)
Anyone else want to finish it up, publish and make lots of money? LOL!
Anyone else want to finish it up, publish and make lots of money? LOL!
On Jan 23, 2006, at 5:58 PM, Ren Allen wrote:
> "The analogy can be made to unschooling. We cannot force our
> children's interest, we cannot force them to learn. We can respect
> them for who they are. We can place interesting resources and
> opportunities around them. We help, providing food and shelter, trust
> and love. Then we can watch with joy and excitement, and allow them
> to choose which shell they want to carry for this short while."
>
> If you expanded on this beautiful analogy, it would make a lovely
> article. Let us know when it's finished.;)
>
> Ren
> learninginfreedom.com
>
>
>
>
>
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