Special visitor today

Here is a little guy the caretaker found in the MacWands.  He is a spotted salamander.  He got swept up with the broom and Mr. Grande (the caretaker) set him aside for us to look at. He was just barely alive and Ms Wand tried to revive him by spritzing him with water. She also tried to gently remove the dirt and dust from his body. We had a talk with the students about how salamanders breathe through their skin and how it's unhealthy for them to be covered with 'people' dirt.  The students offered lots of ideas about where a salamander might like to live. In tunnels, in the forest and in the water. We discussed the fact that they like to hide under logs and rocks in moist dark areas.  The question still remains, how did the salamander get into the classroom in the first place? Ask your child what they think and we will share ideas tomorrow. Sadly the salamander did not survive. He has gone back into the earth.