Assignment task: The 8-footKomodo Dragon and Assorted Tarantulas
Standing up in front of kids in an assembly, it could take a good two minutes to get them quiet - - and if it was the day before Christmas break - - forget-about-it, a good five minutes!
It was always amazement that when the Reptile-Man came to school and did his presentation of various creatures that crawled and slithered, the kids were very, VERY excited. What was noticed was that just before he brought out the next creature, he would say to the kids, "Now, we have to be very quiet before I can bring out our next guest." In 2-seconds, you could hear a pin drop!!!! Why? Because he had something they wanted! He had their attention!
Absent the 8-foot python, Komodo dragon, and assorted tarantulas, how do we get the "attention" of our early childhood, K-3 students?