Bugfest!

What do a venomous centipede, a bird-eating tarantula and a giant African land snail all have in common? Today, they’re all at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep!

On 13 October, Year 2 was visited by Nick from BugFest and his collection of tropical minibeasts. He spoke to pupils about the rainforest habitat, which Year 2 have been studying this term, and the importance of different animals to keeping this biosphere alive.

Supporting his talk was a series of creepy crawlies, each with unique adaptations and rainforest roles. Pupils met Bertha the giant millipede (who Nick assured was ‘totally armless’), a scorpion, and a hissing cockroach named Marmite. Nick explained how these minibeasts are often detritivores, helping to eat the waste products of the rainforest and maintain its balance.

Nick also allowed our brave pupils to hold some of the gentler minibeasts. One child was fascinated by the giant millipede and the sensation of its 256 legs. Another stated that her favourite to hold was the stick insect, exclaiming, ‘it feels like a sticky weed!’

This hands-on morning of learning was appreciated by teachers and pupils alike. Jennifer Burgess, a Year 2 teacher, commented,

“Today we had a visit from BugFest as part of our rainforest topic in Year 2. The children loved learning all about the minibeasts from the forest floor and even had a chance to hold them. They were certainly very adventurous!”

Whether pupils were willing to hold the bugs or preferred to watch from afar, everyone had a wonderful time learning more about the rainforest and seeing these rare beasts in real life. These immersive experiences make learning feel tangible, giving pupils a chance to stretch themselves and Be Adventurous.

Thank you to Nick for sharing his minibeasts with Year 2!