Recently in these pages we have been developing a Guide to School Assemblies.  Today we will look at shows featuring live animals.

So it is that time again, and we are pleased to announce this month’s School Assembly Dog of the Month! 

Nothing about state standards or science assemblies today. Being Friday it seems a good time to introduce our latest Mobile Ed Productions School Assembly Dog of the Month!

I thought you might like these photos.
They were shot by my dear childhood friend Alan Lesheim where he lives in Tasmania. These are of some platypus swimming in a pond opposite his home there.
Alan is a professional photographer, actively engaged in efforts to reduce the destruction of old growth forests in Tasmania. He said in forty years of photography this was the first time he had managed to get some shots of this mysterious and elusive creature. According to Alan, usually as soon as they see you they are gone. It took him two hours of stealth to get these shots, and the next day the animals were gone.
Platypus are one of only five surviving types of monotremes, or mammals that lay eggs (though I have seen some bad comedians that might qualify). Platypus are only found in Australia where their survival status is good and the species is not threatened. An amazing creature, the platypus has a fur covered body, webbed feet and a bill like that of a duck. They are carnivores, spending many hours each day in the water foraging for worms, insects and small shrimp. The average platypus weighs in between 1.5 and 5 lbs.
Though as a species the platypus is not threatened, many other animals are, and species disappear from our planet with a sad regularity for a variety of reasons but unfortunately most of these reasons are man made. When we visit schools with our school assembly Animals and the Environment one of the features is a discussion of the various ways in which activities of humans are undermining the survivability of various species globally. Habitat destruction is of course a key ingredient in this deadly game, as is pollution and poaching. I recently heard a radio report detailing how the rise in buying power among various Asian and Middle Eastern  nations has led to a spike in the demand for Rhino horn. The horns of Rhinoceros are widely coveted in Middle Eastern nations for dagger hilts, while in China and other Asian countries the horns are widely prescribed in the medical treatment of many ailments. As a result, the illegal poaching of these magnificent beasts has become so profitable and rampant that their survival is seriously threatened.
Protecting the environment is of fundamental importance in our stewardship of this planet. Sadly economic interests often clash with our higher goals. In Tasmania, our friend Alan works every day in this very field, trying to preserve the ancient forests of that wild island. Here at home, we work every day educating children in the issues of survival for the animals of this world through school assemblies such as Animals and the Environment.
Just for reference, here is a shot Alan did not take, but which shows a little more clearly what these wonderful critters are like.


Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational  school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's  THE LIVING LINCOLN

After that last article I thought I owed you something a little friendlier and a little more warm and fuzzy, so here it is!
Last time I wrote about the threat posed by the release into the wild of exotic pets and how creatures like Burmese Albino pythons are endangering natural environments. I went on to discuss how school assemblies like Mobile Ed’s Animals and the Environment are great for getting out the message that bringing exotic “pets” into your home is probably not such a wise idea.
The truth is, that apart from a natural habitat, the only place really equipped for the care and management of wild creatures is a zoo or natural game preserve.
A year or two ago, a zoo in England experienced something unique. For the first time they witnessed in their park the birth of female Rothschild giraffe. Named Margaret, she was born six weeks early and weighed in at just 75 pounds. Standing only 5 feet tall, Margaret was one of the smallest giraffes they had seen and the zookeepers nurtured her with hand feeding techniques. Pretty cool, huh?
Of course, Mobile Ed live animal assemblies will not be bringing a giraffe to your school, but the animals will be unique, suitable for school shows, and a great means for teaching kids about the wildlife of our planet.

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN

There is a problem in Florida. No, I don’t mean their voting machines. There is a huge problem in the Florida Everglades, and it could be coming your way. 

Most of you are probably too young to remember but there was a time before television, and even before movies. Yes, really! Back in those days adults routinely attended the theatre not only to view plays, operas, ballets and other high art, but also to view “low brow” entertainment in what were called vaudeville houses. An evening of vaudeville involved a running slate of different “acts”  doing short on stage stints in succession and typically included a variety of entertainment from song and dance teams to comedy acts, jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists. Going to see a “show” was a hugely popular entertainment evening for generations.