Millinocket, Maine School Department

Herpetology Lab

Herpetology Lab, popularly called ‘Herp Lab’ is an exploration lab designed to create interest and enthusiasm in science, math, and school!  It engages our seventh graders in a ‘hands-on’ experience raising and maintaining live hatchling corn snakes (non-venomous species native to the southwest USA) right in their science classroom.

The biology and husbandry of these unique animals captivates students as they chart their growth over a half year period.  Recording gram weights in multiple formats is an important aspect of the data keeping required.  Each student is also responsible for producing a keynote presentation which highlights all aspects of their lab work.  Calculation of ever changing means, medians, modes, and ranges of the snakes’ weights is a great daily mathematical connection provided by the lab as well.