Lizards connect the school
Freshman features class pets through social media
In their science classroom, freshmen Kaylee Rice and Isaiah Brown hold Farkie the lizard April 8. Aside from being featured on his own Instagram account, Farkie has also brought educational opportunities to students.
April 19, 2022
When her science class received a second bearded dragon as a class pet, freshman Charlotte Cox was struck with an unconventional idea. Cox created an Instagram account for the lizard, and said the idea was formed from an offhand comment.
“My mom jokingly (said), what if you made him an Instagram?” said Cox. “(She said it) as a joke and I was like, that’s not a joke, so I made him an Instagram. I thought it was funny.”
Junior Rachel Katzovitiz, who is a TA for Hartman and sometimes helps out with the account, said she likes the unique experience of having lizards in the classroom.
“I really liked the idea that both Davos and Farkie (the lizards) have different personalities, and (I like) trying to include them as much as we can,” said Katzovitz. “It’s fun learning more about them and integrating them into the way that we learn in Hartman’s class, or taking care of the animals when I TA for him.”
According to Cox, she doesn’t have any goals for the account, but is just having fun with where it’s currently at.
“I just think it’s funny that he’s ‘famous’ now — everybody thinks it’s really funny,” said Cox. “My teacher actually made us cookies for getting him to 60 followers.”
Katzovitz said the account helps shine a light on a previously unknown side of the classroom.
“It shows a really cool part (of the school) that not many people know of, because not many people know that there are two bearded dragons in Mr. Hartman’s room,” said Katzovitz. “It’s really cool that we have animals in the school.”
Science teacher Pat Hartman said having animals in the classroom is very helpful to help students relate the lessons to real life.
“I like having living things in the classroom, whether they’re animals or plants or whatever, just because I’m teaching biology,” Hartman said. “I’ll reference the living things that are in my room and be like, this thing is an example of this — it’s really nice to have living things as a biology teacher.”
To see more exclusive content of the bearded dragons, visit the Instagram, or stop by room A310.
