Stick Insects My Pet and Me

-Hi, I'm Fern.

-I'm Rory. BOTH:

-We love animals.

Some animals can make brilliant pets. We love pets.

We really like meeting you and your pets.

-What happened to your arm, Fern?

-I hurt it, but it's OK.

This cast is helping. I'm off on an adventure to meet some new friends.

I'll be back later.

-Would you like to come with me? See you later.

-See you!

-Come on!

# My pet My pet and me

# My pet My pet and me

# Down every street

# Are pets to meet

# Some big, some small, some scaly, some furry

# Some keep very still Some are always in a hurry

# Some have four paws

# Some have sharp claws

-# Some quack

-Some bark

-Some purr

-Some moo

-# Some grunt

-Some squawk

-Some cock-a-doodle-doo

# My pet My pet and me

# My pet My pet and me

# My pet My pet and me

# Have you met my pet and me? #

Today, we're in Ashford to meet Max and Poppy and their pets.

I cannot wait to see what they are.

-BOTH:

-Hi, Fern!

-Hi! How are you? You're Max and Poppy?

-Yeah.

I hear you have some interesting pets. Where are they?

-BOTH:

-In here!

-Shall we go see them?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

-Come in. I bet you can't find them.

-You bet I can't find them?

-OK, how many do you have?

-BOTH:

-Two.

-I'm looking for two pets in here?

-Can you give me a hint what they look like?

-They look quite green.

-They look green.

-They look quite long.

-Green and long.

-They've got antennae.

-They have two antennae?

-Yes.

OK, OK, this is really hard.

-Long and green and they're in with these green leaves?

-Yes.

-Can you help me?

-Yes.

-You see one? Which one? Where?

-There. Near the leaves and the sticks.

-Is that one there?

They're about that long? It's a stick insect, isn't it?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

-You have two stick insects as pets. That's really good.

-And what are their names?

-BOTH:

-Sticky and Twig.

-Sticky and Twig?

Those are brilliant names for stick insects.

-They were very hard to find.

-Yes.

What's it called when they're difficult to find?

-BOTH:

-Camouflage.

-Camouflage. That's right.

And camouflage means they're good at hiding,

and so they hide from animals like birds that eat them.

Can you see them climbing around? Do they move around their tank?

Yes, they climb up with these sucker things.

They've got suckers and claws that help them climb.

-They climb the glass and other branches?

-Yes.

Oh, they're really lovely.

Rory, can you tell us fun facts about our sticky friends?

Of course, Fern.

There are lots of different types of stick insect.

They can be different sizes and colours and some even have prickles.

Many stick insects rock from side to side to make themselves

look more like sticks or leaves swaying in the breeze.

Sometimes stick insects will stay very, very still and play dead

so that other creatures won't bother them.

It's very important to look after stick insects carefully

because they're in a tank

and they're entirely dependent on their owners.

-So, what you do to look after Sticky and Twig?

-We clear out the tank.

-OK, and how often do you do that?

-Once a week.

-Shall we get started?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

-That one is actually Twig.

We'll put them in here to be safe.

-This one's Sticky?

-Yes. Sticky.

-Here we go.

Put you nice and safely in there with your friend.

OK, shall we put the lid on so they don't escape? Be very, very gentle.

Shall we take out all these old privet leaves

-so we can put in the nice new ones?

-Yes.

-Thank you, Max.

I have to be very gentle, don't I?

Because there's not only poos on this paper...

-BOTH:

-There's eggs.

-There's eggs.

So, are we going to pick out the eggs?

And put them in here so they can join the rest of the eggs.

The eggs are kept in the jar until they hatch into baby stick insects.

The eggs are round and the poos are long and thin.

-Another egg.

-I picked an egg up.

Here's another one. There could be more.

-So, we put in new kitchen roll?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

And their nice fresh water so they can drink,

-and the final fun bit - their leaves!

-Privet leaves!

Turn it into a jungle.

You must put the privet branches in the water

because if the stick insect falls in it wouldn't be able to get out

-so it can climb out using these.

-Sticky will love his house.

-Done!

-Done! Are we done?

-BOTH:

-No! We need to spray it with water!

-OK!

It's very important to spray their tank with water to keep it moist,

or else the stick insects might dry out.

Make sure you get all the leaves so they can have water to drink.

-Shall we put them in and see how happy they are?

-Yes!

-All right.

So, here you go. Here's one of them. Put it in the middle.

-What do you think? There? Is that good?

-Yes.

-Do you think they're happy there?

-Yes.

-All done!

-Yes!

Good job. Well done.

It is now playtime

and we have Sticky out for a little walk on our hands.

-What we have to do when we hold Sticky?

-Be careful.

-We do, don't we?

She's very, very delicate

and so you never pick up a stick insect or else you could hurt them.

Instead, you let them walk onto your hand. Who would like to hold her?

Would you? All right, Max, you're first.

Put your hand there. Let her walk on.

-She's all tickly, isn't she?

-Yes.

-We'll pass you on to Poppy. Would you like to hold her?

-Yes.

If we put your hand out and, hopefully, she'll walk on.

-Come on, Sticky, come onto my hand.

-She's doing the Sticky dance.

She is doing the Sticky dance. Shaking a little bit.

-What's your favourite thing about Sticky?

-She tickles me.

She does tickle. Max, what's your favourite thing about Sticky?

-She's good at hiding.

-She is very good at hiding.

-Can you hide as well as Sticky?

-Yeah.

How about we play hide-and-seek and see who can hide just like Sticky?

-At the woods!

-At the woods? That sounds good. Shall we put her back?

Come on, Sticky. We'll put you back in your house.

There you go.

-Bye! See you later!

-BOTH:

-Bye, Sticky!

-Bye! Let's go!

-ALL:

-Ta-da!

-Do you like our outfits?

We thought that we would dress up

and try and camouflage just like Sticky and Twig.

-So, shall we go and play hide-and-seek?

-Yes.

-Let's go!

Where are they?

It's hard to find them

because they're camouflaged and blend into the trees.

Found you!

-That was an amazing hiding place! Good job!

-Let's go and find Poppy.

Good idea! Come on!

Where is she? She's so good at hiding.

I think I'll be able to find her.

-Found you!

-Found you!

Hi! Amazing hiding, Poppy! Well done! Good job!

-High fives all-round! Is it my turn to hide now?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Will you count for me?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

-Ready?

-Go!

-BOTH:

-One, two, three...

-BOTH:

-Ten! Ready or not here we come.

-Where could she be?

-I don't know.

She should be here somewhere.

-BOTH:

-Found you! Found you!

-Yeah! Great job, you guys! Well done!

That was an amazing game of hide-and-seek!

I still think that Sticky

is a bit better at hiding than we are, though.

-Yes, Sticky's the best.

-Yeah, she is.

-Sticky and Twig are so good at climbing, aren't they?

-Yes.

-What do they do?

-They go do-do-do-do-do!

If Sticky and Twig had jobs, what would their jobs be?

DRUMROLL

If my pet can do any job, she would be a window cleaner.

She would climb up really tall buildings,

and she would have sponges in each of her hands

and on her antennae

and she would clean all of the windows very, very fast.

I've had such a lovely time meeting Sticky and Twig.

I'm really going to miss your stick insects when I go.

-Why don't we make some?

-I would love to make some stick insects!

-How do we do that?

-Well, we get some pipe cleaners and twigs,

-and we tie the pipe cleaners up.

-Will you show me?

-Shall we get started?

-Yes!

-Is that mine?

-Yes. Pull sticks off the things that you don't need.

-OK.

-Poppy, this one's yours.

-Shall I use these as the antenna?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

-Stick insects need six legs, don't they?

-Yes.

-Do think that's long enough?

-Yes.

-Yes?

-We need knees and feet, don't we, Poppy?

-Yes.

-What do you think, Max?

Would you like to help me make knees and feet?

-Shall I make you a funny one?

-Funny legs! Thank you.

Oh, yours is amazing, Poppy. What about eyes?

-OK, if Max can pass that to me.

-Thank you, Max.

-What do you think?

-They're looking very good.

-It's good?

Oh, look, they're moving like stick insects move.

-Are we going to name them?

-Yes.

-I would like to name mine Rory.

-I would like to name my Twiglet.

-Twiglet? Rory and Twiglet.

I'm going to show them to Sticky and Twig and see what they think.

-What do you think?

-What do you think?

-I think Sticky and Twig really liked Twiglet.

-Me too!

-I hope so.

I hope they like Rory as well.

I have had such an amazing time meeting Sticky and Twig.

It's been fantastic.

Thank you so much for inviting me to spend the day with you

and your stick insects.

My Pet and Me!

-Hi, Rory.

-Hi, Fern. How was your day?

It was brilliant. Hi, Monty. I didn't see you there.

We're just having a wee cuddle.

It was such a great day. Let me tell you all about it.

Today, I met Max and Poppy and their pet stick insects, Sticky and Twig.

We cleaned out their tank and took them out into the garden

where we played with them for a while.

Next, we dressed up in camouflage

and played hide-and-seek in the woods,

but Sticky and Twig are much better at hiding than we were.

-Wow! That sounds fantastic, and you made some great new friends.

-I did.

It's important to remember that pets are great,

but you should ask the owners if it's OK to touch them.

One pet you definitely can play with is ours.

Go to the CBeebies website and play the My Pet and Me game.

We really love meeting you and your pets

and I've had such an amazing day.

# Today we met

# A lovely pet

# We see how much you care for them

# Thank you so much for sharing them

# Time for us to

# Just remind you

# After you've played with your pet

# Wash your hands Don't forget

# It doesn't matter what pets you've got

# You might have one You might not

# It's still fun finding out what having a pet is all about

# My pet My pet and me

# My pet My pet and me

# My pet My pet and me

# Come back and see My Pet and Me

-ALL:

-Bye!