At South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools, hands-on learning takes many exciting forms! At Greenview Upper Elementary School, which houses Grades 4–6, STEM teacher Steve Milazzotto is introducing unique lessons into the curriculum in his first year with the district.

Through a newly established partnership with The Herps Alive Foundation, a rescue and rehabilitation center for reptiles and amphibians located in South Euclid, Greenview is now fostering two sulcata tortoises named Taco and Tortilla.

Milazzotto is incorporating the care of these creatures into a variety of STEM-related activities, including lessons about animal care and tortoise behavior, designing and building new enclosures, and growing lettuce and other food staples using a hydroponic system—an effort he hopes will also help offset costs for Herps Alive.

“We don’t know how long the tortoises will be with us. We’re fostering, so if someone decides they want to adopt a sulcata tortoise, they will be able to do so,” said Milazzotto. “We’re hoping to rotate or even expand the animals we’re able to foster from Herps Alive in the future, if possible.”

Having these beautiful animals in the classroom goes beyond the opportunities for integration into the curriculum.

Students can visit Taco or Tortilla when they need a short break during their busy school day. While Taco’s enclosure is located in the STEM classroom, Tortilla lives in a special education classroom, where students can often be found reading to her or simply enjoying her company.

Milazzotto is keeping an ear open for any other staff members willing to welcome a foster reptile or amphibian into their classroom spaces.