MICHEL FORTIER / Daily News

Elle Fales, 8, center and classmates at Bonita Springs Charter School react to a 12 ft. Burmese Python pulled out of it's box by Herpetologist John Storms Tuesday for Earth Day. The always animated Storms, who brought seven different reptiles to the school, has been giving educational lectures for 26 years around the state of Florida.

MICHEL FORTIER / Daily News

Herpetologist John Storms shows off the business end of a Uromastyx Lizzard which has a spiny tail used for defense during a stop at Bonita Springs Charter School on Tuesday. The always animated Storms, who brought seven different reptiles to the school, has been giving educational lectures for 26 years around the state of Florida.

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The howls of delight grew louder with each coil as animal expert John Storms dramatically pulled “Julie” length-by-length from a plywood box and placed the 14-foot python on a folding table in front of 300 happy second and third-graders.

When he held the 100-pound snake up in the air, the howls reached crescendo strength.

Julie was just one of the reptiles Storms presented during an Earth Day educational program Tuesday morning at Bonita Springs Charter School.

A boa constrictor, a small crocodile and a 90-pound snapping turtle were reptiles that also produced exuberant yells.

“We try and give the kids a lot of information but we also try to use some humor and entertainment,” said Storms, 57. “They can learn a lot if they’re having fun because when they’re having fun they listen.”

Storms is a Fort Myers resident who holds hundreds of educational reptile programs each year for schools, summer camps, retirement homes and other organizations.

His World of Reptiles show travels on both Florida coasts as far north as Ocala. During Earth Week, he’ll perform the 45-minute program 17 times, he said.

“He comes every year and the kids love it,” said Jennifer Shelly, a first-grade teacher who watched the show with her students. “It’s great for Earth Day because they get to see animals they’ve never seen before. They were very excited about it and very interested.”

Shelly said her students discussed Earth Day during class earlier Tuesday morning. In the afternoon, they will complete a writing activity based on Earth Day and the reptile program.

During most of the program, kids sat in rapt attention as Storms talked about the habits and habitats of the reptiles.

Afterward, the students were eager to talk about their favorites.

“I liked the snake because it was big,” said second-grader Breanna Montiero, 7.

But Breanna’s classmate, Adrian Vega, 8, said pythons weren’t quite as big as he expected. As Storms explained, pythons are longer than anacondas but not as heavy.

“I liked the snapping turtle because it’s cool when it looks like a rock in the water,” said Sierra Koert, 8, another second-grade student in Jennifer Frederick’s class.

The class learned about animal camouflage this week, said Frederick.

Storms confirmed the children’s new knowledge when he explained how snapping turtles allow moss to grow on their shells so they can more easily lure fish near their strong jaws.

Storms ended the program with some words about conservation and the importance of Earth Day.

“It’s important that the kids can get an appreciation for animals and how they fit in with Earth Day,” he said afterward. “Hopefully, when they grow up and become voters they’ll be making some good decisions.”

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Contact Pete Bishop at lpbishop@comcast.net