[Pumilo]

Wendy, thank you for the great advice! I'm actually thinking have a 40L with a place for a lock. I'd have to modify the top with some glass though. What are some other feeder insects I could breed in my classroom?

Casper, I live and teach in The Houston area. I've been looking for local df enthusiasts to converse with, but no such luck.

Your other most common feeders that can be easily cultured in your classroom would be springtails and isopods.
Read my care sheet on culturing them. When your viv is set up, send me a letter on school letterhead, verifying that this is an "in class" viv. Then I would be pleased to send you out a plethora of feeder "starter cultures" for free. Of course I would ask you to pay shipping. With Phase 22 temp control paks that will be around $15. I will be able to set you up with 3 or 4 types of isopods and 3 types of springtails. Here is a link to my culturing sheet. http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/food-feeding/66991-how-culture-isopods-woodlice-springtails.html

 

[Pumilo]

If you use a heat mat, consider putting a Ranco Electronic Temperature Controller on it. It has a temperature sensor probe you would put in the viv. It would then turn the heat on and off as needed. They are about $55 on eBay. NEW Ranco Temperature Control ETC-111000 120/240 Volts | eBay
Here it is on their site. ETC Supply
These are used rather widely in the reef tank hobby.

 

[Pumilo]

It's not begging if you are a school. Don't be too proud to put up a thread entitled "School looking for viv/frog related donations". Put up a list of whatever you could use help with. For instance: Looking for help with the following: Heating mats/ heater control, substrate/ABG mix, Plant clippings, ghost wood/viv wood, fruit fly culturing materials, leaf litter, lighting, misting system,
Good luck and let me know if/when I can help!