While searching the ERIC database I came across a wonderful article titled Animals in the Classroom: A Guide for Elementary and Secondary Educators by Elaine Birkholz and Peter Theran which discussed the different ways to integrate animals into eh curriculum that would foster learning, compassion, and be safe for animals. The article discusses which animals would be most useful in the classroom, how to care for them, and how to integrate them into the curriculum. The article goes over pets such as rabbits being difficult in the classroom to hamsters that are nocturnal to gold fish being sturdy adapters to the classroom environment. Another important fact for educators to become aware of is that there are laws in place in certain states regulating classroom pets including Florida. The article also touches on dissection and its alternatives and respect for life which is one of the underlying lessons when having a classroom pet.
I personally feel that if the right animal is in the classroom and it is integrated into the curriculum it will be beneficial to the students. I also think that this article is very useful to any educator who has considered having a classroom pet.
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I agree with you. I think having the right animal in the classroom can be a fun way for students to learn responsibilities, compassion and respect for different animals. I still remember the hamsters, guinea pigs and even snakes that I had in my elementary school classrooms. With parent permission those students that were “good” during the week took turns taking the animal home for the weekend to care for it. This was always an exciting, big deal for the students.
Wonderful to hear that you like the class pets as well. The only good class pet is one that can be taken care of by the teacher and will agust well to the classroom environment.
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