Selecting The Right Classroom Pet
Choosing a Good Animal in a School Situation for Learning and Fun
There are many considerations to keep in mind when selecting an animal to serve as your classroom pet. The enrichment and learning opportunities presented by creating an animal habitat make it worth the effort, but here are some tips for choosing the right creature.
Potential for Allergic Reactions by a Child and Other Health Concerns
Many furry animals are potential allergens, especially the more common cats or dogs, so they might not be suitable choices for a classroom pet where many children will be exposed to the animal. In fact, some sources state as many as 30% of children with allergies have an allergy to cats or dogs. Even birds can be a source of dander or “dust” that can irritate allergies.
Another health concern to consider when choosing a classroom pet is the possibility that some reptiles may be infected with salmonella and potentially spread it through their feces to the students. An adult should supervise all interactions between children and animals and teach proper hand-washing and sanitization to prevent this possibility. Since most reptiles do not need, or even should not have, regular handling by humans, it will likely not be an issue with instruction and explanation.
The Animal’s Need for Daily Care, Training or Social Interaction
Some animals are highly social creatures and need regular social interaction to stay healthy and happy, and while these animals make great family pets, they might be a distraction or impractical in a classroom situation. Animals that do not require daily feeding or social interaction by humans include many lizards, turtles, aquarium fish, amphibians, some small communal birds and some rodents. These would be a better choice for a classroom than a more social animal like a dog, large parrot or ferret.
Housing Needs and Space Requirements of the Pet
Some animals are quite comfortable being housed in a fish tank type aquarium, or small wire cage. These houses are more practical for a classroom situation. Other animals shouldn’t be caged or crated on a permanent basis or, like green iguanas, grow so large in size that their cages need to be very large and couldn’t be accommodated in a regular classroom setting.
Expense to Maintain and Feed
Most small rodents, reptiles, fish and amphibians do not require prohibitively expensive food or need special care that is expensive. Be sure to thoroughly check out what will be needed by the pet to make sure it is something that can be provided in a classroom.
Educational Opportunities, Unit Studies and Other Learning Experiences
Some animals will, by their very nature, allow for added educational opportunities and enrichment. For example, green anoles require a humid, rainforest like environment which could help interest the children in learning more about the plants and animals commonly found in the rainforest. Frogs go through a metamorphosis turning from tadpoles into frogs and that life cycle is a great learning opportunity as well. Teachers can be creative in extending learning experiences based on their classroom’s animals.
More Resources:
Top Pet Picks for Classroom Pets
Consider How to Meet a Fish’s Needs in Your Class
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