Animals in the Classroom

Goals | Advantages | Disadvantages | NJCCCS Educational Goals | Selection | Future Care | Also to think about | Materials Needed | Environmental Considerations | Food and Water

Goals

• To develop skills of observation/comparison
• To develop a sense of stewardship
• To develop an appreciation of complexity of life
• To develop a sense of responsibility
• To develop positive attitudes toward living things

Advantages

• Animals in wild are not readily observable
• Zoo and/or farm are not accessible
• Allows for daily observation
• Allows for experimentation
• Allows for hands-on experience
• Consistent with learning goals , e.g., New Jersey Core Curriculum Content standards

Disadvantages

• Often stressful classroom conditions
• Weekend/Holiday stress
• Poor wildlife image
• Permanent commitment
• Time-consuming demands
• Expense

Considerations

• Project's educational goals
• Responsibilities involved
• Where to obtain animals
• Legal considerations
• Student health and safety
• Animal health and environment
• What to do with animal when project is over

Educational Goals (NJCCCS for Science)

• All students will gain an understanding of the structure, characteristics, and basic needs of organisms (5.6)
• All students will investigate the diversity of life (5.7)

Animal Selection

• Comes with kit (no selection!)
• Avoid: wild, venomous, sick, threatened, or injured animals
• Be certain:
  • It can thrive in captivity
  • you can duplicate its natural habitat
  • It can adjust to classroom environment
  • you can care for it on weekends

Future care or disposition

• Check with Science to go regarding returns
• If collected locally, OK to release locally
• DO NOT release purchased animals
• Student care: only if guarantee success and have parental approval
• Pet Shop
• As food for other animals

Also to think about

• Safety Issues
• Holding animals is not a "natural" experience
• How to handle such topics as death and reproduction

Materials Needed

• Container (animal-specific)
  • Cage should provide:
  • for animal's well-being
    • good viability
    • prevent animal escapes
    • easy access replicate natural habitat as much as possible

Environmental Considerations

• Source of Light
  • Natural Night and day cycles
  • Use timers If no windows and/or weekends
  • usually stay away from direct light

• Source of Heat
  • Classroom temperature may be adequate
  • If temperature drops 10F: heaters, lamps, light bulb

• Cleanliness
  • removal of waste products
  • water replenishment on a regular basis

• Nesting Media
  • hiding, burrowing, rearing young
  • boxes, paper towels, toilet

Food and Water

• Food
  • what do they eat and where do you get it?
  • prevent spillage: use appropriate containers
  • remove spoiled food on a regular basis

• Water
  • tap water usually OK for drinking'
  • water bottles, wet cotton balls, small jars
  • fish MUST have dechlorinated water