Have you ever had a class pet in your room? For the past three years I have had a few different pet hamsters in my classroom — Mr. General, Tony, and Bear. Having a pet has been such a fun experience! I am so excited to share my experience along with some do’s and don’ts to make your pet project a success!
Do Your Research
The Pets in the Classroom website has handy information for helping you choose a pet. (Note: The website has info about finding grants for class pets. I have never applied for these grants, but I have used the information and details about pets.) I chose to go with a hamster because I had experience with them in the past, they are easy to take care of, and the students would be able to gently pet them.
When I first got the idea for bringing in a pet hamster, I went to my principal for permission and guidance. We looked over our school district’s policies. For me, the policy states that pets are allowed as long as they are vaccinated and no students in the class are allergic to that animal. The principal also asked me to communicate my plan with families, and have them sign a form that they agreed their child could be around a hamster. Hamsters do not need vaccinations and all of my parents were on board, so we were good to go!
Do Teach Life Skills with Your Class Pet
My students and I read books and articles about hamster care so we knew exactly what our buddy would need. We made shopping lists for hamster supplies, like wooden chew toys, (affiliate link) and looked at pet store websites to find different prices.
My students learned that hamsters are living things, and we need to treat them with respect. We must pet them gently, take good care of them, and not do anything to hurt or frighten them. The students also learned to brush the hamsters and feed them.
My older students are also able to help out by cleaning the hamsters’ cages. Tip: I choose a bedding that is made for odor control (affiliate link) to help make sure there aren’t animal smells in the classroom.
Do Incorporate Your Class Pet in Academics
The kids absolutely love our hamsters, and I have found some creative ways to incorporate them into lessons. Using Boardmaker, I made a book about Mr. General for my students to read. You can also incorporate your pet into math problems. My students also enjoy these pet matching task box cards.
Don’t Forget to Make a Care Plan
Make a plan for what you will do with your pets when school is out. My hamsters are able to stay by themselves at school during long weekends (up to four days). During longer breaks, I take them home with me.
It’s important to plan for unexpected events as well. Make sure a paraprofessional in your room or another teacher friend knows how to check in on your pet and feed them if necessary.
Don’t Be Afraid to Share Your Class Pet
One of the most fun parts of having a class pet has been sharing it with other members of our school community! I have seen many seeds of friendship sown through playtime with our pets. If the weather is nice, we like to take the hamster outside to roll in his hamster ball (affiliate link) on the blacktop. When other classes are outside, the hamsters are a great conversation starter! We have also invited small groups of students to our classroom to visit our furry friends. It helps create fabulous inclusion opportunities because it allows my students to share their expertise with other kids in the school.
Don’t Stress Your Pet Out
Be aware that a small pet like a hamster can become easily frightened or overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of a classroom. Hamsters are nocturnal creatures. Some of my hamsters, like Tony, have learned to adapt to the school schedule and wake up when the kids are likely to play with them, such as snack time and our afternoon life skills period. Other hamsters prefer to stick to their natural rhythm and only wake when coaxed out. Be respectful of their preference! I do gently wake sleepy Bear up for some exercise or to clean his cage, I never allow the students to jostle him awake or bother him if he does not seem receptive.
Similarly, I noticed that our hamster Mr. General was scared of the fire alarm during drills. Hamsters have a heightened sense of hearing. If I know a drill is coming, I move him to a quiet spot or cover his cage. Likewise, if a student is in a heightened state I take precautions to remove the hamster from this disruptive environment so they do not get stressed out.
Do Have Fun!
Aside from all of the other positives of having a class pet, they are just plain fun! There are so many awesome ways to celebrate your pet and create memories for your students. For example, we had a birthday party for Mr. General! We decorated his cage, gave him hamster toy presents, and even played “pin the party hat on the hamster.”
Having a class pet has been such a fun experience for me and my students. Even other staff members who visit my room are delighted to say hello to my furry friends. While the start up and maintenance may seem a little bit daunting, the benefits of having a pet in your room are totally worth it.
Drop me any questions you have about getting started with a class pet! I would love to help you out with this enriching experience! And, be sure to check out Vanessa’s blog to learn about the service dog she has in her classroom!
Excellent informational read! Very helpful to help make an informed decision on a class pet!
This is fabulous! What a fun way to teach life skills! My POR class might want to visit. You are amazing!