Pet hamster in the classroomHaving a pet in the classroom can inspire your students to reach out to pets that are less fortunate. This spring, consider planning a class project to collect donations of items on your local animal shelter’s wish list. Spring is typically the time when shelters are fuller, with puppies and kittens being brought in daily. Most shelters rely on donations from the community to keep their temporary residents comfy, cozy and well-fed.

Contact your local shelter to find out what items they would like to have donated. These could include pet food, towels and blankets, kitty litter, pet toys, cleaning supplies and office supplies. Get the class involved with planning the donation drive in your school. Students can write up bulletins for the school newsletter and school announcements, as well as advertising the drive through creative posters and flyers. Students can even plan to visit other classrooms to explain the importance of the collection and talk a little about responsible pet ownership.

Re-use cardboard boxes to create eye-catching donation centers to place throughout the school. Once your collection period has reached the end, contact the shelter to arrange for items to be picked up, or to deliver the items to the shelter. Many shelters have an outreach or education program, and would be happy to send a representative to your class. This spring, share your classroom’s love of their pet with homeless pets in your community.