The Pets in the Classroom Grant program needs your help! GOOD Maker is awarding a $2,000 grant to the top-voted idea that promotes environmental stewardship and Pets in the Classroom is in the running! Please vote for the Pets in the Classroom Grant program so that we can help more teachers positively influence students through classroom pets! Voting Ends Wednesday, May 30, so please vote today!
Pets in the Classroom is happy to be the recipient of a financial donation from a Girl Scouts Troop in Rancho Santa Margarita, California! Please read on to hear more about this incredible group of girls and their love of learning and of animals!
Girl Scout Troup’s Love for Animals Enhances Community and Learning
Education and Community Enrichment Go Hand in Hand for Girl Scout Troup 513 as their participation in America’s Family Pet Expo resulted in a learning opportunity for the girls and a New Pet for a local Classroom.
Girl Scout Troop 513, a Brownie troop located in Rancho Santa Margarita, have once again put their love for animals into action by getting involved in the America’s Family Pet Expo as well as the Pets in the Classroom grant program. The Troop’s involvement provided them with a hands-on learning opportunity and a chance to pass on their love for animals.
The Brownie Troop, which consists of 12 girls ages 8-9, has a history of doing activities that involve learning about and caring for animals. Past projects include:
Past projects have provided the opportunity for the troop to learn more about animals, their habitats, and our environment as a whole. This recent project with America’s Family Pet Expo and Pets in the Classroom was no exception.
At America’s Family Pet Expo, a pet and pet product expo consisting of pet shows & demonstrations, animal experts, pet adoptions, hands-on petting and learning opportunities, each of the troop members registered to be a part of the Kid’s Aquarium Contest, a learning program designed to teach children about the habitat of fish and the rewards of pet care. Each troop member was given an aquarium to design an environment for. In preparation for the field trip to the Expo, the troop visited a pet store to learn more about fish and fish aquariums. Then, at the Expo, an expert explained the basic care guidelines and helped teach them how to be responsible pet owners.
“America’s Family Pet Expo is sort of like Disneyland for those who love animals,” said Dee Ann Lazatin, Co-Leader of the Troop. “And our girls love animals! They were all so excited.”
In addition to learning more about animals and animal care, the Troop wanted to give the proceeds of their Girl Scout Cookie sales to an animal- related charity. The Troop chose to donate the funds to the Pets in the Classroom Grant Program, which provides teachers with funding to purchase and maintain a classroom pet.
“Our Troop chose to participate in the Aquarium Contest at America’s Family Pet Expo as well as donate to Pets in the Classroom,” said Lazatin. “All of our girls love animals and always talk about the teachers at school who have animals in their classroom. Their eyes light up when we see, speak, touch and learn about animals. When we asked them which teacher would they love to see have animals in their classroom, they said every one of their teachers!”
The World Pet Association, host of America’s Family Pet Expo, has agreed to match the Troop’s donation to Pets in the Classroom. A local teacher will be selected to receive the grant so that the troop can visit it.
“Our troop is very special,” said Lazatin, “and is always finding ways to give back.”
District Administration recently published an article on Pets in the Classroom! Please check it out!
The number of grants offered through the Pet Care Trust (PCT) to classrooms around the nation has more than doubled since August 2011, says the organization’s executive director, Steve King. The program is offered through Pets in the Classroom, PCT’s education arm, which aims to foster healthy pet-child relationships in students in elementary and middle school. King credits the program’s huge growth to a new partnership with Petco and Petsmart, which now advertise the program in their stores. “Our goal is to reach 1 million students in 30,000 classrooms,” says King.
The program aims to allow students with no exposure to animals or nature in their home to make connections with the world of animals. According to PCT, caring for animals instills a sense of responsibility and respect for life, brings increased sensitivity, and fosters a sense that all living things need more than just food and water for survival. According to King, pets add to the curriculum as students learn about their background and natural habitat. Moreover, teachers have told King that pets loosen tension in the classroom and improve attendance rates and classroom discipline. In 2011, the program awarded more than 7,000 grants of up to $150 to eligible teachers for purchasing classroom pets.
As the program grows, King says the foundation will be building resources for teachers who would like lesson plans to incorporate their pets into their classrooms. To seek a grant through PCT, visit www.petsintheclassroom.org.
On March 10, 2012, Pets in the Classroom was awarded a Google Grant for free Google AdWords advertising. Pets in the Classroom’s ads are displayed alongside related search results on Google.com, and when people click on the ad, they are taken to Pets in the Classroom’s homepage. The Google Grant award has helped Pets in the Classroom spread its message of promoting public understanding of the joys and benefits of pets through education, support, and interaction to the public and inform, engage, and connect with its constituents. Please support Pets in the Classroom by performing a Google search using the following keyword phrases and clicking on the Pets in the Classroom Google Grant ad:
The Google Grants program supports organizations sharing Google’s philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts.
Designed for registered non-profit organizations, Google Grants is a unique in-kind advertising program that harnesses the power of Google AdWords, Google’s flagship advertising product. Google Grants has awarded free AdWords advertising to thousands of non-profit groups whose missions range from animal welfare to literacy, from supporting homeless children to promoting HIV education.
The lives of children can be greatly enriched by the presence of pets. That’s why we do what we do at Pets in the Classroom. Our grant program has affected the lives of thousands of students and we are so proud to be able to help teachers bring pets into their classrooms. Here are a few of the comments we received from some students thanking us for their classroom pets!
Thank you really for the grant. I love the pump for the turtle tank. I love turtles. They are cool. Now they are going to live for 1000 years. Thank you. You are the best. That turtals proboly whants to marry you. Thank you.
Brennen
Thank you for the pump for the turtles. They love it. There so happy some times they even blush. They even kiss the wall. Also thank you for the bedding, pooshey wooshey loves the bedding. We love playing with her and when she sleeps she’s just sitting there snuggled in her little house. The gosht shrimp always hide in the bushes. There so comfterble. So thank you so much.
Zareya H.
Thank you for the lizards all of them change color it is really cool thank you for the bedding she ceddeles with it She is sooo cute and she sleep in her recyleing bin She is so cute and thank your for the ghost Shrimp it is so cool I can’t ever find them. You rock for that.
Emily
Thank you for the Ghost Shrimp. We are trying to find them. Thank you for the crickets for the lizards and the frog. They are healthy and happy and if they were human they give you a big hug!
Christopher
If you want to help more students receive the benefits from classroom pets, please consider making a financial donation to Pets in the Classroom. Be sure to pass on the grant information on to your teacher friends too!
Pets in the Classroom wants to thank the 4th grade class at J.L. Lyon Elementary School for your wonderful thank you letters! We’ve posted a few of them below for everyone to enjoy!
Thank you for Sassy the guinea pig and all her supplies. She really likes me! Each time I put her down, she jumped on me again! But it’s really cool to have pets in the classroom.
Coy
Thank you for Sassy, our new guinea pig. Sassy is sweet and healthy and seems to really like one of my classmates Coy. Thank you for all her supplies, like her water bottle, her shaving, and all the other supplies. She will have a good life here.
Hannah
Thank you for Sassy the guinea pig. She is wonderful and she really likes Coy. She has beaty red eyes and she is cuter than a dolpin. She really fits in with the science lab. And we really thank you for her supplies.
Rusty
We at Pets in the Classroom received a wonderful batch of letters from the Ms. Mugent’s 1st grade class at Westchase Elementary School and we would love to share some of them with you! Thank you, Ms. Mugent and students, for your sweet comments!
From Ms. Mugent:
Thank you for the grant so I could get a pet for my class. I purchased a guinea pig, Juliet, and her home & food. We have enjoyed our pet as you can see in the students’ letters.
So far we have done research on guinea pigs and their care. We have measured and weighed Juliet, cared for, fed and bathed her. We have walked her through our neighboring class’ herb garden and noted that parsley is her favorite.
The opportunity you provided our class has enhanced their learning experiences.
From the Students:
Thank you Mr. King for giving us the money to buy Juliet. I will tell you what Juliet likes best. She likes being walked in the garden and some sounds mean she is happy and some mean she is scared. She loves attention.
James
It is a great year with the guinea pig. You are so generous for giving us a guinea pig. We like her on our desks. I put my finger in her mouth and it tickles. By the way, her name is Juliet. Thank you for her. It’s the best year ever!
Ellie
Thank you for the money! Our class loves Juliet the guinea pig so much – even me! I’m going to love this school year with little tiny Juliet. She looks so cute and when it was my first day I felt like I was a guinea pig too! See you next time if you come to Westchase Elementary School.
Preethia
Thank you for the guinea Pig. Her name is Juliet Do you have a guinea pig at home? Would you like to come to our class and see her? She is very sweet. She likes to be carried on my chest, but does scratch a little bit. That’s how much we all love her!
Alexandra
If you recently applied for a Pets in the Classroom grant or are thinking of applying, you may be wondering what pets other teachers have brought into their classrooms and their experience with classroom pets. We hope these comments from teachers who received a Pets in the Classroom grant will help give you a little more insight.
Thank you so very much for your sponsorship through the Pet Care Trust Grant program. Our school currently has a variety of classroom pets which include a hamster, hermit crabs, a variety of fish in a river ecosystem tank, a tank of cockroaches (not sure what kind, but they are big and creepy!) and a tree frog habitat. We currently have 2 rolling habitats that we use as our positive behavior motivational program. Classes earn tickets for positive behavior and we draw weekly for our “We Matter” winners. These classes get to care for a habitat for the week in their classroom. The students absolutely LOVE it. This grant has been especially helpful in making sure that we are able to maintain the necessary food and care for these animals.
Katharine Holmes
Science Coach
We would like to thank you so much for helping us extend the learning environment in our classroom.
The children were very excited to get a new sparkly fish tank and they even made the background for it themselves. They were also extremely excited when they learned we were getting two new friends to join our classroom. Hermit Crabs! The girls in our classroom have temporarily named them Barbie and Ken. They were eager to learn how to care for our new friends. We take turns caring for them by feeding them, watering them, spraying and cleaning their tank. We even take them out and hold them and watch them crawl across the carpet.
This has been a wonderful addition to our classroom and will provide on going learning for years to come.
Your friends in Turtle Pond at Magic Years
Thank you so much for choosing my reptile, Norman the snake, as a recipient of a “Pets in the Classroom” grant! We have purchased many things that are essential for him to live the best life he can. With the $150.00 we were awarded, Norman was able to move into 30 gallon tank with many amenities that should last him for the rest of his snake life. He now was a large tree to climb and a soaking pool which will help with his “perfect sheds.” A large heat pad with thermometer to ensure his habitat is kept at a constant, appropriate temperature. The bag FULL of new bedding for him to hide in will surely last all year. He has a secret hiding rock that sticks to the side of his tank with magnets, so that he can hide and the children can still keep an eye on him. Norman also got cage clips to ensure he stays safe in his home (we hear corn sakes are escape artists). To top it all off, we were able to get three packs of pinkie mice to help satisfy his insatiable appetite (for a little while).
On top of Norman’s grant, the teachers in my pod were also awarded grants for a rabbit, a bird, and a turtle. Our students are able to actively explore our animal friends and interact with them EVERYDAY! This is truly a valuable learning experience for not only our students, but all of the students at Essrig that visit daily. Without the generosity of Pets in the Classroom and The Pet Care Trust we could not maintain our animal family members to the highest of quality like they are now. We look forward to being in contact with you about our “Living Laboratory” and sharing some of our experiences with you. The grant you awarded us is beyond doubt enhancing our classrooms and curriculum.
Christie Fojaco
Kindergarten Team Leader
Essrig Elementary
If you would like to learn more about Pets in the Classroom or apply for the Pets in the Classroom grant, please visit www.petsintheclassroom.org.
We at Pets in the Classroom just love hearing from you teachers who send us cards and letters describing your experience with the Pets in the Classroom grant program and your new classroom pet. Here are just a few comments we have received:
I am so grateful to have been selected to receive the Pets in the Classroom grant. I purchased a bearded dragon for my 5th grad science class. “Blaze” has settled in nicely. My students really enjoy taking care of her and watching her grow. As a result of having her, I had to get another tank just to keep all of the grasshoppers and crickets my students bring in for her each day.
This is a wonderful project. Again, thank you for this opportunity.
Joselyn Anglin
Thank you so much for the generous reimbursement grant. I, like you and the other supporters and staff of the Pets in the Classroom program, recognize and value the important benefits for our students resulting from pet care and observation in a classroom setting. Your program is providing enrichment for our students and is to be commended.
Linda J. Petuch, M.Ed.; NBCT/Science, Early Adolescence
West Palm Beach, Florida
As a Preschool teacher, it is my goal to expose my students as many different types of learning styles as possible. With the ages of my students ranging from three to five years old, there are varying ability levels present within the room. With the aquarium now present, I have noticed that students are helping each other- be it by feeding the fish, learning their colors, comparing sizes of different rocks within the tank, etc. The aquarium has been an amazing addition to our classroom.
Jeanette Pena
St. Helen Catholic School (www.sthelenchicago.org)
If you’ve been the recipient of a Pets in the Classroom grant, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at:
The Pet Care Trust
2105 Laurel Bush Road, Suite 200
Bel Air, MD 21015
elizabeth@ksgroup.org
Feel free to also visit the Pets in the Classroom Facebook page and post a comment!
In a recent blog post, we discussed the involvement of Pets in the Classroom with Green Chimneys, a nationally renowned, non-profit organization that helps children with emotional, behavioral, social and learning challenges with the aid of animals. Our previous post told how the Pets in the Classroom grant program helped provide aquariums for the organization, but we would love for you to hear more about the experience from Ryan Johnson, the Therapeutic Intervention Specialist at Green Chimneys:
It wasn’t long ago that I realized in my personal experience with my own fish tanks, that fish had quite an impact on me. I found myself feeling quite a bit calmer and less anxious when viewing or in the presence of my fish. My idea to get fish tanks into the classrooms began. My mission was to create a calming and therapeutic environment for the children of Green Chimneys. In my experience with our young people, an intervention that isn’t spoken often has more of an impact on the young person. Fish tanks create a calming environment with no use of words.
My first test was our Quiet/Intervention Room and in the Learning Center. Both of these spaces are used to help calm young people down, when in a state of crisis. Both tanks were set up with the help of children on campus and the children loved the experience of being able to put something together start to finish. All were excited to have their own input on how the “Home” for the fish should look. While both tanks were in the process of being set up, many of the young people became engaged in the process of “taking care” of something. Both tanks were established, and immediately created a focal point of therapy within each of its spaces. Children became attached to and highly engaged with the multi-colored fish, and fascinating background and landscapes. They would ask questions, and became quite involved in learning more. Both of these campus spaces had carried a negative connotation with them but they have now taken on a new identity with the addition of the Fish Tanks.
Green Chimneys is identified by its animal-assisted activities, and I thought no better place than here to add animals to our therapeutic team. Fish, although unable to be touched and held, are very valuable to helping our young people. With the help of Dr. Ross, Petco and the Pet CareTrust foundation we were able to receive a grant to purchase fish tanks for the classrooms. Ten classrooms participated in this project and the classes were involved in the process of picking out their own tanks; picking out what it would look like inside, and ultimately which types of fish would be swimming in their classrooms. Our children vary in capabilities, and vary in their ability to calm themselves down. The addition of the fish tanks in the classroom helps young people who cannot actively or effectively express their emotions to find a way to channel that energy. I firmly believe that the therapeutic benefits in these classrooms will be great. It is not every day that young people can take care of something, let alone start a home and take care of a home for something that they call their own.
It’s been several weeks now and the fish tanks in the classrooms are up and running. The process was one that all classrooms were involved with. Each class had the opportunity to fully “outfit” their own tank and the kids in each room were extremely excited about setting them up. It took some time getting the water and filters in each tank up and running, but it was a success.
The next obstacle we encountered was, “When can we get fish”? Almost united the kids were about putting new friends into their new homes. The process went well, as staff explained in detail how a new “Home” for fish takes time. The greatest part was the interaction with each young person was how they shared their own stories of their homes and if the home wasn’t good, the fish wouldn’t live. Without knowing it, these young people were engaging themselves and their peers in therapy sessions, all because of the fish tanks.
After a couple weeks the fish arrived; a very exciting day, indeed, as the new “classmates” were added into the tanks. A variety of fish were chosen, though the consensus of the kids was to get fish that get along with each other. It was funny listening to the young people wanting to get fish that all could swim together and not fight. It went as far as hearing one very young student ask, “What would happen, if we all couldn’t get along”? Again, the tanks were creating conversation and helping students model the behavior that was ideal and wanted by each of the young people.
This has been such a wonderful experience and I receive daily questions about fish. We have set up ten “therapeutic fish tanks” in various classrooms, and now more classes want them. It is so great seeing young people relax and smile in their classrooms due to their new little friends. The process couldn’t have ended any better when “We have babies!!” was the exclamation from the students of one class. One of the fish that had been purchased was apparently pregnant. This fish gave birth to what we all counted as about 20 baby fish. All classes involved rallied together to make sure that the new babies were taken care of. Many of the kids stopped by daily to check on them, as if they were at the hospital visiting babies in a nursery. This amazing adventure which has just begun has provided so much enjoyment – I am proud to be a part of it.
Support your fellow teachers by participating in the Pets in the Classroom Google Grants Ad program!
