Your classroom pet can aid you in teaching a variety of subjects, and science is definitely an appropriate subject to incorporate your pet into!  Pets in the Classroom has a few suggestions on how to incorporate your pet into your science lessons.

Animals are an integral part of science, and your pet can easily be included in lesson plans.  You can use a photo of your pet to label anatomy, study its habitat, and learn about its needs.  Whether you teach kindergarten or the 6^th grade, your students can benefit from the learning opportunity that classroom pets bring.  Here are a few ideas:

• Use a photo or draw a picture of your classroom pet and have your students label the anatomy.
• Study the meaning of “habitat.”  List different categories of habitats (ocean, forest, jungle, desert, etc) and find which category your pet would fit into.
• Discuss the native habitat of your pet if it was not domesticated and its classroom habitat.  Compare and contrast.
• Separate animals into groups (using your pet as one of the animals) based on their physical characteristics.
• Study what your pet needs to survive – diet, exercise requirements, environment, and climate.
• Make a scientific study of your pet.  Observe its habits and behavior patterns.

There are just a few suggestions on how to incorporate a classroom pet into your science lesson.  For more lesson plan ideas as well as printable worksheets, visit http://www.classpetcentral.com/teachers/lesson_plans.

We at Pet Care Trust want to thank Lew Sutton for his 9 years of service as our President.  We also want to welcome Brent Weinmann to the position!  Please read the press release below for more details.

Pet Care Trust Names New President

Brent Weinmann, CEO of Vitakraft Sunseed, Inc. has been selected to take over as President of The Pet Care Trust after Lew Sutton steps down after 9 years of service.

The Pet Care Trust is pleased to announce that Brent Weinmann, President and CEO of Vitakraft Sunseed, Inc., has been appointed as President of the Pet Care Trust, a non-profit organization that promotes public understanding regarding the value of and right to enjoy companion animals, enhances knowledge about companion animals through research and education, and promotes professionalism among members of the companion animal community.

Weinmann’ expertise in the pet industry and philanthropic work will be an asset to his leadership role. In addition to being President and CEO of Vitakraft Sunseed, Inc., a manufacturer of pet food and treats, Weinmann is on the board of American Pet Products Association, and has held seats on the boards of Wood Lane industries and Wood County Workforce Policy Board.  He has been on the board of the Pet Care Trust since 2002.

“Brent Weinmann has a long track record of service to the Pet Care Trust as a member of the Board of Trustees,” said Steven King, Executive Director of the Pet Care Trust. “His leadership skills, creativity and devotion to the Trust’s mission will be in evidence even more during his term as president.”

Weinmann will be taking the place of Lew Sutton who has served as the President of the Pet Care Trust for the past 9 years.   “Lew Sutton has helped transform the Pet Care Trust into a vital contributor to a better understanding of the importance of pets in our daily lives,” said Steven King. “Under his leadership, the Trust first created the Fish in the Classroom program, then Pets in the Classroom, which is having a profound impact on school age children throughout the country.”

Sutton’s leadership has left a lasting impact at the Pet Care Trust, an impact that Brent Weinmann plans to expand on in his own presidency.

“I am looking forward to continuing in the strong direction that Lew Sutton provided for 9 years as the President of the Pet Care Trust,” said Weinmann. “I plan to focus on our signature program, Pets in the Classroom. Working with teachers to help give them an opportunity to make pets part of the learning process is exciting.  The Trust has received hundreds of thank you letters, pictures and stories of how student engagement and stimulation increases when animals are part of the curriculum.  Since the beginning of the program the PCT has authorized over  6000 grants to teachers across the country.  This has the potential of enriching the education and lives of nearly 180,000 students.”

For more information on the Pet Care Trust, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org/about.

The Pet Care Trust is pleased to announce that Brent Weinmann, President and CEO of Vitakraft Sunseed, Inc., has been appointed as President of the Pet Care Trust, a non-profit organization that promotes public understanding regarding the value of and right to enjoy companion animals, enhances knowledge about companion animals through research and education, and promotes professionalism among members of the companion animal community.

Weinmann’ expertise in the pet industry and philanthropic work will be an asset to his leadership role. In addition to being President and CEO of Vitakraft Sunseed, Inc., a manufacturer of pet food and treats, Weinmann is on the board of American Pet Products Association, and has held seats on the boards of Wood Lane industries and Wood County Workforce Policy Board.  He has been on the board of the Pet Care Trust since 2002.

“Brent Weinmann has a long track record of service to the Pet Care Trust as a member of the Board of Trustees,” said Steven King, Executive Director of the Pet Care Trust. “His leadership skills, creativity and devotion to the Trust’s mission will be in evidence even more during his term as president.”

Weinmann will be taking the place of Lew Sutton who has served as the President of the Pet Care Trust for the past 9 years.   “Lew Sutton has helped transform the Pet Care Trust into a vital contributor to a better understanding of the importance of pets in our daily lives,” said Steven King. “Under his leadership, the Trust first created the Fish in the Classroom program, then Pets in the Classroom, which is having a profound impact on school age children throughout the country.”

Sutton’s leadership has left a lasting impact at the Pet Care Trust, an impact that Brent Weinmann plans to expand on in his own presidency.

“I am looking forward to continuing in the strong direction that Lew Sutton provided for 9 years as the President of the Pet Care Trust,” said Weinmann. “I plan to focus on our signature program, Pets in the Classroom. Working with teachers to help give them an opportunity to make pets part of the learning process is exciting.  The Trust has received hundreds of thank you letters, pictures and stories of how student engagement and stimulation increases when animals are part of the curriculum.  Since the beginning of the program the PCT has authorized over  6000 grants to teachers across the country.  This has the potential of enriching the education and lives of nearly 180,000 students.”

For more information on the Pet Care Trust, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org/about.

If you have a snake in your classroom, here are some facts about shedding of the skin, or ecdysis.  All reptiles shed their skin, and snakes can shed their skin as much as once per month.  Snakes shed in one big piece from nose to tail over the course of 7 to 14 days.  Shedding is necessary for growth in reptiles and snakes and can be affected by your care of the snake and its nutrition.

If you notice your classroom snake’s skin becoming dull, eyes turning cloudy or “bluish” and an increase in nervous behavior, your snake is about to shed.  After 3-4 days the eyes should become clear again and you’ll want to make sure your snake has various surfaces like rocks or branches to rub against.  During the shedding period the snake should not be handled and probably will not want to eat.  Once the skin is completely shed, remove it from the enclosure and check to be sure it was a complete shed, including eye caps!

There are many causes for an incomplete shed, which can be diagnosed by a reptile veterinarian.  One common cause of an improper shed is humidity levels in the enclosure.  Of course, optimal humidity levels vary depending on different types of snakes, but most require 50 to 70% in their environment.  Improper nutrition can also be a culprit in an incomplete shed, as can skin conditions, trauma or too much handling.  A reptile veterinarian or pet professional can help you determine the best conditions in which to keep your snake so that it can shed properly.

This is an amazing process to observe in the classroom, and a great learning experience for your students.

Having 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.

Check out this great video created by Pet Care Trust on the Pets in the Classroom grant!

 Are you thinking of applying for a Pets in the Classroom grant to set up a classroom aquarium?  Not sure where to start?  Here are some things to consider when choosing fish for your first aquarium.

One of the most important components of your aquarium is the water.  You will want to select fish that will stay healthy in your type of tap water.  When you go to purchase your equipment, you can take a sample of tap water with you to be tested.  Based on the pH and hardness or softness of the water, your aquarium professional will be able to recommend the correct water conditioners and fish that will tend to do well in your water.

You’ll want to choose fish that do well on prepared fish foods that are available from your pet supplier.  You can always supplement fish food with foods like freeze-dried brine shrimp or bloodworms as recommended, but for the most part you want fish that don’t need specialized feeding.

Choose hardy fish for your aquarium.  Some fish are better than others at adapting to conditions that might vary from day to day – possible over or under feeding, imperfect water changes, temperature fluctuations.  As you become more experienced and the students perfect the aquarium care routine, hardy fish will be able to handle the possible effects on their living conditions.

There are a wide variety of commercially raised fish available from pet and aquarium supply retailers that will do well in a beginner’s aquarium.  Get advice on which fish can live peacefully together and share similar environmental conditions, as well as which fish can best adapt to your classroom with success.

Now do you feel a little more prepared to bring fish into your classroom?  Apply for the Pets in the Classroom Grant today!

West Shore is Going to the Birds

By Ms. Dascola, Mrs. Dermer and Ms. Sturges

Respect, Responsibility, and Caring…three things that every West Shore Wildcat knows very well! Two fifth grade teachers, Mrs. Laura Dermer and Ms. Elizabeth Sturges, and one second grade teacher, Ms. Amy Dascola, have recently incorporated these three character traits into their daily science instruction. Being a Positive Behavior (PBS) school, these three are traits that are important to all of us here at West Shore. These three teachers are using science and the care of animals to help instill these in their students.

It all started with the writing of a grant. Each teacher submitted a grant through Pet Care Trust to help with the care and cost of having a classroom pet. They worked as a team to get the grants written and now all three classrooms have an extra $100 to help care for the rescued cockatiels. The students are now assisting with the upkeep of having a class pet and Blanca Nieve, Lola, Shiloh, and Flower have become temporary classmates for the students. Through a partnership with Florida Parrot Rescue, a not-for-profit avian rescue dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of companion birds, the students are learning to be responsible by helping clean the animals’ cages, they are demonstrating care by giving the birds food each day and keeping their water dishes full, and showing respect by not teasing or mishandling the birds. It is a positive situation for all involved. The teachers know they are helping their students become better people, the students are receiving hands on experiences as part of life science, and the birds are enjoying a happy time in their lives before they find their permanent homes. 

 
The last step in this process will also include the students showing respect, responsibility, and caring for the birds. Our students are foster “parents” for the birds and hope that homes can be found for their feathered friends once the school year comes to a close in June. Once a home is found, they will have to be responsible and respectful enough to be willing to let the birds go and care enough for the birds to know that a permanent home with a loving family is what is best for Blanca, Shiloh, Lola and Flower. The family or individual that adopts these little birdies will be wonderfully rewarded. They will be receiving a new family member that has been lovingly cared for and tended to for many weeks. For more information on becoming a forever home to a feathered friend go to www.FloridaParrotRescue.com.

Many teachers wonder about the benefits of adding a pet to their classroom – will it really stimulate learning and provide emotional and developmental benefits?  The subject of children’s bond with pets has been studied repeatedly over the last fifty years, in an effort to learn more about this special relationship.

To the casual observer it might seem obvious that children walking into a classroom would be excited by and gravitate to a live creature.  Children are naturally curious, and seeing something new is exciting.  But studies have shown that the bond between children and pets goes far beyond curiosity.  In a 1998 study of the emotional bond between children and pets, Sandra L. Triebenbacher concluded that “The benefits of pet ownership and attachment to animals include minimizing emotional trauma, helping to alleviate some emotional problems as well as fear and loneliness, to lessen anxiety during times of stress, to promote good mental and physical health for both children and adults, and provide noncontingent unconditional love and opportunities for affection.”

Triebenbacher found that children conveyed their love to animals through touch and through care-giving responsibilities such as feeding.   In his 1995 paper on classroom animals, Craig Naherniak concluded, “If there is one thing that is most important for children to realize, it is that they share a world with other beings who have needs similar but not identical to theirs.  This understanding helps to develop the child’s confidence, empathy and respect for others.”  Having a pet in the classroom allows teachers to provide children with ways to develop these valuable skills.

For more information on how teachers can provide thier students with the opportunity to develop through a classroom pet, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org.

In the February 17, 2011 edition of  The Yorktown Press, Kris Berry, a fourth grade teacher at the local elementary school, was mention in the article “Yorktown Stars” as a recipient of the Pets in the Classroom Grant.  Congratulations Kris!  We hope your students enjoy their new classroom pet!

The excerpt from ”Yorktown Stars”:

YES (Yorktown Elementary School) fourth-grade teacher Kris Berry is a recipient of the Pets in the Classroom grant sponsored by The Pet Care Trust.The $100 grant will be used to purchase a small animal for her classroom as well as all the needed food and supplies for the animal’s care. The Pet Care Trust offers this grant to teachers so that they can use small animals in their classrooms to help enhance the curriculum and provide an enriching classroom experience for their students. Students will learn not only how to properly take care of the animal, but they will also learn about responsibility and how important it is to be responsible when you are a pet owner.

Click Here to view the article online!