The end of the school year is always a hectic time in the classroom with parties and assemblies on the calendar, grading and report cards to prepare, and the rising energy level of students to contend with. In the midst of all that’s going on, don’t forget to make special arrangements for your classroom pet’s summer vacation.

Probably the best choice for your classroom pet is to stay with the teacher, as you know that you will provide excellent, consistent care for the pet throughout the summer. However, this isn’t always possible, or there may be times when a teacher has their own summer plans and will need someone to care for the pet.

By this point in the year, you have familiarized with your pet’s behaviors, habitat, food and water requirements, exercise requirements and level of interaction with people. Hopefully you have created a care log book for your classroom pet that includes feeding and cleaning instructions, veterinarian information and observations on behavior. This can be a valuable tool when a student’s family or someone else is caring for your classroom pet during the summer months.

Try not to disrupt your pet too much by moving it from home to home throughout the summer. Pets can be sensitive to changes in environment and routine, and it’s best to keep things as consistent as possible. When you consider all of the love and positive things your classroom pet brings throughout the school year, take the time to plan for the best possible care for your classroom pet’s summer vacation.

Pets in the Classroom is all about the special bond between people and pets, as well as the learning opportunities that such a bond creates.  Caring for classroom pets helps teach students responsibility, and students can have fun taking an active role in their pet’s life.  Fish are great beginner pets, and there is a large variety of species and aquariums to choose from.

When you do start your search for a tank, look for one that is sized appropriately for your needs.   Rectangular tanks are one good choice for maintaining water quality and fish health, but your pet retailer can recommend various shapes and sizes to suit your classroom space.

Whichever tank you decide on, some simple maintenance is required.  Weekly 10-15% water changes are necessary to provide your fish a clean home.  You may want to use a siphon to remove 10-15% of the water and any gunk that collects in the gravel.  This is a fairly quick process, though you might have to scrub some of the algae from the sides of the tank.

Once you have taken the old water out, it is time to replace it with new de-chlorinated water. Adding a de-chlorinator to your water before you introduce it to the tank is important.  This chemical additive will condition the water to a level that is healthy for your fish.  Your Pets in the Classroom grant can be used to purchase all of the necessary supplies to maintain a healthy tank from your local pet supply store.

Keeping your tank in good condition is easy and something the whole class can take part in.  Setting up a checklist of these tasks for your students is a great way to teach them the process and get them involved.  You might consider having them on a weekly rotation working individually or on teams. They’ll quickly learn that their fish depend on them, and they’ll feel proud and confident looking after their new friends.    Pets in the Classroom will help you get started by providing you with the funds to purchase everything you need to keep your classroom aquarium in top shape.