Ever since I began teaching I have had a class pet or class pets. While class pets can be wonderful for the students, they are also a lot of responsibility for the teacher. Before deciding that a class pet is right for your classroom, you should put a lot of thought into the time and effort that you are willing to place into caring for the animal. You must consider what will happen to the pet over weekends, vacations, and school breaks.
A fish aquarium with fish is the most common class pet. This is the pet that I currently have in my classroom. While fish basically care for themselves, the tank must be cleaned. Fish, especially goldfish, can be very messy. If not given the proper attention, the tank can stink, the water turn green, and the fish can die.
Another common classroom pet is a hamster. I have had hamsters in my class before. They were great for my eighth grade students. However, hamsters can also be a concern. Hamsters can chew out of cages and get loose in the school. Hamsters can also bite. In today’s society, a teacher may be putting his/herself in the line of fire for lawsuit if the hamster bites a child. Hamsters too can be messy and the cage must be cleaned weekly. Hamsters can also attract gnats and fleas.
At one point in time, I had turtles in my classroom. The children loved to watch the turtles and the turtles became very friendly with the children. The trouble with turtles is that they can be carriers of semolina. The children must be careful not to touch the animal or to wash hands very well after touching the animal.
Hermit crabs are another class favorite. Again, the crab cage requires cleaning or the animal cage will stink. The children also must be certain to wash their hands every time that they touch the hermit crabs.
Having a class pet can be fun and educational for the children. However, the teacher must be prepared for the responsibility also.