Posted by country hicks on 10/04/08

I teach grade three. I'm thinking about getting a hamster
this year as a classroom pet. I guess I will have to
check it with my principal first, regarding school
regulations, health regulations, etc. I think it would be
a good way to teach the science curriculum to my
students, "Animal Life Cycles".

Hi! This is my first time posting on this board. I teach
grade three and am thinking of getting a classroom pet for
the first time ever, after eight years! I'm excited about
it, but want to check out all aspects of this before I
commit myself to this.

I'm thinking of getting a hamster, as I had hamsters as a
youngster and remember them as being fun, while quite low
maintenance.

My rules for my students regarding the pet, whatever I
decide to get, would be to keep it's living environment
clean, to feed it, to exercise it, and to treat it with
love and care. Of course someone (myself) would have to
take it home over long weekends and school holidays. I
would also have to get permission from my administrative
team to have the pet in the classroom, look into student
health concerns such as allergies, etc.

Are there any other issues that I am overlooking? Please
advise me if that is so.

Also, what types of pets do you as teachers have in your
classrooms? What have you had successes/failures with?
To be honest I've also thought of getting beta fish as I
have two at home, but they just don't seem to have the
personality to keep students engaged for long, much as I
*love* my fish.

Any help that people here can give me in making a decision
as to whether or not I should go ahead with getting a
classroom pet and what type of pet I should get would be
greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your help!

country hicks.

Is there anyone here who has a classroom pet, specifically
a hamster? If not a hamster, what type of pet do you have
in youc classroom? I was thinking also of beta fish, as I
have two at home and they are quite low maintenance, but
they just don't have the personality that a hamster would
have.

Thanks for your input!

country hicks

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