Pets In The Classroom Program Brings Money (and Pets) To Children

Lori Ennis
by Lori Ennis
For the third year, the Pets in the Classroom grant program is sponsoring a Lesson Plan Contest, and elementary teachers have the chance to win!


The Pets in the Classroom grant program gives grants to pre-kindergarten through 8th-grade teachers to support the purchasing and maintaining of classroom pets. The program believes that classroom animals can be wonderful resources for teachers and students alike, and they know that classroom pets incorporated into lesson plans have a great impact on the classroom and students.


Related: New Study Will Investigate Effects Of Pets In Classrooms


The group says that children love pets in the class, and there is not only an exciting but a tangible benefit to students in that they are taught how to be responsible for the care of pets from an early age. More, research continually supports the psychological and developmental benefits there are to establishing human-animal bonds, and the program finds that classroom pets improve school attendance and encourage nurturing and self-esteem building in young children.


First established by the non-profit charity Pet Care Trust, the Pets in the Classroom grant program aims to promote the understanding of the benefits and joys pets bring in the classroom. They encourage learning and pet interaction and for the third year in a row, the group is asking teachers of pre-k through 8th grade to enter its Lesson Plan Contest. The plans should incorporate classroom pets, and show how they use fish/reptiles and small animals in conjunction with learning opportunities in the class. The categories the teachers can submit plans for are Small Animals/Birds, Reptile/Amphibian and Aquarium/Fish. Lesson plans will be accepted from now through August 1, with nine winners being announced on August 21.


Related: Kids Who Have a Ruff Time Reading Find Attentive Listeners in Dogs


Pets in the Classroom is looking for creative and quality plans, and evaluating them on how progressive, interactive, thorough and challenging they are. Winners will be featured on the Pets in the Classroom website so that other teachers can use and adapt the lesson plans to fit in their classrooms wherever they are as well.


The winners will receive $100 gift cards for their classroom, and teachers can submit learn more about the contest or submit their plans at Pets in the Classroom’s site. So, tell your favorite teacher to submit some plans and bring more pets to the classrooms!

Lori Ennis
Lori Ennis

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