As this unusual school year begins, we at Pets in the Classroom want to help teachers as they start a new year, and possibly a non-traditional way of teaching. Classroom pets are a wonderful way to bring joy and excitement into the lives of students—but they also offer social, emotional, and academic benefits, which is why we provide grants to teachers to help fund these little friends. In addition to our grants, we also have some resources we want to point you to as you begin the new school year:

• Lesson Plans: We have a library of lesson plans available for teachers to use that center around a classroom pet. They are arranged by grade level and pet, making it easy for you to find some lessons that will be useful for your circumstances!
• Information/Research on the Benefits of Classroom Pets: There are many ways classroom pets can impact the lives of students. Our article on the Benefits of Classroom Pets and our Research page are great resources for teachers who want to see how to incorporate a pet into their classroom. They are also great references for students who are writing persuasive essays or researching classroom pets!
• Printable Coloring Sheets: We have a collection of printable coloring sheets on our website that you can print off for your students!
• Care Sheets: Learn how to take care of your small animal with our printable Care Sheets. We also have information on preventing the transmission of infectious diseases: https://petsintheclassroom.org/preventing-disease-transmission/
• Fun Facts About Animals: Pets in the classroom are a great educational resource that can make learning fun. Whether it has the softest fur in the world, up to 12 eyes, or regenerating legs, each animal has unique characteristics that are both interesting and educational. Read some fun animal facts to help enhance the learning experience!

Since many teachers are needing to teach remotely this year, we also wanted to share a few ideas we received from teachers last spring on how to incorporate your pet into virtual learning:

• Send cards/photos from your classroom pet.
• Include your pet in video meetings.
• Use pet chat apps to have your pet “talk” to the kids.
• Use your pet as a source of inspiration for assignments – journal entries, story ideas, art inspiration, etc.
• Have your students send/email letters to your classroom pet.
• If you have the ability, set up a live stream video feed of your animal!

Whether in the classroom or through virtual learning, classroom pets can be incredibly beneficial. A survey conducted this spring by the Pets in the Classroom grant program of teachers across the U.S. and Canada shared valuable insight into how teachers are using pets, both in the classroom and in remote learning, and the multitude of ways that students are benefiting from them. According to the survey, 97 percent of respondents said that having a pet in the classroom has been a positive experience, with nearly 69 percent incorporating their pet into virtual learning. One teacher stated, “This is an awesome program and even through distant learning, our class leopard gecko has been a part of our daily Google Meets. Especially during these unusual learning experiences, our class pet has helped students with anxiety and engagement. I have had feedback from many parents that seeing our Little Leo was something that helped their kids during this time.”

We hope that your classroom pet will provide you and your students joy, comfort, and all of the other benefits that come with interacting with a pet in an educational environment! Stay tuned by following us on Facebook or Instagram as we plan to offer more resources in the upcoming months to aid you in teaching with your classroom pet. We’d also love to hear from you and find out how you are using your classroom pet to aid in learning this school year! You can share your stories on our page!