I am a moderate-intensive intervention specialist at Lakewood High School and I teach students with significant cognitive disabilities in the Moving to Independent Learning for Employment and Success (MILES) Unit here. The MILES Unit is a group of self-contained, cross-categorical classrooms that focus on academic, vocational, and independent living skills for our exceptional students.
The students’ eyes light up when it is time to play with and care for the animals and their concentration on the given tasks is visible.
With your support, we can continue to provide these kinds of opportunities for our students so that they may continue to cultivate responsibility and empathy for animals through real and engaging studies in our classroom.
My Project
Over the past two years, we have been developing and establishing a classroom-based animal program that uses a variety of creatures to teach the students academic, vocational, and independent living skills. This program has come to be known as Cultivating Responsibility and Empathy for Animals Through Unique, Real, and Engaging Studies (CREATURES) in the Classroom. This year, I also started the LHS Herpetology Club, a sister program to CREATURES in the Classroom. CREATURES in the Classroom serves our students with special needs directly, but LHS Herpetology Club is a vehicle to engage the larger student body in the excitement as well. Bringing the two programs together has provided many rich opportunities for engagement between my students and other students from around the building.
In the process of caring for these animals, the students learn a variety of concrete and soft skills that will help them develop employable skills as well nurture their capacity for empathy.
LHS Herpetology Club & CREATURES in the Classroom provides innumerable opportunities to connect the curriculum with hands-on experiences that help to provide a more meaningful learning experience.
CREATURES in the Classroom also allows for the students to interact with a variety of animals and to have experiences they may not otherwise have. When caring for animals, there is something that each of my students can do well. Eventually, they become teachers themselves when teaching others how to care for the animals or discussing details of the species he or she works with. LHS Herpetology Club & CREATURES in the Classroom have ignited the passion of all of the students who have worked with or cared for these animals.
These items will allow us to meet our current and future needs as we continue to grow and develop our program.
AmazonBasics 4-Shelf Shelving Unit - Black
• Amazon Business
$42.72
4
$170.88
Pangea ABG Premium Substrate – 4 Quarts
• Amazon Business
$15.99
6
$95.94
YGROW LED Grow Light Full Spectrum 600W,Reflector-Series Plant Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower with Heatproof Casing 3500K
• Amazon Business
$84.99
1
$84.99
Outdoor Run with Mesh Cover (M)
• Amazon Business
$75.93
1
$75.93
Zoo Med Laboratories AZMMAM Mopani Wood, Medium, 10 to 12-Inch
• Amazon Business
$12.04
6
$72.24
Zoo Med Natural Cork Tile Background, 12 x 12-Inches
• Amazon Business
$15.24
4
$60.96
SANSI 15W LED Grow Light Bulb, Daylight White Full Spectrum Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, LED Plant Light Bulbs for Indoor Garden Houseplants, Commercial Hydroponic Horticulture, Ceramic E26 A21 120V
• Amazon Business
$19.99
3
$59.97
Zoo Med Laboratories Turtle Clean 511 Submersible Power Filter
• Amazon Business
$59.61
1
$59.61
Tetra 25931 TetraFauna Viquarium, fits 20- to 55-Gallon Tanks
• Amazon Business
$55.17
1
$55.17
Pangea Fruit Mix Watermelon Complete Gecko Diet 1/2 LB
• Amazon Business
$19.99
2
$39.98
GREAT STUFF Pond & Stone 12 oz Insulating Foam Sealant
• Amazon Business
$8.30
4
$33.20
OMAYKEY 2-Pack 100W Ceramic Heat Lamp with 1-pcs Digital-Thermometer, Infrared Reptile Heat Emitter Heater Lamp Bulb for Pet Brooder Coop Chicken Lizard Turtle Snake Aquarium, No Light No Harm
• Amazon Business
$15.99
2
$31.98
Magnolia Leaf Litter (1 Gallon)
• Amazon Business
$13.32
2
$26.64
(2 Pack) Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 Uvb Mini Compact Fluorescent
• Amazon Business
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