Tommy the Tortoise~Our Class Pet Responsibility Matters!
Help me give my students the supplies they need to efficiently take care of their school/class pet, Tommy the Tortoise! Even a small child can begin to learn to care for the needs of another living being!
$207 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
Our elementary students are outstanding scholars who persevere every day. Our school motto is, "The best school in the district!" Our school is dedicated to preparing our students for college and life. Our network mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower students to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace and that inspire in students a lifelong love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world.
Our students have recently been given the opportunity to experience a school mascot, a desert sulcata tortoise!
Caring for pets in the classroom is one way of improving school attendance and teaching children about responsibility. Whether it’s Math (“how much does a hamster weigh?”) or Science, (“what does a snake eat?”) Geography (“what part of the world do ferrets come from?”) or Grammar (“what words would we use to describe a goldfish?”) students will approach learning all these subjects with a new enthusiasm and interest. Helping to take care of a pet gives a child a sense of pride and accomplishment, especially if the animal is able to return the affection.
My Project
Even a small child can begin to learn to care for the needs of another living being. Whether helping to empty a cup of dry kibble into Tommy's bowl, or filling his water dish, it’s never too early to start teaching kids proper animal care. Of course, our teachers must monitor all pet care that the child carries out. Helping to take care of a pet gives a child a sense of pride and accomplishment, especially if the animal is able to return the affection. Shari Young Kuchenbecker, Ph.D., research psychologist at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, says, “The child who cares for a pet knows that what he does matters, and so he’ll want to do more of it. The more successfully he feeds, walks, or emotionally bonds with the pet, the more confident he’ll feel.” In fact, studies conducted by the Waltham Centre have shown that children with pets have higher levels of self-esteem than those without pets.
• Observing and caring for an animal instills a sense of responsibility and respect for life.
• A pet brings increased sensitivity and awareness of the feelings and needs of others—both animals and humans.
• Kids learn that all living things need more than just food and water for survival.
• Students will see directly how their behavior and actions affect others.
• Studies show that the presence of animals tends to lessen tension in the classroom.
Nobody enjoys being treated roughly. Kids soon learn that if they want to be liked and trusted by the class pet, they’ll need to treat him carefully and kindly. This sort of training benefits all kids, but is especially important to small boys who don’t often get the chance in our society to practice nurturing skills as girls do.
ROCKEVER Tortoise House Enclosure Large Wood with Run, Wooden Small Animal Hutch Outdoor for Rabbits Chicks Guinea Pigs Metal Wire Playpen
• Amazon Business
$116.99
1
$116.99
Ware Manufacturing Natural Willow and Grass Pet Hut for Small Pets, Large
• Amazon Business
$14.36
1
$14.36
Materials cost
$131.35
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$12.02
3rd party payment processing fee
$1.97
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$175.34
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$30.94
Total project goal
$206.28
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$206.28
5 Donors
-$204.42
Donations toward project cost
-$175.34
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Saputo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
