It was June of 2002 and I had just been hired for my first gig teaching middle school science.. I wanted to be a super cool teacher in a super cool room, so of course a super cool classroom pet is exactly what I needed, right? RIGHT!
Choosing a super cool classroom pet
What kind of animal would a super cool teacher have? Should I get something cute like a hamster or a guinea pig? Should I get something a little bit weirder like a frog or a turtle….or a TARANTULA?!? Since I wasn’t sure where to start, I took a trip to the local reptile store. As I wandered through the store, I decided that a turtle was probably the way to go. That’s when a salesperson approached me and asked if I needed help. I shared my vision of becoming a super cool teacher and he asked if I’d ever thought about a bearded dragon. To be honest, I didn’t even know what a bearded dragon was! The second he put that spiky little guy into my hand, I was head over heels in love. I named him Hector and he was the newest addition to my family.
Before leaving, the salesperson gave me a list and a research assignment on keeping my “beardie” happy and healthy. I went home that day with baby Hector and my bearded dragon starter kit.
Teachable moments
As the school year began, I realized just how amazing Hector was for my kids and me. The benefits of having an animal in the classroom are endless. My students absolutely loved him and Hector brought so many teachable moments to our science class.
Every week, my kids recorded his length and mass and then created a graph of his growth. They learned about his habitat and what is required for bearded dragons to thrive. As the year progressed, they also learned about the long-term responsibility that comes with owning a pet. I visited the reptile store weekly to buy crickets and worms. When his light bulbs went out, it was another trip and another expense.
My students learned how to respect animals and understood that having Hector in the classroom was a privilege. They learned how to properly hold him and pet him and that it was important to wash their hands after. I explained to them the importance of early socialization and handling, which led Hector to grow into a sweet, gentle soul. He never bit and encouraged even the most timid of students to be brave and touch him. Hector was my buddy for twelve wonderful years before he crossed the rainbow bridge. He touched countless lives in my classroom and my former students always remember him fondly.
Gone but not forgotten
I couldn’t imagine life without a classroom pet, so shortly after Hector’s passing, Elvis and Sunshine came into my life. With them came a lot more teachable moments. Not only were my students able to take their measurements, but when they were a little over a year old, Sunshine laid her first clutch of eggs!
My students were beyond excited at the thought of hatching baby dragons. Together, we researched how to incubate and care for the eggs and gave it our best shot. Here is the incubator we used. When they began to hatch, my kids were so enthralled. I had students from all over the school stopping by my classroom to see the baby dragons. Out of all of the labs and learning that took place that year, I guarantee the best lessons came about because of our dragons.
What do you think? Are you ready for a classroom pet?
Animals are not limited to science classrooms. An old colleague of mine had a guinea pig in her language arts classroom. That little pig was the main character in so many student stories and poems and they loved to tell me all about her and how I should also get a guinea pig. Personally, I am partial to my beardies and highly recommend them for life in a classroom. They are gentle, hardy, and fairly low maintenance. Once you know what they need to live a happy, healthy life, they are quite easy to care for. They don’t make big messes, they don’t make noise, and they only poop once or twice a week!!! It really doesn’t get much better than that.
Over the years, I have figured out the best ways to keep my bearded dragons healthy and lively. If you’re considering a dragon for your classroom, check out some of the following links to get an idea of how much your initial investment will be.
Aside from a tank, which will vary depending on the beardie’s size, they need both a heat lamp and an ultraviolet light. This bulb is my absolute favorite because it contains both heat and the UVA/UVB rays that a bearded dragon requires. You’ll also need to decide on a substrate. I’ve tried them all. My current favorite is this one, which is technically snake bedding, but it safe, dust-free, and it looks nice. One of the most important things that your beardie will need is a calcium supplement. There are lots of different brands on the market, but I’ve been happy with this one. There are tons of other accessories that can turn your classroom terrarium into a work of art, but stick to the basics, get yourself a little friend, and watch your students connect, learn, and grow from having an animal in the classroom.
