Whatever Happened to the Classroom Turtle? : How Animals Spark Student Engagement and a Love of Learning (Foster hands-on learning and student engagement with class pets and science-based activities)

Research shows that keeping animals in classrooms can have profound effects on student well-being and success in school. In this practical guide, Dr. Brady Barr offers a step-by-step process for reintroducing nature-based learning experiences into 21st century schooling. Discover how to select a classroom pet, introduce it to your students, and design carefully thought-out lessons centered around the animal.Use this resource as a comprehensive guide toward the reintroduction of nature into the classroom:Become familiar with the numerous benefits that having animals and class pets in the classroom provides.Study the various obstacles that might prevent educators from keeping animals in their classroom and learn how to overcome those obstacles to achieve hands-on learning. Discover a step-by-step process for bringing animals into the classroom in a way that enriches students' lives through experiential learning.Learn the biology and life sciences of certain classroom pets, pertinent state laws regarding the use of classroom pets, and the process of keeping and caring for the animal. Contents:AcknowledgmentsTable of ContentsAbout the AuthorIntroductionChapter 1: The Need for and Benefits of Animals in the ClassroomChapter 2: Hurdles to Animals in the ClassroomChapter 3: How to Select the Perfect AnimalChapter 4: How to Locate AnimalsChapter 5: How to Write Lesson PlansEpilogueAppendix A: TipsAppendix B: How to Create Self-Sustaining Food Sources for Your Classroom AnimalReferences and ResourcesIndex