Having a class pet can be a very enriching experience for a student. Western Governers University writes about how class pets provide students with unique interactions, a new approach to learning, and a sense of responsibility. Daily tasks such as food preparation, cleaning, and providing water could be done by students, teaching them how to interact with animals and the importance of nurture and care. 

     Mrs. Bucheit, a biology and environmental science teacher, currently has five class pets: one Russian tortoise, three koi fish, and one goldfish. The Russian tortoise, Shelby, has been with Mrs. Bucheitt in Hamburg for eight years. Shelby originally came from a pet store and can live to be 50 years old and about the size of a dinner plate. She eats organic kale and carrots and drinks during her weekly bath from Mrs. Bucheit. 

     All four fish do not officially belong to Mrs. Bucheit. One of Mrs. Bucheit’s homeroom students allows Mrs. Bucheit to take the fish for the school year but returns them for the summer. This arrangement works out very well for Mrs. Bucheit as fish are not easy to take care of over long breaks away from school, like Shelby the Russian tortoise. During summer and breaks, Mrs. Bucheit takes Shelby with her to her house and puts her in a tank. 

     Mrs. Bucheit has had classroom pets for most of her teaching career at Hamburg. It all started with a black rattlesnake named Sinbad that died two summers ago. Since then she has had hampsters, a rabbit, aquatic turtles, trout, tropical fish, and a gecko. 

     As an environmental science teacher, having animals in the room is very fitting. Besides that, Mrs. Bucheit enjoys watching the life they bring to the room. The students tend to gravitate towards the tanks, and it opens up a conversation between the students and Mrs. Bucheit. Spending a lot of time in her classroom the animals and plants make Mrs. Bucheit very happy. 

     For more information visit, https://www.wgu.edu/blog/benefits-class-pet2006.html