Beyond the Necessities

Caring for the class pet has been a mainstay in schools, so what makes the animal husbandry elective different? Animal husbandry goes beyond answering an animal’s basic needs for survival. “Understanding the animal you are taking care of is important,” explains Leslie Sinsay, co-teacher of the animal husbandry elective. Students need to study animals and learn how to create habitats that help animals thrive.

 

Prior to choosing an animal to care for, students conduct research, collecting information about the animal’s eating and sleeping habits, ideal environment, and social habits. The knowledge gathered during the research process enhances the students’ active engagement in observing and caring for the animal once it is introduced to its new home.

 

“It’s like a mini 4-H,” said Leslie. She and Kavan Yee, middle school science teacher and science curriculum coordinator, lend their experience and guide students throughout the year. Recently, after reviewing their observations of the rabbits and their current cage, students in the elective decided to build a new environment to support more of the rabbits’ daily habits.  With Mario Argueta’s help a new cage is now under construction. It will include more room for the rabbits to play and dark spaces for comforting shelter.

 

In service to the Lowell community, the students hope to begin tours of the animal habitats and serve as the animal ambassadors for Pre-Primary and Kindergarten classes—though any class that is interested in learning more is welcome to visit.

 

Animal husbandry opens Middle School students up to learning more about themselves as caretakers and their responsibility to other beings with whom we share the planet.