The Chimo Project:
Animals helping people through
Animal Assisted Therapy
Animals helping people through
Animal Assisted Therapy
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AAT In The Classroom:
The Animal Enhanced Classroom
The Chimo Project provides assistance in the implementation of animals in the classroom through our Animal-Enhanced Classroom initiative.
This program's implementation is similar to our 'AAT-in-a-box' program (see "AAT at Your Facility") except we are training teachers and associated teaching professionals how to use animals to help their students in the classroom.
Animals have long been recognized for their potential to create positive benefits for humans, including psychological, physical, emotional, and social development and enhancement. More recently, these benefits have been documented in scientific studies. Research attention is now turning to the potential for students’ increased success in the classroom environment through the use of animal enhanced classrooms.
The Chimo Project broadly considers two ways that animals have been found to be effective in enhancing the classroom environment:
1) General Use Programming
The presence of the animal may affect the classroom on a general level. This means that the animal generally “does its own thing”. For example, a dog may wander around, cuddle, or nap as he chooses to; a fish will act like a fish; a bird will fly around or perch in his cage as he chooses to. Effects of this type of animal-enhanced classroom may include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:
- a child may receive needed comfort from a cuddly animal (ie. dog or rabbit) if he is having a bad day, thus decreasing the potential for outbursts and disruptions to fellow classmates
-the presence of an animal in a classroom has shown to increase attendance and motivation to be there
- a child may receive needed stimulation to keep him alert and attentive to the lesson
-a child may be positively or negatively reinforced for his behavior quietly and quickly by simply supporting the animal in being with, or not being with, the child in that reinforcing moment
- a child with a tendency for instigating classroom disruption may be seated next to a calming animal (in a cage or otherwise), such as a fish tank or bunny hutch. This has been shown to decrease disruptive tendencies due to psychological distraction as well as physiological calming effects.
- learning and retention may be enhanced through the use of visual and practical examples and explanations. For example, a creative teacher could relate almost any discussions to the animal present in the classroom (ie. biology, health and reproduction, physics (of a bird’s flight, of fish swimming, of a mammal running, etc), chemistry (of an animal’s makeup, of its environment, etc), language arts (ie. for essay topics, critical thinking, etc), and even math (ie. finding what fraction of the dog is his tail, etc). The possibilities are limited only by the imagination of the teacher!!
- the presence of the animal may act as a “social lubricant”. For example, a shy or withdrawn child that is assigned as the animal’s “guardian” for the day will quickly find himself the center of social attention.
- the opportunity for “teachable moments”. For example, teaching the children to forgive themselves or one another as the animal would forgive himself (or the children) for mistakes or bad behavior.
2) Specific Use Programming
The second way that an animal may be used to enhance the classroom environment is through specific exercises that are designed to focus on the animal. For example, exercises may be designed to engage children in healthy peer socialization; to teach children self-control and patience; to learn about empathy and respect for self and others; and to teach about self-care.
A classroom may use one of these two ways, or may incorporate aspects of both. Staff at The Chimo Project provides training that is individualized to meet your specific classroom and students' needs.
This program's implementation is similar to our 'AAT-in-a-box' program (see "AAT at Your Facility") except we are training teachers and associated teaching professionals how to use animals to help their students in the classroom.
Animals have long been recognized for their potential to create positive benefits for humans, including psychological, physical, emotional, and social development and enhancement. More recently, these benefits have been documented in scientific studies. Research attention is now turning to the potential for students’ increased success in the classroom environment through the use of animal enhanced classrooms.
The Chimo Project broadly considers two ways that animals have been found to be effective in enhancing the classroom environment:
1) General Use Programming
The presence of the animal may affect the classroom on a general level. This means that the animal generally “does its own thing”. For example, a dog may wander around, cuddle, or nap as he chooses to; a fish will act like a fish; a bird will fly around or perch in his cage as he chooses to. Effects of this type of animal-enhanced classroom may include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:
- a child may receive needed comfort from a cuddly animal (ie. dog or rabbit) if he is having a bad day, thus decreasing the potential for outbursts and disruptions to fellow classmates
-the presence of an animal in a classroom has shown to increase attendance and motivation to be there
- a child may receive needed stimulation to keep him alert and attentive to the lesson
-a child may be positively or negatively reinforced for his behavior quietly and quickly by simply supporting the animal in being with, or not being with, the child in that reinforcing moment
- a child with a tendency for instigating classroom disruption may be seated next to a calming animal (in a cage or otherwise), such as a fish tank or bunny hutch. This has been shown to decrease disruptive tendencies due to psychological distraction as well as physiological calming effects.
- learning and retention may be enhanced through the use of visual and practical examples and explanations. For example, a creative teacher could relate almost any discussions to the animal present in the classroom (ie. biology, health and reproduction, physics (of a bird’s flight, of fish swimming, of a mammal running, etc), chemistry (of an animal’s makeup, of its environment, etc), language arts (ie. for essay topics, critical thinking, etc), and even math (ie. finding what fraction of the dog is his tail, etc). The possibilities are limited only by the imagination of the teacher!!
- the presence of the animal may act as a “social lubricant”. For example, a shy or withdrawn child that is assigned as the animal’s “guardian” for the day will quickly find himself the center of social attention.
- the opportunity for “teachable moments”. For example, teaching the children to forgive themselves or one another as the animal would forgive himself (or the children) for mistakes or bad behavior.
2) Specific Use Programming
The second way that an animal may be used to enhance the classroom environment is through specific exercises that are designed to focus on the animal. For example, exercises may be designed to engage children in healthy peer socialization; to teach children self-control and patience; to learn about empathy and respect for self and others; and to teach about self-care.
A classroom may use one of these two ways, or may incorporate aspects of both. Staff at The Chimo Project provides training that is individualized to meet your specific classroom and students' needs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) What type of animal can be used to enhance my classroom?
As almost any animal can be trained to enhance your classroom. What animal you choose will largely depend on its personality and temperament. Typically, species of animals used in classroom settings include dogs, fish, birds, and rabbits.
2) Won’t the presence of an animal distract students from their lessons?
We have found that the first few days with children who are not used to an animal enhanced classroom are somewhat distracted by the animal. By the third or fourth day, however, this novelty response ends and the full benefits of an animal enhanced classroom become increasingly obvious.
3) Where can I learn more about the researched benefits of animals?
There are many studies and literature resources that document the differential effects of animals on humans. The Chimo Project has a manual that includes research discussion on the use of animals in mental health settings; other noteworthy publications include Aubrey Fine’s “Handbook of Animal-Assisted Therapy” and Pearl Salotto’s “Pet Assisted Therapy”. Additionally, try internet searches such as “animal-assisted therapy ”and “animal-assisted learning”.
4) How can this become a reality for my classroom?
The Chimo Project staff is committed to helping you prepare for, develop, and sustain an effective animal enhanced classroom. If you are interested in learning more about having an animal in your classroom, simply contact us and we can discuss your unique situation.
1) What type of animal can be used to enhance my classroom?
As almost any animal can be trained to enhance your classroom. What animal you choose will largely depend on its personality and temperament. Typically, species of animals used in classroom settings include dogs, fish, birds, and rabbits.
2) Won’t the presence of an animal distract students from their lessons?
We have found that the first few days with children who are not used to an animal enhanced classroom are somewhat distracted by the animal. By the third or fourth day, however, this novelty response ends and the full benefits of an animal enhanced classroom become increasingly obvious.
3) Where can I learn more about the researched benefits of animals?
There are many studies and literature resources that document the differential effects of animals on humans. The Chimo Project has a manual that includes research discussion on the use of animals in mental health settings; other noteworthy publications include Aubrey Fine’s “Handbook of Animal-Assisted Therapy” and Pearl Salotto’s “Pet Assisted Therapy”. Additionally, try internet searches such as “animal-assisted therapy ”and “animal-assisted learning”.
4) How can this become a reality for my classroom?
The Chimo Project staff is committed to helping you prepare for, develop, and sustain an effective animal enhanced classroom. If you are interested in learning more about having an animal in your classroom, simply contact us and we can discuss your unique situation.
