Live Animal Library

In 2017 a review of research, conducted by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, was published in the American Educational Research Association Open (AERA Open) journal. The research shows that classroom animals can reduce stress and anxiety, improve social interaction, and increase motivation and learning.

Therefore, due in part to a very generous grant by the Arlington Education Foundation (AEF), the science department is proud to present the Arlington Science Department Live Animal Library. This unique program is designed to allow teachers throughout the district to bring live animals into their classrooms in order to enrich the classroom experience and not only teach about the animal itself, but also about responsibility and empathy.

Typically only individual teachers have an animal in their classroom, and access to animals is not normally equitable to all. The live animal library is free and open to all APS teachers. This enables teachers who might not otherwise want an animal in their classroom to have one for a short period of time.

Animals are frequently seen merely as a domain for science teachers. The live animal library will involve multiple subject areas across multiple grades. The study of animals should not be compartmentalized to just science teachers. Animals can be observed and learned about through many lenses. The animals could be used in a high school poetry class to describe the animal, 7th grade geography to show where the animal comes from, as a prize for writing a persuasive essay in 4th grade, in a 2nd grade art class to look at patterns, or a kindergarten class to talk about caring for each other.

To request an animal please fill out the following form

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