The
Hamster Project
Mrs. McDowell agreed she would allow her first grade
class to have a hamster, as a class pet, if they could raise enough money
to buy a cage, bedding, and food. Each
student worked hard to meet the goal of contributing $1.00 a week
for the period of three weeks to the class hamster fund. Money could only be contributed if it was
earned by completing family chores
at home or jobs around the school.
Here are
some examples of jobs completed by first graders to raise money for
Snowflake:
- Make
bed $0.10
- Feed
family pets $0.15
- Set
the table $0.15
- Water
plants $0.05
- Vaccum
the carpet $0.25
- Pick
up toys $0.05
- Brush
or groom the family pets $0.15
- Help
fold and put away laundry $0.25
- Clear
the table $0.15
- Dusting
$0.25
- Help
clean the bathroom $0.10
- Gardening/Yard
Work $0.20
Each
week on Friday, the class gathered around in a circle to count money
earned and share favorite and least favorite chores. By the end of
the third week, first grade had earned a total of $55.34. The money
was used to buy the things our new class pet needs: a cage complete with a
water bottle and an exercise wheel, hamster food, bedding, and wooden chew
toys necessary for proper dental care.
When
the hamster finally arrived on November 6, 2000, the class brainstormed a
long list of names for our newest class member. Then, after voting
on the top four names, Mrs. McDowell divided the class into four groups. To
provide students with a hands-on experience with campaigning and voting,
the class worked in groups to “elect” a name for the hamster.
Each group designed posters and presented commercials to the
class to promote its name for the class pet.
Each student registered to vote and then voted by secret
ballot. This really helped students understand how our president is
elected! And that is how our class pet came to be called, Snowflake!
Here are
some learning objectives from our Hamster Project:
Social
Studies Objectives:
·
Students
will understand how important it is for members of a community to work
together.
·
Students
will understand that money is obtained through doing a job or working, and
that it takes time to earn money.
·
Students
will understand that members of communities have responsibilities.
·
Students
will gain an appreciation of the jobs and chores done by each member of
their family and realize their importance.
Science
Objectives:
- Students
will be able to identify the needs of a living organism: food, water,
and shelter.
- Students
will be responsible for taking care of a class pet.
- Students
will be able to identify the responsibilities of owning a pet.
Math
Objectives:
- Students
will be able to identify the value of pennies, nickels, dimes,
quarters, and dollars.
- Students
will be able to count various amounts of money.
