Simple & fun animal-specific projects

Students think these are really cool

Small animals won't fetch tennis balls or snatch Frisbees out of the air, but you can still play fun games with them. Many of these can be used for various animal species.

Wrap a present for your Gerbil.

Grab one or two sheets of facial tissue (no lotions and unscented, please) and put some treats in the middle. Fold the tissue and roll it up. Now, loosely tie the ends in a knot. Push the bundle into an empty toilet paper tube. Put that in the middle of a sheet of paper (no ink and uncoated) and roll it up. Twist the ends so it now looks like a giant Tootsie Roll. Just give it to your critter and watch him unwrap it!

Making a Rat or Mouse snowflake is easy.

Start with a regular sheet of plain paper (no ink and uncoated). Fold it in half, then in half again, and once again. The paper should now be about 2 3/4" X 4 1/4". Let your rat or mouse chew on it for a while. Remove the paper, and open it up. It may be one giant snowflake that you can proudly display next to the cage.

Building a Hamster maze is easier than it sounds.

Your kids can assemble one or several mazes using paper tubes from wrapping paperor toilet paper, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, PVC tubing, and oatmeal containers. They're fun to put together and even more fun to watch the hamster figure out! Place the maze in a large play area so everyone can see, and let your critter explore it.

Ferrets have an instinct to dig and tunnel.

Embrace this by creating a "dive box," which is nothing more than a box filled with packing peanuts made of corn or potato starch, so they're safe for ferrets to eat. Find a sturdy cardboard box about 24' X 14" X 14". Fill it with the packing peanuts or shredded paper and hide several toys in it. Your ferret will enjoy the challenge and fun. In fall, fill it with leaves. You may want to use a plastic tub for the snow.

Chinchillas like interacting with people.

Your kids can play "Human Jungle Gym" with your chinchilla. Have one child sit still on the floor and let the chinchilla crawl all over him/her. The chinchilla may run away if the child tries to pet it, but it will come back for more play. This simple game strengthens the bond between the pet and your kids. Before playing this game, be sure all doors are closed and the room is safe for Chinchillas.

Guinea Pigs enjoy interaction with kids.

Make a maze of blocks or bricks in a controlled area and put treats throughout. This hide-n-seek game will keep the Guinea Pig busy and your students guessing.

A simple obstacle and jump game can entertain most Rabbits.

Find some obstacles that are rabbit-sized. Use the Rabbit's favorite treat to entice him/her to jump over or around the obstacle or run through a tunnel. Another game uses a hard plastic baby rattle to get the Rabbit's attention. Shake it, place it on the ground near the Rabbit, and have students guess how far he/she will toss it.