Desk Pets: Setup and Organization
If you’re new to the concept of desk pets, no worries! You can find an introductory post about them here. For those who wish to delve deeper into the world of desk pets and explore the comprehensive Desk Pet Bundle along with the components mentioned in this blog post, simply head over to my TPT store by clicking here.
*This article contains affiliate links but don’t worry, I only promote resources/products I love! Additionally, you can find links to all the items mentioned in this post at the bottom for your convenience.
Get ready to transform your classroom management into a lively and engaging space with desk pets!
Overall Set-Up
To begin, I like to start with careful planning, considering all the elements I intend to use, including any customizable parts in the document (if applicable). After this, I print, cut, and laminate the printable pieces that will be a part of my desk pet setup.
While implementing the Desk Pet Bundle, I often utilize multiple components. However, it’s important to note that your setup may differ depending on the number of components you decide to use. The beauty of the Desk Pet Bundle lies in its flexibility, allowing you to tailor your choices and select only the desk pet components that suit your preferences and classroom needs. Whether you feel comfortable with a few or want to incorporate many, the choice is entirely up to you!
Remember, with the Desk Pet Bundle, you have the freedom to create a unique and personalized desk pet setup that perfectly complements your teaching style and enhances the learning experience in your classroom.
Once you have your desk pet setup ready, the next step is to find a suitable “home location” within your classroom to house your desk pet shop. The space doesn’t need to be large, but I suggest selecting a spot that allows students to have a distant view, serving as a natural visual reminder of their goals to earn pet coins or dollars throughout the day. However, ensure that the area is not overly distracting during instructional time.
In my own classroom, I utilize a small corner positioned towards the front of the classroom, but not directly in view of our rug area. This corner happens to be at the end of a wall-mounted countertop, which works perfectly for the desk pet shop setup. To enhance the area, I also use a portion of the wall space to hang up the desk pet printable posters in the corner.
By strategically selecting a location that strikes a balance between visibility and non-interference, you can create an engaging and motivating environment for your students without disrupting the flow of instruction in the classroom.
In my designated setup area, you’ll find an array of printable posters, including a banner and the printable posters on the wall. As for storing the remaining items, I use a medium-sized plastic book bin that accommodates four pencil boxes placed sideways, leaving a small amount of extra space. Additionally, I efficiently utilize the side of the container to store other necessary laminated printables, tucked neatly behind the pencil boxes.
To ensure easy accessibility for my students while they earn their pet homes, I arrange a stack of the pet homes (storage containers) right next to the book bins. This way, everything I and they need is readily available, making the process smoother, efficient, clean, and organized.
Printable Posters
Banner/Shopfront poster: To begin, I start by preparing the desk pets banner. I hole punch it, thread the string through, and hang it at the top. To make efficient use of the space, I hang the banner in two rows. Centered underneath the banner, I display the “Pet Shop” shopfront poster as the main poster. Directly below, you’ll find the price list, open/closed sign, and pet rules, all easily accessible for students to refer to.
Price list: When I print the price list, I leave the pet coin value boxes empty. This way, I can conveniently write in the pet coin prices using a dry erase marker, making it simple to adjust prices as needed from year to year or even within the same year to create challenges or discounts.
Shopping hour sign: I attach a piece of Velcro to the open/closed pieces, allowing me to easily and quickly switch out the sign on days when the pet shop is open. In the past, I’ve experimented with different opening times, such as restricting it to only Fridays, Tuesdays/Thursdays or Wednesdays/Fridays, or even having it open every day if time allows. Personally, I’ve found that I prefer Wednesday/Friday or just Friday open hours for time purposes, but you can adapt this based on your preference and class schedule. The bottom area of the sign is left blank, enabling me to fill in the days and times when the shop is open.
Pet rules: I display a small poster with my pet rules, which serves as a continuous reminder for students about the rules and expectations they need to follow when using their desk pets.
“Pet Daycare” or “Pet Playground” poster: this is where I temporarily place students’ pets and/or pet homes if they are not following the desk pet rules or if they have their pets out during an undesignated time. I hang this poster near the desk pet area, but it can also be placed near the teacher’s desk or in another space out of reach from students.
Vacation menu: Lastly, to keep track of purchased vacations, I use an extra copy of the vacations menu on the wall. I mark off which vacations are already purchased by students, and I also keep an additional copy of the menu in the storage bin holder with the other printables, so students can easily review the available options.
Containers Organization
When setting up and organizing the desk pets components, I use a medium-sized long plastic storage bin as the primary container to hold all the items. Within this storage bin, I place four plastic pencil boxes, each designated for specific items. These pencil boxes are labeled on the front and side for easy recognition. The laminated price tags with the pet coin prices are attached to the inside lid of the containers for quick reference.
Here’s the breakdown of the containers and their contents:
Container 1: Pets – This container is crucial as it holds all the “desk pets,” which are small animal puzzle erasers. (I use these for pets!) Alternatively, printable animals from the Desk Pet Bundle can be used as a backup option.
Container 2: Food & Drinks – This container stores small plastic food and drink pieces. (I use these for food and drink!) Alternatively, the Desk Pet Bundle offers printable food items as a backup option.
Container 3: Vacations – For organizing the “vacation” printable pieces, I cut, laminate and hole punch all the individual vacations. A small velcro square (loop side) is adhered to the back of each piece for easy swapping in and out of student “pet homes.” I arrange all the vacations in order matching the vacations menu on two 2-inch binder rings. Split the vacations in half and place each set on the binder ring. Using two binder rings allows you to condense and fit all the included vacations in the pencil box if needed. Keeping the vacations in order on the binder ring based on the menu makes it easier to locate specific vacations when students want to buy them.
Container 4: Extra Items – This container is used for miscellaneous items and/or rugs/ground coverings. For “rugs” and “ground,” I use cut felt pieces in various colors. (I use this felt pack!) Alternatively, printable “ground” and “extra misc. items” from the Desk Pet Bundle can be used as a backup option. I haven’t jumped into using any other miscellaneous items yet, but some ideas you can use for extra items are miniature dollhouse or fairy house items found in craft stores or on Amazon (such as these!)
Small containers: I keep a small containers nearby for easy access when distributing or collecting pet coins or dollars.
Extra printables: In addition to the main components, I also provide extra printables inside the main book bin that are needed during the desk pet system:
Pet Coin/Dollar Counting Mats: I keep multiple copies of pet coin counting mats in different variations, such as 10, 20, and 40 pet coins. These mats are handy for students to count out their pet coins efficiently. Having multiple copies allows multiple students to engage in the process simultaneously, saving valuable time during classroom activities.
Checkout Mat: The checkout mat is an essential tool for the desk pets system. Here, I write the total number of pet coins due for the chosen items, and students place their pet coins or dollars on the mat to complete their purchases. This ensures a smooth transaction and reinforces mathematical skills as students handle their pet coins.
Vacation Menu: I provide an extra copy of the vacation menu (not adhered to the wall) for students to browse through. The menu displays all the available vacations, allowing students to choose the one they would like to purchase for their desk pets.
Student Materials
The setup of student desk pets materials should prioritize practicality and efficiency while avoiding any distractions.
Pet Homes: You can use just about any container for pet homes. In my classroom, photo storage cases (I use these for pet homes) are my personal preferred choice. These low-profile containers are slim yet wide enough to hold multiple items like pets, food, and vacations from the Desk Pet Bundle. Each pet home is customized with a label displaying the student’s name. Due to their slim width, my students easily store their pet homes in their chair pockets. Alternatively, they can be placed inside their desks or stacked on their table group’s shelves.
Pet Coin/Dollar Pockets: There are multiple ways to set up these pockets. One method involves printing a double copy of the customized pet “pocket” for each student, laminating them back-to-back, and cutting open the top lamination for students to store their coins inside. Another option is to glue and laminate the pockets to a library card pocket holder (such as these), allowing students to keep their coins safe inside. These labels can also be used on other storage containers. Pet coins are subjected to frequent handling throughout the year and must be durable enough to withstand excessive use.
Storing Pet Coin/Dollar Pockets: Ensuring easy access for students to their pet pockets is essential so they can quickly add acquired pet coins throughout the day. One approach is to velcro the pet coin pockets to students’ table group shelves or desk sides, placing them within arm’s reach. Alternatively, the pet pockets can be taped onto the back or inside lid of their pet home, aligning perfectly with the photo case containers. Another successful strategy is to use a pocket chart, which provides a monitored space for students to store their pet pockets, especially useful in classrooms with high-need behaviors.
By utilizing these organization tips, suggestions, containers and items thoughtfully, the desk pets system becomes a well-structured and engaging experience for both students and teachers.
Stay tuned for more updates, tips, and tricks. The full implementation, along with additional information and valuable insights, will be shared next to help make your desk pets experience a resounding success! Keep an eye out for more valuable information on using desk pets in your classroom coming soon!
All of the items I mentioned in this blog post can be found here:
