One of the first things that visitors notice upon walking into Scott Larsen’s classroom is the 36 inch tall 24 inch wide rodent cage in the corner. Larson’s rats, Nemo and Dori, have become permanent guests in Larsen’s classroom.
Sitting in class hearing the click clank of the water bottle has become a normal thing in Larson’s classroom and rats running around in a ball together is just simply another of another school day.
“Everyone plays their part in taking care of them,” Larsen said. “We make sure they have water, food, that their cage is clean, they get treats, and out of cage time and finally that they get taken care of over the weekends.”
Larsen refers to the rodents as “therapy rats” because they have a calming affect on everybody in the room. Larsen asked for permission to bring the animals to school from administration after noticing the calming effect that animals can have on students in a classroom setting. Michelle Lancaster stated “Since we’ve gotten the rats students come in and go straight to the rats and hold them and it helps them calm down.”
Some visitors get a little freaked out when they see the rats for the first time and others are pretty chill about it.
When the rats have out of cage time, they are put on a table and they simply scamper around. Students are allowed to hold them and pet them. Sometimes a little rat head pokes out of a student’s hood, pocket, or sleeve.
Nemo is super social and friendly and has always been since Larsen has gotten them. She often hangs on the side of the cage until someone takes her out. Dori, on the other hand, started out pretty timid and only “liked” certain students. Now she is not as timid but she is not as outgoing or social as Nemo. Dori has her limits when it comes to being handled but she is still friendly. Nemo is the dominant of the two because she is larger and more outgoing.
All in all the rodents have become a part of the family like dynamic of Larsen’s classroom.
