Meet Hilltop's Animals
Many of our classrooms have animals that reside in appropriate cages or homes. Aside from being cute and interesting to watch, pets bring a lot to a classroom. Having pets to care for helps teach responsibility, compassion, empathy, and an understanding and respect for other living things. Pets teach children to value life other than their own, in addition to teaching them about the natural growth and life cycles of many different species which they can observe on a daily basis. Another benefit is the stress reduction that occurs as a result of observing and petting the animals, from which both the children and the animals can benefit. We invite you to come in and meet our representatives from the Animal Kingdom.
Resources on Montessori and Classroom Animals:
Rooney

Froggy & Lily

Mario

Chloe

Finn

Apiary

Petunia the Axolotyl

While Axolotyls are critically endangered in the wild, they are much loved in our classroom. Axolotyls are in the salamander family. While most amphibians grow out of their aquatic phase to begin their lives on land, the axolotl largely retains its larval characteristics and spends its adult life in the water. It does, however, get bigger—up to a foot long.
Hermit Crabs

Snowdrop and Cotton

Oreo

Wayne the Axolotyl
