As you begin your unit on caring for small pets, give students background information on the types of animals they can expect to encounter. Get the class involved by starting out with a brainstorming session; ask students to name animals they'd consider to be small pets and write these down on the chalkboard. Later, go back for in-depth discussions about each animal. Possible topics for discussion could include these animals' habitats, physical characteristics and diet.
It's likely that students will already have had some sort of personal experience with little pets, whether they belonged to their families, neighbors or friends. Encourage the students to share their stories by writing them down and then reading in front of the class. This will help the students work on grammar and literacy while still addressing the issue of small pets. If a student feels stuck on what to write, offer the option for him to invent a fictional account of an experience with a small pet.
To reinforce the learning material, consider hosting a class pet for the duration of the unit, or even the entire school year. If you don't want to invest in a little friend from the pet store, ask around the parent and teacher community to see if anyone would be willing to donate their own small pet for a few days. Prepare the students for the small visitor before bringing it in, and then assign each child a specific duty to care for the animal during its stay. Give students independence to perform these tasks on their own, but monitor them closely to ensure the animal's safety.
Take your class on a field trips to places such as the local pet store, grooming salon or veterinary office to see a variety of small pets up close. Schedule the trip beforehand so the personnel knows to expect you on a certain day and time, and then gauge the possibility of setting up mini-lessons with professionals. This will help students see how each animal is cared for on a daily basis and can help introduce them to the idea of a career in animal care.