Building Executive Functioning with Toodles

The goal of this project is to strengthen middle school students’ executive-function skills through the meaningful, shared responsibility of caring for Toodles, our classroom rabbit. Students in grades 6–8 at Seacrest Country Day School will practice planning, organization, task initiation, self-monitoring, and follow-through while contributing to the care of a living animal. Building on a student-developed needs assessment, this project connects our school’s core value of responsibility to daily actions and helps students transfer effective routines to their academic work.

Students will participate in structured, teacher-supervised care and enrichment routines for Toodles. Together, we will develop a care schedule, organize and label supplies, and create reusable task checklists. Rotating responsibilities will include organizing materials, assisting with approved feeding and cleanup tasks, recording completed routines, and planning appropriate enrichment. I will model how to identify a need, break a task into manageable steps, gather materials, and check for completion. Students will then practice these strategies with visual supports and gradually increasing independence. Weekly reflections will help students recognize when they needed reminders, evaluate their follow-through, and identify strategies they can also use to manage assignments and classroom materials. Students will learn why rabbits need continuous access to hay, fresh water, appropriate foods, a clean environment, and opportunities to hide and forage. They will plan safe enrichment activities and observe Toodles’ responses. Students may contribute through observation, planning, and recordkeeping without direct animal contact. All care will remain under adult supervision.

This project will give 72 middle school students repeated opportunities to practice responsibility, organization, collaboration, and independent task completion. A shared classroom responsibility provides a meaningful setting for students to contribute, communicate needs, and develop a sense of community. I will establish a baseline during the first two weeks and monitor progress through teacher observations, completed checklists, and student reflections. After eight to ten weeks, the target is for at least 80 percent of participating students to demonstrate improved planning, task initiation, organization, or self-checking, or maintain proficiency if already meeting expectations. Students will work toward completing an assigned routine with no more than one adult prompt while using their usual supports. Students will also explain how their care decisions meet Toodles’ needs and identify one strategy they can transfer to an academic task. These reflections will demonstrate learning beyond the animal-care routine.

I am requesting $1,965 to support a full year of supervised care and executive-function learning centered on Toodles, our classroom rabbit, benefiting 72 students in grades 6–8. The budget includes $1,000 for hay, fresh greens and vegetables, and rabbit pellets; $150 for litter; $108 for cleaning consumables; and $672 for an enclosure, care-area equipment, enrichment, and instructional supports. Annual estimates reflect 52 weekly purchases of greens, 12 monthly purchases of bulk hay and pellets, and six litter purchases made every other month. These supplies will support continuity of care throughout the year, including school breaks. A new hexagonal exercise enclosure will create a defined space for Toodles’ care and supervised enrichment. Protected cushioning beneath a washable floor covering, along with washable blankets, will support a comfortable, maintainable environment. Hay feeders, water bowls, a litter pan, and a handheld vacuum will support daily care and cleanup. A hide, foraging puzzle, and chew materials will provide appropriate enrichment. Labeled storage, reusable checklists, and a visual timer will help students practice organizing materials, initiating tasks, following routines, and checking their work. Consumables will sustain the daily responsibilities that make this learning meaningful, while durable materials will remain available for future classes. All student participation will be supervised, with adult responsibility for care outside school hours. Veterinary services are not included.

1965

Hay: monthly @ $20 x 12

$300

leafy greens: weekly @ $10 x 52

$520

rabbit pellets: monthly @ $15 x 12

$180

litter bi-monthly @ $25 x 6

$150

cleaning supplies: baby wipes, paper towels, garbage bags, vinegar

$108

hex enclosure

$110

floor covering

$109

feeding supplies: hay and pellet feeders, water bowl

$53

foraging mats/puzzles

$15

rabbit hide

$35

enrichment supplies: chews, climbing materials, tunnels

$35

litter box

$35

vacuum

$90

supply bins and labels

$40

checklist supplies: clipboards, markers, dry erase sleeves

$30

timers

$45

toys

$40

washable fleece blankets

$30

foam tiles

$40