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| The Humane Treatment of Animals: A Guide for Elementary Teachers. NY State Education Dept. Level 3 Grades 4, 5 & 6: |
Please note: all text in italics was taken directly from the out of print 1976 NY humane education curriculum guide Topic/House Pets - Companion Animals See the ASPCA's Emergency Preparedness for important information and lessons for grades three - eight See also the National Humane Education Society's Preventing and Locating Missing Pets. Understanding - The decision to acquire a companion animal is a serious one. Activities - Encourage the children to talk about their pets. As a group list factors involved in pet ownership including: initial cost, maintenance cost, daily care, vacation care, suitability to human family life, possibility of losing or having to give up pet. Supplemental information - Smaller animals such as mice, gerbils, fish and birds make better pets for those people living in small quarters or who want a less demanding pet. For background information read HSUS's "What to Consider Before Adopting a Pet."
Understanding - Companion animals need a daily routine of care. Have each pet owner, or prospective pet owner, make a check list for pet care. Provide time for children to compare their lists, discuss differences, and make corrections. Supplemental Information Basic needs of house pets include proper nutrition, shelter, exercise, and human attention. In certain areas, it is important that pets be treated with Frontline or Advantage to prevent fleas and ticks. A local veterinarian may be able to provide information on this or other factors unique to a particular area. HSUS provides information about dog care, cat care and the care of other animals. Peta's Animals @ Home also provides great information about caring for Ferrets, caring for birds and caring for many other animals including dogs and cats.
Understanding - Training of a companion animals is important from both the animal's and people's standpoint. Activities - Discuss with the children problems encountered in housebreaking or otherwise training their pet. Elicit the confusion, irritation, and unhappiness that results when a pet is not trained. Invite a local dog trainer to class who uses nonviolent training methods to discuss training procedures. Read HSUS's "Choosing a Dog Trainer" before inviting one in. Play Tamar Geller's Dog Training Videos for the class so that they may view positive training techniques. Most dogs and cats want to please their owners. However, they need consistent training and much praise before they learn what is expected. The library would be a good source for books on pet training, however, be careful not to select outdated books with forceful, ineffective methods. The Loved Dog: The Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior. By Tamar Geller; The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training. By Paul Owens with Norma Eckroate; and The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs. By Patricia B. McConnell, although written for adults all three titles are highly recommended and can be used with adult guidance.
Understanding- Companion animals require kind, gentle treatment. Activities - Explain the basics of kindness and safety around animals. Animals communicate and it is important to pay attention to these cues to prevent bites and other injuries. Supplemental Information - Each year approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs, ranging from minor nips to major attacks. Children are three times more likely to sustain a serious injury resulting in 800,000 children being hospitalized each year. Half of all children will be bitten before their eighteenth birthday. Most bites can be prevented! Bite prevention should be taught to keep children safe.
Understanding - Dogs and cats make the best house pets, as they have been bred over the century as pets. Activities - Have each pet owner take a photograph of his/her pet for the bulletin board. Discuss the different breeds represented. Have individual children research the history of a particular breed. Supplemental information - Dogs were probably the first domesticated animals, but cats too, have a long history of domestication.
Understanding - Different communities have different regulations regarding keeping animals as companions . Activities - Have individual children research laws regarding pet ownership in their own community, neighboring communities , and communities in which their relations or friends live. Have the children compare these. Some children might make posters illustrating local laws. Supplemental Information - There are some state and federal laws regarding pet ownership. The Department of Environmental Conservation would be a good source for obtaining these. See also NY Agriculture and Markets law.
Understanding - Novelty animals do not make good companion animals . Activities - Encourage the children to talk about unusual pets such as monkeys, alligators, skunks, reptiles, amphibians, birds, ferrets and hedgehogs. Elicit some of the problems from the animal's as well as people's point of view. Supplemental Information - Often the capture and transportation of "novelty" animals leaves much to be desired.
Understanding - Owners must be responsible for the offspring of their animals. Activities - Encourage the children to discuss experiences with litters. Elicit problems in finding homes for the young. Have some owners of altered pets tell about their pet's reaction to the operation. Provide for the children to gather information on pet overpopulation. Have them discuss their findings. Supplemental Information - Spaying and neutering are advantageous and do not harm the animal if done by a qualified veterinarian.
See also Humane Education Resources page for teaching guides, lessons and additional materials including audio visual materials. Next topic - Animals in Society The following topics from the guide will be added shortly: Animals in Their Natural Environment Classroom Pets Creating Youth Advocacy Groups: Humane Society Youth Mission Humane and Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots programs provide the support necessary to start a youth advocacy group. Back to NY Humane Education Curriculum Main Page> ©2007-2009 Humane Education Teacher |
