Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
generationOn
Unit Purpose:
It’s important for learners of all ages to understand that animals are living, feeling beings. This unit encourages children to think about pets and what they bring to the lives of human beings. They will understand that by providing animals with basic needs and treating animals with kindness and respect, they are demonstrating responsible pet care, Environmental Stewardship and acting as responsible citizens of the community.
Focus Question:
What is each person’s responsibility for animal welfare?
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- actively listen and identify types of animals that make good pets.
- help create a classroom graph of pets.
- Identify some facts about different pets found in the book.
- identify animals that are and are not usually pets.
- discuss the attributes of pets.
- define needs as something necessary for life (vital for growing, staying alive, and thriving). Examples are food, water, shelter, medical care, and love.
- define wants as things that a person/animal desires but are not necessary to stay alive.
- define animal welfare as giving animals what they need and treating animals with kindness and respect.
- demonstrate their knowledge of pets’ needs versus their own needs.
- identify and list descriptive words or phrases (adjectives) that are found in the book.
- give examples of good pet care.
- design posters/fliers that inform about pet needs and ask for donations of specific items to be given to an animal shelter.
Service Experience:
After conducting a needs assessment for a local animal shelter, learners will plan and implement a drive to collect specific needed items to donate to the shelter.
Unit Assessment:
One of the assessments for this unit is in Lesson Two dealing with vocabulary. You may choose to use this as a Pre/Post assessment if time allows. You will be able to make teacher observations during questions and answer discussions during this unit.
School/Home Connection:
Lesson Two: Ask the learners to share with their families what they have learned about pets during this lesson. If there is a pet at home ask the learners, with the help of family members, to list what their pet(s) needs and how the family members help take care of the pet(s).
Lesson Three: Family Letter and School Newsletter article about service project
Notes for Teaching:
- Lesson Three offers an opportunity to connect older learners with your class as mentors in creating informational posters about the service project.
- Before teaching Lesson Three, contact the local Animal Shelter and invite a representative to come to the class to share information about the shelter and some of the need that the shelter has. Also ask them to share the process for adopting a pet from the shelter.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Barbara Dillbeck
Director
Learning to Give
Tiffany Jackson
Belding Area Schools
Ellis Elementary
100 E Ellis RD
Belding, MI 48809
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
Comments
I can't believe it!!! The website looks great! Thanks
Our class has just adopted a budgie, and I googled to find lesson plans to present to my first graders on pet care. Your site is AWESOME! I LOVE how it tells me which objectives the lessons are tied to, I LOVE that it has non-busywork handouts (most sites have words earches or coloring sheets), and I LOVE how well-thought-out and interactive the lessons are. With today's test-driven curriculum leaving little time for important 'extras,' I'm thrilled that I have lessons that tie into the state standards AND include philanthropy. Thanks so much for your hard work!