Please note: all text in italics was taken directly from the out of print 1976 NY humane education curriculum guide

Topic - Animals in Society:

Understanding - Agencies exist to investigate animal treatment. Activities - News items about animal's mistreatment could spark a discussion. Lead the children to realize that some people do mistreat animals and such mistreatment should be reported to parents or a proper agency. Have the children role play reporting of possible maltreatment. Supplemental Information - Local police and/or animal shelter personnel should be able to handle the situation or know who to contact. For background information read Explaining Cruelty and Teaching Compassion A Guide for Humane Educators, Teachers, and Parents In addition to providing lesson plans, Teaching Compassion provides a section devoted to handling disclosures of child and animal abuse. Also recommended - Anicare Child.

• Chaining dogs is illegal in certain states and locales. For information about laws, pending legislation and why chaining is cruel visit Unchain Your Dog.
• Lesson grade one: Dumb Friends League's I can make a difference use with: Piper. Written and illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007. A young dog runs away from its cruel master, but finds a new home after saving the life of an old woman. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3. Reading Level: 2.8
• Lesson grades two and three: Unchain Your Dog Educational Activities for Younger Students use with:Buddy Unchained. Written by Daisy Bix and illustrated by Joel Hyatt. Gryphon Press, 2006. Buddy the dog, safe and loved in a new home, tells of his former life of abuse and neglect, and about the people who rescued him, got him well, and introduced him to his new family. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3. Reading level: 1.8. KIND Children's Book Award. ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award.
• Read aloud: The ASPCA. Children can explore the development, history, goals and mission of the first humane organization in North America. the book includes a profile of ASPCA founder Henry Bergh and case studies of important topics such as puppy mills and the rescue of animals following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A glossary of important terms is also included. young readers will be encouraged to help make their communities a better place for animals and people. Nonfiction photo essay. Interest level: Gr. 3-6
• Read-aloud: "The Decision" from Troubadour's Tales: A Collection of Short Stories About Kindness See "Things to Think About" section at end of book to aid to discussing cruelty.
• Informative Booklet: What Is Animal Cruelty? And What Can You Do About It?

Understanding - Pet shops, zoos, animal farms, etc. should provide good animal care. Activities - Individually or as a group the children might visit animals and note conditions. Encourage the children to talk with the proprietors about how they provide for the animals. As a follow-up, have the children draw pictures or make models of what was observed. Supplemental Information - There are laws regulating pet shops, zoos, animal farms, etc. It is in the best interest of the proprietors to provide good care. Children may see mistreatment of animals in those establishments. Have the children talk about these and, where appropriate, write letters. Children may also write letters to lawmakers regarding current issues affecting animals in pet shops, zoos, farms, circuses, etc. Information about current campaigns may be found on the web sites of any number of animal protection organizations including: Animal Protection Institute , ASPCA, Farm Sanctuary, www.hsus.org, In Defense of Animals, The Performing Animal Welfare Society and PETA's Animals Used for Entertainment FAQs and many more.

• Read-aloud: Deep in the Jungle. Written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. After being tricked into joining the circus, an arrogant lion escapes and returns to the jungle where he lives peacefully with the animals he used to terrorize. Picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-3.
• Read-aloud: Hope. Written by Randy Houk and illustrated by Walt Sturrock. The Benefactory, 1995. Hope, a young piglet born on a factory farm, injures her leg and is thrown into a dumpster, where she is found and taken to the Farm Sanctuary in New York State. Based on a true story. Picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-5
• Read-aloud: Perfect the Pig. Written and illustrated by Susan Jeschke. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1980, 1996. Perfect the Pig longs for wings to fly away. When his wish is magically granted, he takes off for the skies and eventually comes to rest on the windowsill of an artist named Olive. The two become fast friends but when Perfect gets lost in flight, he is captured by an evil showman who forces him to perform tricks for money. A Reading Rainbow Book. Interest level: Gr. K-2.
• Jan Herzog’s Pig Lesson Plan Grades 1-2.
• Video: Farm Sanctuary's My Friends at the Farm (VHS) Narrated by Casey Affleck, this video provides an introduction to factory farming for children. Interest level: Gr. grades 3-6.
• Lessons: Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion and photos for Gr. 3-5
• Lesson: TeachKind's “Where Do Eggs Come From?” for Grades K-5 (order free video in advance)

Understanding - Animals provide products and services for which non-animal alternatives exist. Activities - Help children list products and services provided by animals such as: eggs, milk, meat, wool, transportation, guide dogs, police and guard dogs. A bulletin board display might be made by the children illustrating these along with non-animal alternatives. Supplemental Information - Transportation and slaughter of animals for food is regulated by law.

• Read-aloud: CLICK, CLACK, MOO: Cows That Type. By Doreen Cronin with pictures by Betsy Lewin. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2000. When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. Interest level: Gr. PreS-2.
• Read-aloud: Victor, the Vegetarian: Saving Little Lambs. Written by Radha Vignola and illustrated by Julia Bauer. AVIVA!, 1994. Victor, a boy who lives on a farm with his parents, realizes he doesn't want to eat lamb chops and runs away with his lambs to save their lives. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-3.
• Read-aloud: Whose Coat? written by John Luksetich and illustrated by Patti Kern. Imagine Nation Press. 2001. Shopping for a coat to keep her warm, Aurora visits a fur store and helps the animals get their coats back. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-3.
  

Visit the Humane myth Web site, a site dedicated to working to create a just and nonviolent future while exposing the" humane myth" - the idea that it is possible to use and kill animals in a respectful or compassionate or humane manner.

Understanding - Animals are entertaining and provide recreation. Activities - Elicit from the children various ways that animals provide us with entertainment and recreation, such as circuses, trained animals, animal actors, horseback riding. Have them choose one of these animals and write a story from the animal's point of view relating experiences. Supplemental Information - While animals are entertaining their basic rights should not be violated for human pleasure. To learn about animals used in entertainment, visit The Performing Animal Welfare Society and Animals Used for Entertainment FAQs.

• Children can visit ASPCA's Animal Land to Find Out How Animals Are Really Treated At Circuses!
• For HSUS's list of animal free circuses, click here.
• Read-aloud: Tina and the Penguin. Written by Heather Dyer and illustrated by Mireille Levert . Kids Can Press, 2002. When Tina meets a penguin who's tired of living in the zoo, she decides to help him escape. After she sneaks him home, she realizes that her new pet's special needs may be just too hard to manage in a normal house. Recommended by Humane Society Youth. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-2.
• Read-aloud: Madeline's Miracle. Written by Loren Spiotta-DiMare. Photography and book design by Jeanne Balsam. J. Pace Publications, 2004. A disabled pony, only able to walk on three legs, Madeline is taken in by Mylestone Equine Rescue in Pohatcong, New Jersey. Hearing of Madeline's plight, area children raise funds for surgery and a brace to restore the young pony's mobility. Nonfiction photo-essay. Interest level: Grades 2-6.
• Read-aloud: Travels with Tarra. By Carol Buckley. Tilbury House Publishers, 2002. The author tells the story of the baby elephant she raised, adopted, toured with in zoos and circuses, and for whom she eventually created a sanctuary. KIND Children's Honor Book. Nonfiction photo-essay. Interest level:Gr.3-6.
• Read-aloud: Just for Elephants. Written and photographed by Carol Buckley. Tilbury House, Publishers, 2006. Tells the true story of Shirley, an elephant who was taken from her zoo to the Elephant Sanctuary, including the details of her trip there, her first days there, and her reunion with an elephant from the circus in which she had been a member. Nonfiction photo-essay. Interest level: Gr. 3-6.

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..

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The following topics from the guide will be added shortly:

Animals in School

Animals and People

Animals in Their Natural Environment

See also Humane Education Resources page for teaching guides, lessons and additional materials including audio visual materials.

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