MAJOR PRIZE SPONSOR Be Kind to Resource Kit 2015
Be Kind to Guidelines Did you know? Studies show that children who are kind to animals are more likely to act kindly towards their peers! WELCOME TO BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK 2015! Be Kind to Animals Week is about inspiring and empowering students to take positive action for the benefit of other animals. It s a great chance to have fun, build essential critical thinking skills and understand the value of empathy, responsibility and active citizenship in our communities. All Australian primary and secondary schools are eligible to enter. Teachers can register their class, year level, a student team or the entire school to take part. Be Kind to Animals Week falls within the last week of school holidays and the first week of Term 4. But you can choose to do your project anytime from now until 7 October. PARTICIPATION IS EASY Choose your project, take a video or image of your great work and how it helps animals and submit your entry at www.thinkkind.org/enter. GUIDELINES All entries must be submitted online at www.thinkkind.org/enter. Projects may be carried out anytime between 1 June 2015 and 10 October 2015. Projects must avoid the use of any animal products including meat, eggs and fur. Entrants who choose to use recycled or sustainable materials wherever possible will be considered more favourably than those who do not. Videos must not be longer than 5 minutes in length. Schools are able to enter more than once using separate entry forms for each project. Competition closes at 5pm AEST, 10 October 2015. WIN GREAT PRIZES Projects will be judged on how effective and sustainable they are in helping animals or promoting an understanding of animal rights and protection. Judges will select three finalists for both the primary and secondary school divisions for cash prizes up to $1000. For prize details visit www.thinkkind.org/enter. Every project idea is welcome. You can even do a free lesson plan from in your classroom and submit photos of student work. No activity which helps animals is too big or too small. Good luck! SUPPORTERS DISCLAIMER While Voiceless, the Pollination Project and Syndian have provided financial assistance in connection with this project, they do not necessarily endorse the views expressed nor do they guarantee the accuracy, completeness or legality of the material provided.
These project ideas provide thought-provoking and skill building activities for students of all ages. All activities can be done within school hours or during the school holidays. DIY DOG & CAT TOYS Project Ideas POSTER COMPETITION Talk about the importance of being kind to animals, including both domestic and wild animals. Have students design posters that show different ways to be kind to animals. Posters can be displayed around the school, at a local pet store, vet clinic or business during Be Kind to Animals Week. Hold a competition to select the most powerful or creative poster. WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY SCHOOL YARD Learn about native wildlife habitats and the importance of people co-existing in harmony with local wildlife. Think of some ways to make your school yard more wildlife-friendly by providing basic necessities of life to local wildlife, including food, water, shelter, and a safe place to raise young. Or if you want to keep it simple, you can build a bird bath! ANIMAL SHELTER DRIVE Kids love to play with toys, and so do cats and dogs! Learn about the important work of animal shelters and how they work to meet the needs of thousands of abandoned cats and dogs every year. Use the DIY Dog Toys activity sheet in this resource kit to help your students create dog toys that can be donated to your local animal shelter. Students may also like to sell their toys as a fundraiser. DOLLARS FOR DOGS Learn about the importance of supporting charitable causes, and how charities rely on donations to continue saving abandoned, mistreated and neglected animals. Students can work together to decorate cans, distribute them to local merchants and use them to collect as a fundraiser for a local animal shelter or wildlife group in your neighbourhood. All living things have needs, including dogs and cats. When companion animals are abandoned by people, animal shelters must work hard to make sure the basic needs of abandoned animals are met. Contact your local animal shelter or wildlife group and ask what supplies they need. Organise a drive to collect vital supplies and deliver them to the organisation to help them help animals. INVITE A SPEAKER Invite a speaker to your school to discuss important animal issues in an engaging and age-appropriate way. Contact Edgar s Mission, the RSPCA or your local animal shelter or animal welfare organisation to come and talk to your students before or during Be Kind to Animals Week. Students can write or make a video about what they have learned.
Project Ideas ANIMAL AWARENESS WEEK more animal adoptions via shelters, or ask the local council to plant more trees in an area for local wildlife. CLEAN-UP FOR WILDLIFE Choose an important animal issue to learn about during Be Kind to Animals Week. You may choose a topic like puppy mills, wildlife conservation, animal testing or factory farming. Have students hold an Awareness Week to educate the rest of the school or local community about the topic you have learned about. Students can create a Did You Know display, make videos, create a website, perform a sketch at a school assembly or distribute flyers to local residents to raise awareness. SOLUTIONARY VIDEO Learn about an animal-related problem in Australia, such as the destruction of koala habitats due to deforestation, the overbreeding of cats and dogs, or the plight of battery hens in cage egg production. Have students create a video educating people about how we can all take action to solve these problems. SPEAK UP FOR ANIMALS Have students research different ways to be kind to animals. They may choose to research companion animals, native wildlife, pest animals, animals in captivity, ocean animals or farmed animals. Have students deliver a 5-10 minute speech educating their peers about their chosen issue and discussing ways in which people can help. Select a handful of speeches to deliver at a school assembly or local community event during Be Kind to Animals Week. COMMUNITY PETITION Learn about the importance of petitions and why groups of people choose to organise protests. Choose an issue that affects animals in your local community and have students create a petition and distribute it amongst local residents. Students may wish to encourage the local pet store to facilitate Learn about the impact of littering and how it can end up in waterways and harm wildlife. Every year, animal groups rescue and treat hundreds of animals that have been harmed by the careless disposal of rubbish. Organise a clean-up in your school yard or local park. Students can create posters to display around the neighbourhood in preparation for the clean-up and encourage local residents to do the right thing and throw their rubbish in the bin! DIY DOGGIE BLANKETS Learn about the importance of practising responsible pet guardianship, and what this means for people who live with dogs and cats. Discuss basic needs such as food, water, shelter and warmth. Following directions from an online resource or craft book, have students create dog blankets. Students can donate their blankets to a local animal shelter, give them to their own pets, or sell them to fundraise for an animal-related organisation. ESSAY COMPETITION Learn about animal ethics and what it means to treat other animals with compassion and moral consideration. Have students write an essay about kindness, empathy, and the humane treatment of animals. Students may wish to focus on a particular animal issue or a wider theme, such as the history of the animal rights movement, or the relationship between humans and other animals.
Project Ideas organisations and how people can support causes they care about by fundraising. Have students choose an animal organisation they care about to organise a fundraiser. They may choose to support an animal shelter, farm sanctuary, widlife group or advocacy group. Students can plan how they wish to fundraise for their chosen organisation. Some ideas include organising a schoolwide dress-up day where students come dressed as their favourite animal, organising a school performance, or hosting a delicious animal-free barbecue! KINDNESS TO ANIMALS SONG A great idea for music and drama students, discuss the power and use of music to deliver a message or idea. Compare music used in television commercials, film scores and political campaigns. Have students compose and record a piece of music to convey the core message of Be Kind to Animals Week. MEAT-FREE MONDAYS Reducing our meat consumption is better for our health, the environment and other animals! Learn about the environmental, health and animal welfare impacts of intensive animal farming in Australia. Have students research the nutritional benefits of vegetables and legumes, assess the impacts of meat production on climate change, and examine the major animal welfare concerns within the meat industry. Have students lobby for Meat-free Mondays at your school canteen. They can even organise a petition or a pledge to distribute around the school! BE KIND TO ANIMALS BLOG Discuss the power of online media, particularly social media platforms such as blogs, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, and the potential for important social movements to gain momentum via these platforms. Using a free blogging site such as Blogger or Wordpress, create a class or school blog where students can write, share and comment on articles about animal issues and the importance of treating animals humanely. ANIMAL FUNDRAISER Learn about the important role of not-for-profit BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK MURAL Discuss the power of words and images in conveying an important idea or message. Have students create a temporary mural to display at school during Be Kind to Animals Week. Students can get creative using large sheets of construction paper, paints or magazine clippings to portray their message of kindness to the rest of the school. ANIMAL ISSUES RELEVANT TO AUSTRALIA & THE WORLD Puppy mills and the overbreeding of companion animals The management of pest animals (e.g. kangaroos, cats, rabbits, foxes) Deforestation and its threats to wildlife habitats The impacts of pollution on ocean animals The threat of palm oil plantations on vulnerable species such as the orangutans Cosmetic animal testing Achieving legal personhood for chimpanzees (Nonhuman Rights Project) Animals used in entertainment (e.g. circues, greyhound racing, horseracing) The impacts of overfishing on ocean ecosystems Cage eggs and the plight of battery hens Sow stalls used in pig farming Bobby calves (dairy production) Live animal export Whaling Illegal poaching and its impacts on endangered wildlife populations
DIY Dog Toy Activity Thousands of dogs and puppies are waiting for new homes in shelters and pounds. Learn how to make pull toys for shelter dogs to help them stay entertained for hours on end! 2. Collect the supplies Some good tug toys for dogs can be made using strips of fabric from an old fleece blanket or discarded clothes. Ask friends and family, or use your own closet, to find clothes or blankets that are too worn out to be used and could be transformed into a dog toy. Keep in mind that it should be a thick or durable fabric. 3. Tear up your old clothes Cut three same-size strips out of old clothing. A longer strip equals a longer toy and a thicker strip makes a thicker toy. Different dogs need different size toys, so make any size strips you d like. Discussion Points Discuss the needs of shelter animals and the people who care for them. Dogs and cats play with toys just like us. What are the benefits of playing with toys? Why is it important for animals to play with toys? (e.g. prevent boredom, provide comfort) Sometimes old items can be turned into new items which serve a different purpose. What is the importance of recycling and re-using old items? How can these everyday products be made into new products: glass bottles, egg cartons, old clothes and blankets, plastic bottles, food tins. Materials Strips of old clothes and fabric Method 1. Contact a shelter Contact your local animal shelter and ask what their needs are. It would also be a good idea to double check that they can accept handmade toys. 4. Braid away Tie the ends of all three strips into a single knot. Then braid the strips together tightly. If you don t know how to braid, no stress! It s very simple: Anchor the knot at the ends of the strips under something heavy so it doesn t twist or move as you braid. Make sure the strips are laying flat and untangled next to each other. Take the right strip, bring it over the middle strip and rest it between the left and middle pieces. Now take the left strip and bring it over what is now the middle piece without crossing the now right strip. Repeat until you run out of fabric. 5. Tie it up! Once you ve finished braiding, tie the other ends together to secure the braid. You can tie a knot or two in the center of the braid as well to give the dog something extra to tug on. Additional information Make a snake toy for a shelter cat. Watch this instructional video: http://www.youtube.com/ embed/8zwm5_s-she To find your nearest animal shelter visit: https:// www.petrescue.com.au/rescue_directory Curriculum links (Years K-2): ACTDEK001, ACT- DEP007, ACTDEP008, ACTDEP005, ACTDEP009 General capabilities: Personal and social capability, sustainability (cross-curriculum priority)
Letter Writing Activity Writing letters is a simple yet effective tactic that can influence politicians, companies and policy makers to make humane choices. It has been used in almost every modern social justice movement! Discussion Points Explain to students that letter writing can make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment. Letter writing has been used by many individuals and organisations to create change. Discuss the basic components of writing a persuasive letter. Download the How to Write a Persuasive Letter worksheet and a sample letter here: http://www.thinkkind.org/persuasive-writing-worksheet/ Explain the purpose of open letters and how they are used as an excellent form of mass communication when published by a local or national newspaper, magazine or blog. Discuss the nature of emails and how they may differ from traditional letters (e.g. easier to ignore). Materials Internet access (for research) How to Write a Persuasive Letter worksheet and sample letter Whiteboard/chalkboard Method 1. Identify a problem Brainstorm some problems faced by animals that could be solved by human beings and list student responses on the board. You can refer to the Project Ideas in this Resource Kit for a list of animal issues relating to Australia and the world. 2. Identify a solution Instruct each student to choose one of the listed problems and identify what kind of group can help the most to solve that problem. It could be a local business, company, the federal government, state government or local council. If your class is interested in a particular bill (e.g. banning live animal exports or puppy mills), students can write individual letters addressing the same issue. 3. Structure your argument Hand out to each student the How to Write a Persuasive Letter worksheet. Read the worksheet as a group. Instruct students to complete the worksheet to help them structure their argument. 3. Write! Hand out to each student the sample letter. As a class, analyse the various parts of the letter (e.g. headings, body, salutation) as well as the language used. Instruct students, using their completed worksheet as a guide, to write their own persuasive letter. Remind students that letters must be polite, well-researched, legible and follow the format discussed. 4. Wrap up Once students have completed their letters, have volunteers read their letters aloud to the class. Collect the letters and send them to their destinations. Additional information If students are having difficulty brainstorming animal issues, be prepared to offer them some examples. Refer to Australian websites such as ThinkKind, RSPCA s WOAW or Edgar s Mission for age-appropriate information. Students may have to do extra research to find addresses, facts about the problem they are writing about, or companies that are involved with the issue. Curriculum links (Years 3-5): ACELY1694, ACE- LY1709, ACELA1489, ACHCS034 Curriculum links (Years 6-8): ACELY1736, ACHCS040, ACHCS042, ACHCS046 General capabilities: Literacy, personal and social capability, ethical behaviour
Lesson objective Students will be able to identify the differences between buying a pet from a pet shop or breeder and adopting one from an animal shelter. Materials and duration Duration: 45-60 minutes Online or local newspaper ads of breeders selling dogs and cats (Gumtree is a good example) Online or print ads about dogs and cats available for adoption. For online ads visit PetRescue. Quick facts Every year hundreds of thousands of animals are abandoned to shelters or the street, facing an uncertain future and the very real risk of being euthanised. 200,000 healthy dogs and cats are euthanised in Australia every year because they cannot be placed into homes. Pet overbreeding is one of the biggest causes of Australia s high kill rate of companion animals. Additional information For more information on overbreeding of companion animals visit: http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/companion_animals.php Curriculum links (Years 6-8): ACELY1734, ACE- LY1709, ACHCS042 General capabilities: Literacy, personal and social capability, critical and creative thinking, ethical behaviour Shop vs. Adopt Lesson Plan Method Introduction 1. Ask students what they think the differences are between pet stores that sell animals for profit and animal shelters that adopt out animals. 2. Compare the differences between buying a new cat and buying a new toy. Possible answers include: cats are living beings and have feelings, cats need love and attention, toys exist to be used by people. 3. Ask students if they think people should be able to sell living beings. Ask students if they think people should own living beings. Does this depend on circumstances? Explain that some people prefer the term animal guardian rather than pet owner - what is the difference between the two? Compare the ads 4. Explain to students that they will be comparing for sale ads from breeders vs. for adoption ads from adoption centres. 5. Divide students into groups of three of four. Hand out to each group some examples of ads for animals for sale as well as ads for animals available for adoption. 6. Instruct students to compare and contrast the ads by answering the following questions (you may write these on the chalkboard/whiteboard): - What information does the for sale ad provide about each animal? What does the ad focus on? - What information does the for adoption ad provide about each animal? What does the ad focus on? - What do you think are the main differences between the two sets of ads? Why? - What do you think is the main goal of breeders and pet shops? - What do you think is the main goal of animal shelters and adoption centres? 7. Give students time to complete this activity. Once finished, ask each group to share out loud. Extension activity (ACELY1736, ACELY1736) Ask each group to design their own for adoption ad based on the information they have looked at in their examples. Challenge students to think about how they can use persuasive imagery and language to encourage people to adopt rather than buy a companion animal. Conclusion 8. Discuss what students have learned from the activity and whether they think animal overbreeding is a serious problem in Australia. Are there any reasons for why people might still choose to buy a dog or cat? Be prepared to discuss and define euthanasia.
Animal Ethics Lesson Plan Lesson objective Students will be introduced to the four main approaches to animal ethics and develop a point of view based on comparing and evaluating a range of information. Materials and duration Duration: 45-60 minutes Whiteboard or overhead projector List of animal rights quotations at: http://www. thinkkind.org/famous-animal-quotations/ How do you think about other animals summary and quiz: http://www.thinkkind.org/how-doyou-think-about-other-animals/ Quick facts There are different ways to think about other animals and our relationship with them. These fall into four main categories: animal rights, animal welfare, conservationist and anthropocentric. There is no correct philosophical perspective, but it is useful to understand the differences between each viewpoint, and the many factors that influence our own. Additional information For a reading list on the philosophy of animal rights and welfare, visit: http://www.happycow. net/shop/animal_rights.html Curriculum links (Years 9-10): ACELT1812, ACHCS085, ACHCS086, ACHCS099, ACHCS098 General capabilities: Literacy, critical and creative thinking, ethical behaviour Method Introduction 1. Explain to students that they are going to be thinking about the relationship between humans and other animals, and how different people hold different views about how animals should be treated. 2. Write the following list on the board: dogs, pigs, whales, koalas, chimpanzees. 3. Ask students if they were asked to rank the animals in order of importance, how would they do this. How would they justify their ranking? 4. Give students time to think about and share their opinions. Encourage them to give examples of other animal species. Be prepared for a wide range of answers. Four approaches to animal ethics 5. Explain to students that there are four approaches to animal ethics. Students can take the quiz How do you think about other animals at: http://www. thinkkind.org/how-do-you-think-about-otheranimals/ 6. Using a whiteboard of overhead projector, display a brief summary of the four approaches to read together as a class. 7. Divide students into groups of five or six and give each group one animal rights quotation. 8. Ask each group to think about the meaning of each quotation and which approach it would sit under. 9. Give students time to discuss their quotations. Once completed, ask each group to share out loud and explain whether or not they agree with it and why. 10. Ask students to share which quotations they most agree or disagree with and why. Extension activity (ACELT1644, ACELT1773) Challenge students to write their own animal-related quotation using previous quotations as a guide. If they are having difficulty, ask them to answer the following question: If you had to explain in one or two sentences how humans and other animals should co-exist on the planet, what would you say? Conclusion 11. Ask students if their view on animal ethics has changed after evaluating the quotations. How can we ensure that our views reflect our everyday behaviour? How would certain industries have to change in order to reflect these views? (e.g. animal testing, circuses, meat production, horseracing)
Student Take-Home Sheet 10 Ways to be Kind to Animals Be Kind to Animals Week is a great way to remember the importance of showing kindness, respect and compassion to all animals. Here are some ways you can be kind to animals all year round! 1. Get your hands dirty! Plant trees, shrubs, or flowers in your backyard to make birds and other wildlife feel welcome. Leave all wild animals, including reptiles, birds and insects, in their natural homes. 2. Build a bird feeder Put out a bird feeder, bird house, or bird bath in your backyard. You can also build your own bird house or bird feeder. Don t forget to refill with food when needed and make sure there are no roaming cats in your street. 3. Volunteer at a shelter Contact your local animal shelter and ask them if they have any volunteering opportunities. Sometimes help comes in different ways, and making sure animals are cared for while waiting for a new home can make a world of difference to an animal in need. 4. Spread awareness Talk to your friends, family and classmates about the importance of being kind to animals. If you re creative, you can make posters, flyers and videos too! 5. Recycle, recycle, recycle! Recycling products can save an animal s life. By recycling or re-using old items (e.g. plastic bags, tin cans, glass), you will reduce the amount of waste that go into landfills and pollute the ocean. 6. Be a responsible guardian Spend time with the animals you live with at home and take responsibility for meeting their needs. Make sure your cat or dog is desexed and vaccinated. If you don t live with a companion animal, you can offer to walk your neighbour s dog on certain days of the week. 7. Be a voice for animals Animals can t speak up for themselves and rely on people to save them from harm. Write letters to companies and businesses who test their products on animals and ask them to use kinder alternatives. You can also write to your local MP about animal issues that matter to you. Find yours at the Parliament of Australia website. 8. Raise life-saving funds Animal groups rely on vital donations to continue their life-saving work. You can raise funds or collect essential goods for an animal shelter, wildlife group or animal welfare organisation you care about. Have fun while doing it - you can do a bake sale, car wash, host a talent show or design greeting cards to sell! 9. Be a smart shopper Many of the goods we buy have an impact on animals. Do your research and read the labels before shopping. Has a product been tested on animals? Does it contain unsustainable palm oil, which destroys animal habitats? These are all important questions to ask yourself while shopping. Learn more at the Choose Cruelty Free website. 10. Stay informed It s important to stay informed about issues that impact animals. You can sign up for email newsletters from animal welfare groups, read the news or follow animal groups on social media to stay up-to-date.
Be Kind to The 5 Freedoms for Animals Freedom from Hunger and thirst Freedom from Discomfort Freedom from Pain, injury and disease Freedom to express Normal behaviour Freedom from Fear and distress
Colour-in Activity Be Kind to Illustration courtesy of Gypsy Wulff from the I Love Animals Series.
Word Search Activity Word Search What do companion animals need? Z M L C U G Z G N D X U A S R O S V A O G B L A N K E T S O M R E D I L S Y E F U T O D A H O G X Y P Q D O E T Q Y E Q K I R L M I Y Z R H F E T W D I M H C Y P E X V I R N X I W R L O V E I E G S U Y N A P M O C T E Z U M U N O I X K A N U X M J K T E R J W WORDS TO FIND BED BLANKETS COMPANY EXERCISE FOOD GROOMING LOVE SHELTER TOYS WATER
Be Kind to Certificate of KINDNESS Thank you for participating in Be Kind to Animals Week 2015 and making the world a kinder place for animals. Signed Date