Most people who've seen footage like that recently released from an undercover investigation at an Ohio dairy are shocked, horrified and disbelieving that such cruelty, violence, and suffering are a daily occurrence for billions of farmed animals. We humane educators know that animals are often left out of our society's circle of concern -- their needs, rights and interests are rarely considered in making individual and systemic choices. So how can we spark discussion, critical thinking and greater compassion?We at IHE have a variety of humane education activities and resources that explore and nurture animal protection. Here are just a few examples that are especially relevant to this recent act of cruelty.
For younger students/children:
The Council of All Beings (grades 4 & up) gives students a chance to "become" a being or part of the natural world and share the lives, concerns, hopes and wisdom of their being in a Council. This activity could be modified to focus on different farmed animals, as well as the other stakeholders involved (farmers, slaughterhouse workers, the land being farmed, etc.), so that students can explore and connect with different perspectives.
Who Am I? (grades 2-5) serves as a great introduction to helping students think about the commonalities that humans, cows, pigs and chickens share and why we treat "farmed" animals the way we do.
Whom Do You Pet & Whom Do You Eat? (grades 4 & up) explores what our relationships with different kinds of animals are and why those relationships exist. The activity helps students think about why we treat different types of animals differently, and how we can learn to view them with different eyes.
Note that with young students you can also use literature as a springboard for discussing important issues. In her book, Black Ants & Buddhists, teacher Mary Cowhey describes how an incident about stepping on ants (or not) led to important discussions in her second grade class about compassion, personal responsibility and religions (see page 2 of her book for the beginning of the story).
For middle schoolers and older:
Alien in the Ethical Universe (grades 5-8) uses the scenario of a traveling alien on a fact-finding mission about how beings treat other beings to spark discussion and critical thinking about the inconsistencies in how our society encourages us to treat others. Beginning with questions about how we treat other people, the conversation leads to our treatment of animals. Asking several questions about our relationship with "food" animals and the inconsistencies there brings awareness to habits we've often never thought about.
Be a C.R.I.T.I.C. (grades 6 & up) uses a special technique to encourage students to bring critical thinking skills to their analysis of information from a variety of sources. Pairing information in a variety of formats from the animal agriculture industry with that from government sources and animal protection non-profits will help students become better evaluators of information about farmed animals.
True Price (grades 6 & up) helps participants become more conscious in their consuming by analyzing the "true price" on people, animals and the earth of different products. Analyzing products such as a fast food burger or other animal-based product can highlight the plight of animals used in those products.
It's only through education that we're going to realize the just, compassionate world for all beings that we want. Use activities like these as a starting place.
~ Marsha
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