Humane Education Activity: Who Am I? Exploring Commonalities in Humans, Cows, Pigs and Chickens

One of my favorite activities created by one of our M.Ed. students -- which shows how simple and how powerful humane education can be -- is called Who Am I? I often use this activity when talking with animal protection activists about humane education.

Who Am I? serves as a great introduction to thinking about the commonalities that humans, cows, pigs, and chickens share, and can lead to important critical thinking and discussions about why we treat farmed animals the way we do.

In the first part of the activity, participants are given a slip of paper with a descriptive characteristic on it that is specific to either a human, cow, pig or chicken (e.g., I ride a bike. I have 4 stomachs. I oink, etc.). Based on their characteristic, participants are asked to walk to the habitat that is appropriate to who they are. (Before the activity begins, the habitats are created/posted, either by the participants or teacher.) It's pretty quick and simple.

Then, participants are given a second slip of paper and asked to do the same thing. This time, they have much more difficulty. Why? Because the characteristics are true for more than just one of them:

• I have a good memory (that's true for humans, cows and chickens).
• I have friends (that's true for all 4 species).
• I talk to my baby before s/he's born (that's true for humans and chickens).
• I can play computer games (humans, chickens and pigs can all do this).
• I like to play (true for at least humans, pigs and cows).

And so on.

Once participants complete the activity, they can begin reflecting on their knowledge, assumptions and judgments about pigs, cows and chickens. They can learn more about these animals and their complexities. They can talk about how we treat farmed animals and whether that matches how they think they should be treated, etc. There are numerous possibilities for exploration and discussion.

And one of the great elements of this activity is that it can be done with kids (starting around grade 2) as well as adults (with a few modifications).

Download the complete activity. (pdf)

~ Marsha

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