melbourne cup lesson plan

LESSON SUMMARY

Rosie’s family celebrates the Melbourne Cup each year. Her dad loves to bet on the winning horse! But recently, she read a media story about how horses are treated in the racing industry.

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Year Level: 3–4

Learning area: Humanities and Social Science

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; personal and social capability; ethical behaviour

Lesson duration:

105 minutes

 

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • generate questions about the Melbourne Cup event using a KWL chart
  • examine media stories about Melbourne Cup protests in Australia and distinguish factual accounts from opinion pieces
  • think critically about the horse racing industry and ask questions to do with whether certain issues are right, ethical or fair.
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life cycle chickens year 1

WORKSHEETS SUMMARY

Curious about life cycles? Delve into the inner world of chickens. Students will explore the natural life cycle and behaviours of chickens with highly engaging, full-colour activities.

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Year Level: 1–2

Learning area: Science

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; literacy

Tip: These worksheets include colour images to enhance the learning experience. To print without colour, you can select the grayscale or black and white option in your printer settings.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

This full-colour worksheet bundle explores the unique features, life cycle and natural behaviours of chickens. Students will enjoy vibrant photographs of the different life stages of a chicken, and complete a variety of activities that compare natural life to life on an egg farm.

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Meeting needs kindergarten

WORKSHEETS SUMMARY

All animals are living things that have needs. Animals also have feelings like humans. This fun and educational worksheet bundle nurture compassion, understanding and respect for farm animals.

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Year Level: K–1

Learning area: Science, English, Visual Arts

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; literacy

Classroom poster: Download the Five Freedoms for Animals poster here

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

This worksheet bundle explores the concept that animals have feelings and needs. Students will draw on their own experiences to identify the needs and emotions humans share with other animals, particularly farm animals. They will also learn how visual clues (both imagined and in real life) can tell us how other animals are feeling.

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free homeschool resources

LESSON SUMMARY

Human mothers aren’t the only ones who form close bonds with their babies. Learn how cows, pigs, chickens and sheep love and nurture their offspring.

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Year Level: 1–2

Learning area: Science

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; ethical understanding; literacy

Lesson duration: 95 minutes

Learning Outcomes

Your child will:

  • understand that animals reproduce, grow and change
  • learn about how different animal mothers care for their offspring
  • understand the different stages in the life cycle of cows, pigs, chickens and sheep
  • draw comparisons between how certain animals like cows, pigs, chickens and sheep reproduce in a more natural setting versus an intensive production farm.
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animal idioms

LESSON SUMMARY

Going on a wild goose chase? Letting the cat out of the bag? What about taking the bull by its horns? Explore how animal idioms and the language we use shape our relationships with others.

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Year Level: 5–7

Learning area: English

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; literacy; personal and social capability

Lesson duration: 85 minutes (Part A–C); 40 minutes (Part D); 60 minutes (Extension Activity)

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • identify the meanings of common animal idioms and understand the context in which they are used
  • learn how idioms are used to express and create personal, social and cultural identities
  • understand the concept of speciesism and analyse arguments against using animal idioms, identifying the author’s point of view using language and vocabulary clues
  • devise their own alternatives to animal idioms and create a supporting illustration.
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life cycle chickens year 1

WORKSHEETS SUMMARY

Curious about the inner world of chickens? Let your little ones explore the amazing life of a chicken, learning about their natural life cycle and behaviours.

DOWNLOAD WORKSHEETS (PDF)

Year Level: 1–2

Learning area: Science

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; literacy

Tip: These worksheets include colour images to enhance the learning experience. To print without colour, you can select the grayscale or black and white option in your printer settings.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

This homeschool worksheet bundle explores the unique features, life cycle and natural behaviours of chickens. Children will enjoy full-colour photographs of the different life stages of a chicken, and complete a variety of activities that compare natural life to life on an egg farm.

Go to full resource

be kind to animals week schools

October 1st to 7th

The Be Kind to Animals Week school event invites students to celebrate compassion and respect for all living beings and find ways to improve the lives of other animals.

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Did you know? Studies show that children who are kind to animals are more likely to act kindly towards their peers.

Be Kind to Animals Week is an annual nationwide event where schools are invited to do one kind act for animals. This could be anything from building birdbaths around the school to raising funds for a local animal shelter to creating posters about important animal rights issues.

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meatless mondays schools

GO MEAT-FREE ONCE A WEEK!

Meatless Mondays are a fun and easy way for schools to reduce their carbon and water footprint, encourage healthy eating and empower students to make informed food choices.

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Did you know it takes more than 2000 litres of water to make just one hamburger, and more than 15,000 litres to make one piece of steak?

Animal agriculture requires a huge amount of land, food, energy, and water. The WorldWatch Institute estimates that a staggering 51 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture, and the United Nations has also urged everyone to eat less meat to combat global warming.

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animals have feelings

LESSON SUMMARY

Trotsky isn’t your regular house pet…he’s a pig! He and his human Elvis enjoy a very special friendship. In this lesson, students will learn about the complex and endearing nature of pigs – an often misunderstood animal.

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Year Level: K–1

Learning area: Science

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; ethical understanding; literacy

Lesson duration: 120 minutes

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • learn about the unique characteristics of pigs
  • understand that pigs have physical, social and emotional needs, just like humans do
  • understand that pigs kept as pets live differently to pigs raised on farms, and that it’s the responsibility of humans to make sure their needs are met.
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Meeting needs kindergarten

WORKSHEETS SUMMARY

Keep your little ones learning and entertained at home! These fun and educational kindergarten worksheets make the perfect boredom busters and nurture compassion, understanding and respect for all animals.

DOWNLOAD WORKSHEETS (PDF)

 

Year Level: K–1

Learning area: Science, English, Visual Arts

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; literacy

 

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

This homeschool worksheet bundle explores the concept that animals have feelings and needs. Children will draw on their own experiences to identify the needs and emotions humans share with other animals, particularly farm animals. They will also learn how visual clues (both imagined and in real life) can tell us how other animals are feeling.

Go to full resource