Category: Personal and Social Capability

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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animal rights lesson plan

LESSON SUMMARY

When Jane Goodall went to Gombe to study chimpanzees, she discovered a breakthrough observation. “I arrived here as a scientist and left as an activist.”

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Year Level: 3–4

Learning area: Science, English

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; personal and social capability; literacy; sustainability (cross-curriculum priority)

Lesson duration:

80 minutes (Part A–B); 120 minutes (Part C); 60 minutes (Part D)

 

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • learn about the unique characteristics and features of chimpanzees
  • understand how science knowledge about chimpanzee behaviours led to widespread discussion about habitat loss
  • understand how human activities contribute to habitat loss for chimpanzees
  • learn about different methods of activism, including community building, lobbying, petitioning and protesting
  • plan, draft and publish an imaginative, informative and persuasive text for the purpose of activism.
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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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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.

DOWNLOAD 2016 RESOURCE KIT (PDF)

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.

DOWNLOAD FREE KIT (PDF)

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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animal rights lesson plan

LESSON SUMMARY

When Jane Goodall went to Gombe to study chimpanzees, she discovered a breakthrough observation. “I arrived here as a scientist and left as an activist.”

DOWNLOAD LESSON MATERIAL (PDF)

Year Level: 3–4

Learning area: Science, English

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking; personal and social capability; literacy; sustainability (cross-curriculum priority)

Lesson duration:

80 minutes (Part A–B); 120 minutes (Part C); 60 minutes (Part D)

 

Learning Outcomes

Your child will:

  • learn about the unique characteristics and features of chimpanzees
  • understand how science knowledge about chimpanzee behaviours led to widespread discussion about habitat loss
  • understand how human activities contribute to habitat loss for chimpanzees
  • learn about different methods of activism, including community building, lobbying, petitioning and protesting
  • plan, draft and publish an imaginative, informative and persuasive text for the purpose of activism.
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homeschool activities

TOPIC SUMMARY

In the age of digital technology, children are exposed to more information than ever before. It’s important to help them approach information critically while maintaining a sense of respect for all opinions and perspectives.

The Australian Curriculum places a big emphasis on critical thinking and media literacy skills, and parents play an important role in developing these skills at home from an early age.

Now more than ever in the age of fake news and social media, these skills are crucial in navigating misleading information and questionable practices by business leaders, media personalities and politicians.

Here are some fun activities to develop critical thinking and media literacy skills in a fun and engaging way at home.

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free classroom posters

POSITIVE SKILLS FOR STUDENTS

Download our vibrant Positive Skills Classroom Poster Set and brighten up your classroom with these positive daily reminders for your students.

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Have you practiced kindness today? Can you tell the difference between a fact and an opinion? Can you remember how to have a respectful conversation?

Download our Positive Skills Classroom Poster Set and brighten up your classroom with these positive daily reminders to be kind, listen to others, be respectful towards others and think before you speak.

You can print these PDF posters in the following paper sizes: A0, A1, A2, A3 and A4.

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homeschool activities

TOPIC SUMMARY

Teaching responsibility early on encourages children to form habits that establish self-confidence, overall well-being and motivation for personal growth and development.

Parents play the most important role in helping kids develop responsibility, on both a personal and interpersonal level.

Teaching responsibility from an early age helps children to form habits that establish self-confidence, overall well-being and motivation to pursue ongoing personal growth and development.

Acting responsibility also means considering the impacts of their everyday choices, actions and treatment of others.

Responsibility develops the following:

  • respect and compassion for others
  • honesty as a matter of course
  • courage in standing up for our principles
  • self-control in acting on our principles
  • self-respect.
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animal rights club students

Why start a club?

Empower your students, foster critical and creative thinking skills, and have some fun!

DOWNLOAD CLUB KIT (PDF)

 

Starting a Kindness Club at school is a great way for young students to get together and share ideas, plan and carry out meaningful and empowering activities for change and spread awareness about animal rights, welfare and protection issues in their communities. 

What is the Kindness Club Kit?

The Kindness Club kit is suitable for students in Years 3–8, but can easily be adapted for most year levels. It contains an 8-page booklet to help students set up their club and includes information for club facilitators.

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