LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Read about a teen who helped pets in animal shelters find homes; identify and describe reasons to adopt a pet from a shelter; describe ways to be an animal advocate in one’s own community

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 8: Demonstrate how to influence and support others to make positive health choices.

 

CASEL COMPETENCY: Social awareness; responsible decision-making 

KEY VOCAB

displaced, euthanized, dexterity

Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan for teaching Helping Pets Find New Homes

When Sir Darius Brown heard about pets in his community who needed good homes, he knew he had to help. Read on to find out how this month’s Changemaker is making a difference—one furry friend at a time!

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How can I become an animal advocate in my community?

 CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. Why did Sir Darius worry about the pets that had been brought to shelters near his home? Sir Darius worried that the pets unclaimed for too long would be euthanized.
  2. How did developmental delays affect Sir Darius? Accept either of the following: Developmental delays affected his fine motor skills; developmental delays made it difficult for him to use his hands.
  3. How did Sir Darius use his hands to help pets get adopted? He started sewing bow ties for them to wear for their photos on the shelter’s website to help them attract potential owners.

 CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

  1. Why do you think there are so many pets living in shelters? Describe at least one reason. Possible answers: People abandon their pets; people do not spay/neuter their pets.
  2. Using the article as evidence, make an inference about why some people may mistakenly believe that buying from a breeder or pet store is better than adopting from a shelter. Describe at least two mistaken beliefs people may have, and explain why they are wrong. Possible answers: People may think that pets from a pet store are healthier than shelter pets, but the reverse is usually true; people may think shelter pets are badly behaved, but they generally tend to behave better than pets from a pet store; people may assume that shelters do not have purebred dogs, but according to the article, President Biden’s rescue dog is a German Shepherd.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

DIGGING DEEPER

NHES 5

CASEL Competency: Responsible decision-making

Give students an opportunity to discover HOW TO HELP A FURRY FRIEND. In this activity, they’ll research their local animal shelter’s requirements for volunteering as well as pet adoption, and consider their own interest in helping support animals in need. (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

EXTENSION ACTIVITY

NHES 8

CASEL Competency: Responsible decision-making

Getting pets spayed or neutered is a relatively simple solution to a widespread problem. Have students research this topic using resources from the Humane Society or other similar organizations. Then, have them create an awareness campaign for social media with their TOP 5 REASONS TO SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET. (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

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