LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Read about the experiences of three teens who use service dogs; describe the medical, therapeutic, and emotional benefits service animals provide to humans; empathize with those who use service animals.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 1: Describe the interrelationships of emotional, intellectual, physical, and social health.

CASEL COMPETENCY: Social awareness

KEY VOCAB

icebreaker, developmental disorder, genetic disorder, depression, trauma

Lesson Plan: We Use Service Dogs

Service animals work around the clock to keep their owners safe. Read the article to find out how service dogs have made a difference in the lives of three teens.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

What role do service animals play in human wellness?

 CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. What is the definition of a service dog? A service dog is a dog specifically trained to assist people with disabilities or medical conditions.
  2. If Gabby falls, how does Ollie help her? If Gabby falls, she can give Ollie a command to “speak,” and he will bark until help arrives.
  3. Describe at least one way that Tyler’s behavior changed after Zephyr came into his life. Possible Answers: Tyler stopped running away; Zephyr helped Tyler stay calm when he got agitated; Tyler was able to transition to classes with kids who don’t have autism.

 CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

  1. Why do you think animals are such good companions for humans, generally speaking? Possible answers: Animals can perceive things that humans can’t; animals are loyal; animals make people feel happy.
  2. Why do dogs make good service animals? Possible answers: They are a dependable and domesticated animal; they have a keen sense of smell; they can be trained  to perform many tasks; many breeds have predictable behavior and are very gentle; dogs provide comfort to humans.
  3. What is the main difference between a service  animal and an emotional support animal? Service animals must be trained, while emotional support animals are not trained.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

RESEARCH & DISCUSS

NHES 1

CASEL Competency: Social awareness; responsible decision-making

After reading the article, students may still be curious to know more about these special animals. Have them research and discuss these questions and give themselves an “A” in SERVICE DOGS 101. (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

NHES 8

CASEL Competency: Social awareness

Service dogs serve an indispensable purpose in their owners’ lives, which means their owners have a right to be with their service dog wherever they go. Have students spread SERVICE DOG AWARENESS by designing a multi-slide social media post informing others of the most important rights of those who use service dogs. Consider encouraging students to use Canva to design their slides before uploading to social media. (Click here to find this Skill Builder.)

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