‘Let’s Ask the Animals’ (Video)

This lesson plan is designed to help teachers present animal rights issues to their students. If you’re an educator, please feel free to adapt this material to fit your needs, and contact us if you need help incorporating this activity into your curriculum!

Suggested grade levels: 2nd and 3rd grades

Created by: The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

Type of resource: Video

Objectives: To help young students think critically about the similarities between humans and animals and the importance of caring for them

Issues covered: social justice, empathy for animals, vegan

In a fun and engaging manner, “Let’s Ask the Animals” explores the similarities among humans, pigs, chickens, cows, and sheep. The video shows that like humans, animals use their senses, learn from experience, and need companionship and exercise, among other things. Throughout the video, scientists from leading veterinary schools work with animals to demonstrate fascinating facts about animal behavior.

The video has three suitable breaks for discussion and classroom activities (at nine minutes, 13 minutes, and 17 minutes) and helps promote appreciation and respect for animals by emphasizing our shared physical and behavioral characteristics.

Show the video to your students. Then lead a classroom discussion about it, and use the related comic book A Chicken’s Life, which is available for free in classroom quantities from TeachKind. You can also get a virtual version of the comic if you need it right away.