in the Classroom

The BC SPCA has classroom resources for grades K-7. The lessons integrate animal issues and information into existing provincial learning outcomes. Bite Free is on the recommended resource list for Health and Career Planning for grades K-5. 

Click on a lesson plan below to learn more.

Kindness Counts
(for K- Gr. 2)

Companions for Life
(Gr. 3-5)

You Can Make a Difference
(Gr. 5-7)

  Cluck - The life of an egg-laying hen (Gr. 4-6)

  Bite Free (K - Gr. 5)

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May 2012

Humane Education resources

Are you looking for new ways to teach kids about how to make the world a better place? The Institute of Humane Education offers many resources for teachers, club leaders and parents on how to teach kids about the issues and become positive role models for others. There are classroom activities, educational online games (one of my favourites is Mission Migration) and book reviews; all great, free and downloadable.

You’ll find activities that explore and connect issues of compassion, justice and sustainability for a variety of ages.

The Boy Who Loved All Living Things
by Sheila Hamanaka

Using the memoirs of Albert Schwietzer, Sheila Hamanaka brings Albert’s voice as a child to life in this imaginary journal. Young Albert faces similar struggles many boys deal with today. He is ashamed of some of his own cruel actions towards animals and those of others but through reflection he realizes why he acted out and goes out of his way to protect animals that his friends want to harm.

All kids do bad things but they can learn from these experiences and with courage change their ways to become a more caring and aware person who can love themselves. This book can be used as a catalyst to ignite some great discussion around conflicting feelings about our actions.

Through creative images and handwritten-style text, this book portrays the personal journey of a young boy who grew to become comfortable with his own beliefs and would one day be a famous doctor, vegetarian and animal advocate.

Teachers can receive a free copy through the Animal Welfare Institute.

Read more BC SPCA book recommendations online.

Don’t forget about our wild urban neighbours this season. Make some bird feeders, bee boxes (pdf), bat boxes or bird houses to help these animals stay safe and healthy. There are many websites with great ideas and plans. You could even sell your creations as a fundraiser for your club. Check with your local lumber yard to see if they have scrap wood or put a notice in your school newsletter to ask for spare wood and volunteers. Many lumber stores will cut the wood to size for you.

Our hummingbird feeder (pdf) activity is a good way to recycle clear plastic bottles. Here is a recipe for hummingbird syrup to fill your feeder.

Don’t forget to send us in pictures of your projects so we can put them up on our website as well as enter your club into the draw for some cool club prizes.

Do you have students who love animals and are looking for ways to learn more about them? Then BC SPCA summer camp is the place for them to spend a week this summer.

In addition to learning about pet care, animal health and welfare, the children will come away with a wealth of knowledge about farm animal welfare, wild animals, the environment and careers in the field of animal welfare.

There are 15 camp locations around the province. Online registration has begun in the Lower Mainland and Victoria. Online registration for all other locations will begin on May 15th.

If you would like to let students in your school know about our camp, let us know if there is space in your school newsletter and we can send information. We can send you a copy of our poster as well.

You can learn more about this news item and other BC SPCA news that you may want to include in class discussions.

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Please do not reply to this email, as it is for distribution purposes only. If you have comments or questions about this newsletter or related information, please email Paula Neuman, Humane Education Supervisor.

On behalf of all the animals we care for and protect, thank you for your support.

spca.bc.ca