Teacher Page

HOORAY FOR PETS!

            Throughout the centuries, animals have played a major role in humanizing, educating and industrializing society as it progressed and developed into the 21st century.  Animals have not only been worshipped and revered in earlier times, but have been used as work animals assisting in war times and in tragedies i.e. 9-11, for recreation and play, and for companionship and love.  Research has indicated that owning a pet will reduce stress and increase your life span.

           Students are constantly surrounded by animals.  Their neighborhoods are filled with household pets, and stray and injured animals.  Some students have pets at home but how many of them really know how to properly care for their pets. How responsible are students for the proper care and health of their pets?  Do students know the importance and the impact of pets as it relates to humanity, society and our well-being and health?  What role can a student play in the care of their own pets, stray animals and injured animals?

           In this unit, students will research pet care and initiate writing journals for verbal presentations.  Students will work cooperatively in teams researching various animals and their role in history. Students will identify local animal shelters and rescue agencies.  We will schedule a field trip and/or a classroom visit with a local veterinarian, a rescue team member, and a local animal shelter.  Students will display a wall mural depicting animals as it relates to society.  Dioramas will be created demonstrating proper care of household pets, stray and injured animals.  Students will develop and design an Animal Care Booklet which will be duplicated and distributed to the local veterinarian office.

How do pets impact our society?

 How have pets contributed to humanity?

 How have pets contributed to society?

 How have pets contributed to our well-being & health?

 What is our responsibility to the care of animals?

  Physical Development & Health:  Grade Level 3

Unit Prerequisites

• Students must read at a Grade 3 level;

• Students must be able to work in cooperative groups;

• Students must have basic research skills.

    Access:

• Research information about proper pet care.

• Interview the local veterinarian, an animal rescue representative and a pet owner.

• Research the environments or habitats where a concentration of stray and lost animals occur.

• Gather facts relating to experiences shared by pet owners who have lost their pets.

• Reflect on journal writings as it relates to the importance of what is essential in producing the booklet.

• Research the importance of pets and their relationship to society and humanity.

• Read information about how owning a pet will affect a person’s general health.

• Elicit guest speakers from an animal rescue organization and the local veterinarian’s office.

Interpret:

• Compare and contrast the importance of proper pet care as it relates to the pet’s general health.

• Organize journal writings into various relevant pet topics such as lost pets, proper pet care, pet responsibilities etc.

• List the characteristics of a responsible pet owner.

• Contrast the signs of a healthy pet with improper pet care.

• Categorize the qualities needed to be a responsible pet owner.

• Evaluate the reasons why pets are lost and abandoned.

• Write a journal describing the important research findings needed to organize the Hooray for Pets! booklet.

• Draw and paint a classroom wall collage depicting the various pet stages and proper care of pets.

• Design a diorama selecting a given topic as it relates to our Hooray for Pets! unit.

• Draft and develop a pet care information booklet to be distributed at the local veterinarian’s office.

     Communicate:

• Discuss ideas, share information and plan a presentation among group members.

• Interact during group discussions in class and at other selected sites.

• Publish an informative pet care booklet to be distributed to pet owners at the local veterinarian’s office.

• Report on research findings using the information written in your writing journals.

• Explain the preventative measures needed to decrease the number of stray and lost pets.

• Distribute the Hooray for Pets! booklets to students within our school who own pets and also at the veterinarian’s office.

• Share research findings with the class related to your groups pet care topic.

       Evaluate:

• Weigh the importance of the information selected for the pet care booklet.

• Judge the enthusiasm, cooperation and teamwork generated throughout the project.

• Evaluate the research information selected for group presentations.

• Assess the skills acquired during this project as it relates to engaged learning and the Chicago Standards.