Community Outreach

Responsible Pet Ownership Curriculum

Rationale: Students can learn important concepts through the study of responsible animal ownership. Understanding, compassion, empathy, respect, responsibility, and tolerance are essential character development traits that can be promoted and enhanced through a multi-grade level approach. According to SPCA, “Respect for life begins with concern for animals.”

	Pets All Around Us – Understanding, Respect - Types of pets–similarities and differences - Distinguishing pets from wildlife - Exploring sounds and texture - Animal babies - Be bite free! - Pets as family members Lesson Plans Exploring sounds and texture (.pdf)
	Pets at Home–Compassion, Empathy, Responsibility - Taking care of pets–meeting pets’ basic needs - Animal safety–“reading” body language of pets and people - Don’t be cruel–avoiding abusive action - Finding lost pets
	Animal Heroes–Respect, Responsibility - Animal heroes - Animal facts, legends, and superstitions - Pet ownership responsibility–a lifelong commitment - Pet wellness/happiness–nutrition, shots, tags, exercise - 1+1=6, pet overpopulation–Spay/neuter pets
	Animal Related Careers – Respect, Empathy - Animal related careers - Pet adoption–a look at the human society - Citizenship and responsible pet care
	Sharing Our World – Compassion, Respect, Empathy, Tolerance - How animals and people help each other - From wolves to dogs–evolution of pets - History of pets Lesson Plans Pet Lesson: Wolves to Dogs (.pdf)
	Responsibility and Pets - Do animals have rights? - Community law; current law - Resolving conflicts that are pet-related - Careers that are animal-related Lesson Plans Spot's Search for Treasure lesson plan (.pdf) Spot's Search for Treasure question strips (.pdf) Spot's Search for Treasure team handout (.pdf)
	Community Involvement - Internships - Career decision-making - Mentoring - Volunteering - Peer-assisted leadership