Lesson Plans

We are pleased to offer specially written curriculum guides for K-12 classes. Lessons are based on kindness, compassion, respect, and responsibility. They are designed to meet Colorado Model Content Standards in math, science, reading, civics and more! We also provide printed booklets to teachers that participate in our programs.

Kindergarten

	Kind Kids Students will learn what it means to be kind to others and will draw pictures of how they’ve been kind. These pictures will be made into a book for the classroom library.
	Where Do Animals Live? Students will learn what kinds of homes pets and wild animals need. They will bring in a stuffed animal or puppet from home and match their animal to a picture of its home.
	What is a Pet Students will learn what a pet is through the use of puppets and/or stuffed animals and they will discover what a pet needs by identifying items in a "pet bag."
	All Animals are Important Students will discuss the positive attributes of eight different animals and then create positive stories about each one.
	We All Have Feelings Students will figure out which feelings both people and animals have and discuss examples. They will read a book about a dog that is trying to be good and will relate their experiences to it.

First Grade

	Pets are Purr-fect Friends! Students will learn what a pet is and they will draw their favorite pets and write about what they need.
	Pets are Part of Our Family Students will discuss what a family is and how members of a family should treat each other, including pets.
	We Share the World Students will discuss what types of animals and people live in their neighborhoods. Theyll read a book about a forest that was shared by animals, plants and people and how they lived together peacefully.
	Stay Safe by Respecting Animals Students will learn that animals can react in different ways, depending on how we treat them. Theyll also learn the proper steps for meeting a dog for the first time and how to act appropriately around animals.
	I Can Make a Difference! Students will be given a "situation card" that shows animals or people that need help and theyll write a story about what they could do to help solve the problem.

Second Grade

	Creating a Caring Class Students will learn about the importance of respect and kindness which will be promoted through a variety of activities.
	Families Come in Different Shapes and Sizes Students will discuss who they think can make up a family and read a story about a dog’s family, called Jaeger Finds a Family. They will also make dioramas of families.
	The Difference Between Wild Animals and Pets To learn the difference between wild animals and pets and what they need from humans.
	All Pets Need a Good Home Students will discuss why all pets should live with people, as opposed to living on the streets, and will decide what makes a "good" home for a pet.
	Making Positive Choices To be able to look at a situation about people and animals and determine if the situation will affect them positively or negatively.

Third Grade

	Choosing Compassion Read the book, Caesar: On Deaf Ears, make a list of the compassionate choices that were made, analyze the problems and find solutions.
	Animals Around Us Read the book, Coyotes in the Crosswalk, determine which wild animals live in the students’ neighborhoods and how they can help protect their habitats.
	Adding Up Pet Populations Students will do two math exercises to reinforce their understanding of populations and pet overpopulation.
	When Dogs Were Wolves To learn the difference between a "companion" animal and a "wild" animal by studying about how domesticated dogs evolved from wild wolves.
	What Kind of Mammal is it? Students will learn about the characteristics of a mammal and they will be able to define what a mammal is. They will also learn the difference between a companion animal and a wild animal.

Fourth Grade

	Animals Can Teach Us Compassion To learn how to turn difficult situations into positive ones by having compassion for others.
	Animal Populations: What's the Difference? Read the book, Wolves in Yellowstone, and discuss why wolves are endangered and why companion animals have an overpopulation problem.
	Artistic Animals To promote creativity through painting and drawing different types of vertebrates. Students will also learn to classify the different categories of vertebrates: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
	A World of Differences and Similarities Students will work in groups to research how four different countries treat animals and will share their findings with the rest of the class.
	Celebrating Life Together To learn what a "community" means, who makes up a community and how cultural customs bring community members together.

Fifth grade

	Pets and People Helping Each Other To learn about how service dogs assist disabled people and why their jobs are so important. To pro- mote an empathetic attitude toward people with disabilities.
	The Dumb Friends League- Who We Are and What We Do Plan a class visit to the Dumb Friends League to learn about the many services and programs the League offers. The students will learn about the various issues that affect companion animals and how to be a responsible pet owner.
	Facts About Felines To learn the difference between the myths and the facts about cats, which will help the students to be more compassionate toward them.
	Graphing Statistics and Opinions About Pets To learn how to use a double bar graph by polling other students about their feelings and experi- ences with pets. Students will also have the opportunity to think about how pets affect their lives.
	Problem Solving: The Pet Overpopulation Dilemma To gain a better understanding of the pet overpopulation problem, why companion animals were domesticated and why people are responsible for their populations.

Middle School

	How Advertising Portrays Animals To observe the messages regarding the treatment and portrayal of animals in advertising through a variety of media. To be able to distinguish which messages are positive and which are negative, and how they affect the choices we make.
	What Would You Do If... Students will work in teams to resolve various situations regarding people and animals and will present their situation and resolution to the rest of the class.
	The Value of Animals To understand why we value some animals higher than others. To realize that every creature has a purpose on this earth and were all connected to one another.
	Domestication Throughout Civilization, a History of Companion Animals Students will study the history of companion animals through books and a video. Trace the history of domestication of certain species as it parallels the history of civilization and which jobs domesticated animals were originally bred to do.
	We All Have a Purpose Students will compare jobs that people have with jobs that animals have. They will receive visits from several different working animals and their "people."
	Who's Land is it Anyway? Sharing Our World with Wildlife To understand the importance of sharing our world with animals. To understand that as our communities continue to develop and encroach upon animals’ natural habitats, we need to make decisions on how to live together in a mutually humane and peaceful environment.
	Every Number Tells a Story The class will take a trip to the Dumb Friends League to see first-hand how many animals are available for adoption. They will complete a worksheet while at the League, which will help them gain an understanding of shelter operations and the severity of the overpopulation problem.
	Understanding Our Community Ties Students will discuss the importance of community ties and develop a mission statement which reflects their idea of "community."
	Depending on Each Other: Communities and Ecosystems Students will choose an ecosystem to study as a class. They will determine the inhabitants, the environment, how the food chain works, how the inhabitants interact and depend on each other, and other factors that make it a unique ecosystem.
	Our Earth News Students will research a variety of topics regarding the Earth and the plight of its inhabitants. They will create their own newspaper, "Our Earth News," and will be assigned different topics to write about.

High School

	The Power of Empathy To understand the suffering of others and foster a sense of empathy. The power of empathy will help students to ultimately understand what others feel and how they can help them.
	Choosing to Help Others Students will work together in "communities" to analyze a variety of situations they could possibly be faced with as a community member.
	The Cry of the Wolf Students will research the history of the wolf and find out how it has gained its reputation.
	Problem-Solving: Ending Pet Overpopulation Students will take a tour of the Dumb Friends League and learn about pet overpopulation. They will divide into groups and each will present a solution to the rest of their class.
	Ten Ways You Can Help Solve Pet Overpopulation Each year millions of unwanted pets arrive at animal shelters. In the Denver Metro area alone, nearly 70,000 animals are cared for in shelters annually.
	Broken Bonds To understand why companion animals are relinquished to animal shelters. Students will gain empathy for these animals and an understanding of how some of these situations could have been prevented.
	How Humane are We? Students will learn about the Humane Movement by researching an event they feel has been a significant part of this movement.
	Growth of the Humane Movement Students will learn the growth of the humane movement.
	Equal Protection Under the Law? Students will hear from a Dumb Friends League Animal Cruelty Investigator, who will discuss laws that protect animals in Colorado.
	Telling Humane Tales To understand and be able to distinguish humane themes found in children’s literature. Students will also create their own stories, using humane themes.
	Humane Education Guidelines for Children's Literature There are numerous children’s books with animal themes. As educators, we must be able to discern which books have appropriate and humane messages and which ones have irresponsible and negative portrayals of human/animal interactions.
	Rehabilitators to the Rescue Students will hear from a speaker from a wildlife rehabilitation center. They will have specific questions prepared and will then compile the information into a book or display to share with the rest of the school and community.
	Caring Careers Students will invite a panel of speakers to visit who represent various careers in animal welfare.

Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.

-- Bradley Miller

Denver Humane Society Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption