Resources

Animals in Danger – Ask the pupils to think about what would happen if animals didn’t breed. Can they think of any animals that are in danger of becoming extinct? Discuss what extinct means – gone forever and captive breeding – trying to find a solution.

Work in 2 groups. 1 group will search on endangered animals while the other on captive breeding.

Group 1, hints for their research

Being hunted by humans

Loss of habitat

Water, soil and air pollution

Non-native animals being introduced by humans

Group 2, hints for research

Born in captive breeding – for zoos and sanctuaries, or to be released back into the wild?

Importance we should give to animals’ true habitat

Life of an animal in captivity.

Plenary Activity

When both groups have feedback, ask if there ‘s anything they think they can doto help endangered species.

New Vocabulary

breed	extinct	endangered
habitat	protected	pollution
non-native	conserve	captive breeding
pesticide

( new vocabulary to be learnt according to age group)

Extension Activity

· Ask the class to choose one animal and create a class display to make the school aware of this breed’s problems. They are to come up with ideas on how they can help in making this breed’s life easier.

· Encoourage the pupils to find out as much as they can about this animal using books, wildlife magazines, videos and websites.

Did you know ? ( to be told to students)

Lesser horseshoe bats are endangered because of loss of habitat and because pesticides kill the things they like to eat,

Stag Beetles, are also endangered because of oss of habitat. They live in decaying wood. Clearing away dead wood in gardens, woodlands and heaths removes vital breeding sites,

Harbour porpoises are shy sea animals. They are often accidentally caught in fishing gear such as trawls, baited hooks and traps.

Activity / Lesson Title : A nation of animal lovers

Aims : This activity introduces the concept of cruelty to animals and whether it is deliberate or based on neglect

Objectives : Children should learn

· About the responsabilities humans have towards animals,

· to know about the role of a national animal welfare organisation.

What is needed : Fact Sheet, Animals in need ( photocopiable)

Internet access RSPCA Animal Care

Starter Activity

Ask the pupils to think about cruelty to animals. What types of things do they think are cruel? Pupils often focus on deliberate cruelty – hitting and beating. Once they have been given a range of examples, ask them to think about the difference between;

neglect – failing to look after an animal properly,
deliberate cruelty – intending to do something that hurts the animal.

Do the pupils think one type of cruelty is worse than the other? Ask the pupils to think from an animal’s point of view. Both neglect and deliberate animal cruelty make animals suffer.

Main Activity

Neglect or deliberate ; Use the factsheet as a focus

Ask the students to read through the worksheet in groups appointing a chairperson and a leader.
Ask the students to discuss each case study in turn and decide whether its deliberate cruelty or neglect.

Plenary Activity

Helping animals; having read and thought about the case studies, what would the pupils most like to change about the way some people treat animals? How would they like to help animals?

New Vocabulary

Cruelty

deliberate

neglect

( new vocabulary to be learnt according to age group)

Activity / Lesson Title : Exotic animals as pets

Aims : Focusing on animal welfare highlighting the fact the importance of responsable pet ownership for all animals, including exotics.

Objectives : Children should learn

· About different animal welfare issues and how these are presented in the media,

· to contribute ideas, discuss issues and listen to the views of others.

What is needed : Internet access, useful websites RCPCA care sheets for exotics

Photos of exotic animals

Worksheet

Starter Activity

Ask the class which animals make good pets. Why? Write a selection of common pets such as a dog, cat, goldfish etc.. and put them on a board. Which are the easiest/hardest to look after? Alternatively put a sign at one end of the room saying easy and another saying difficult. Encourage children to justify their reasoning.

Use these ideas to compile a list of criteria that make pets easier to look after. This will not just depend on the animal’s needs but also the knowledge and commitment of the owner.

Main Activity

Introduce the idea of exotic animals as pets. Show the class photos of exotic animals.

Work in groups to make a list of what pupils can find out about exotic animals. You could provide children with info on four or five exotic animals and do the snowballing activity,below.

Snowballing

In pairs, speed read the info on exotic animals. Each pair is looking for specific details such as habitat, diet, size, lenght of life. Set a time limit. When time is up , each pair should find another pair and swap two facts. Continue until all the groups have shared their facts. Pupils can than use the Exotic pets WS. Highlight the importance of how difficult it is to take care of exotic animals. Where would they put different exotic animals on the Easy to Difficult to look after scale of pets?

Important to discuss these issues that these animals may

have been taken from thewild where the species is endangered,
have been taken into captivity after being born in the wild,
have special needs; diet, temperature and space, which are impossible to provide in captivity,
live longer than their owner.

Plenary Activity

Work in pairs. Half the class are As and half Bs. As have to persuade Bs that exotic animals make good pets. Remember exotic pets’needs. Bshave to persuade As the opposite.

Alternatively work in groups of 6. Each group could discuss/role play this scenario; a friend sees a green iguana in a pet shop and wants to buy it. Think about your family, the pet’s needs, your commitment. 1 group could act the scenario while the rest can point out the difficulties in coping with such an animal in a typical Maltese flat/house.

New Vocabulary

exotic pet	reptiles	dependent
expensive	temperature	non-domestic
interaction

( new vocabulary to be learnt according to age group)

Differentation

Adapt the starter activity for different age groups. Pupils could research the facts for themselves and justify their decisions orally.

Did you know ? ( to be told to students)

It is difficult to give a clear definition of exotic,

Any animal that is not a native to the country where it is kept in captivity, can be called exotic. As such, this could also include hamsters and guinea pigs.

Tortoises can live up to 100 years,

Female chinchillas are larger than males. In captivity live for about 10 years, but they can live up to 18 years.

Activity / Lesson Title : Caring for Habitats

Aims : These activites introduce pupils to the effect that our actions can have on both animals and their environment

Objectives : Children should learn

To understand that humans have a responsability to ensure the well being of animals, including minibeasts ( insects ),
To recognise ways in which living things and the environment need protection

What is needed : 20 – 30 pieces of litter

Work Sheet

Pictures showing animals in danger

Starter Activity

Animals in Danger – animals can be put in danger by humans for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the major ways that humans impact on animals;

Loss of habitat animals are uniquely adapted to their habitat. Roads and houses being built, marshes being drained and forests being cut down will all have an impact on the animals living there,
Insecticides and pesticides destroy important elements of the food chain,
Road traffic a large number of cats, dogs and hedgehogs are killed every day ,
Litter can be dangerous to animals; plastic can-holders may choke, fishing lines can strangle, plastic bags suffocate, broken bottles cut and tin cans trap animals.

Main Activity

‘Un Nature Trail’

take 20-30 pieces of litter and place them in a trail around the school grounds. Take the pupils out on a trail and ask the to try and spot all the litter. When they reach the end ask them how many pieces they saw. Collect the litter carefully and ask them what should have been done with it ( made safe to animals and recycled ).

A day out with the careless family

You can adapt the story on the sheet to suit any particular habitat you are studying. Before reading the story, ask the pupils to make notes on all the effects on the animals’ habitat. Alternatively give them cards with each of the dangers to animals listed on them for example losing their home, litter and so on. Ask them to hold up the relevant card each time they think it is happening in the story. Set a challenge for older pupils, asking them to read the story on their own and see how many things they can find that might hurt animals.

Plenary Activity

Hold up different pieces of litter and ask the pupils to identify how they may be a danger to wildlife and what we can do about it. Their responses should focus upon making the litter safe and recycling it.

New Vocabulary

responsabilities	wildlife	habitat
litter	pollution	recycle

( new vocabulary to be learnt according to age group)

Activity / Lesson Title : Habitats Ground rules

Aims : To study wild animals in their natural habitat. Think about the animals and their well-being, as well as pupils and their safety.

Objectives : Children should learn

· that humans have a responsability to ensure the well-being of animals including minibeasts (insects).

What is needed : Worksheet

Starter Activity

Do’s and Don’ts

Work with your class to establish the following lists of do’s and don’ts relating to wild animals and their habitats. Write the list on the board/ charts

· Do care for all animals – however big or small

· Do find out about animals’needs,

· Do be quiet – animals are frightened by loud noises,

· Don’t handle animals directly,

· Do leave animals where you find them, they love their homes,

· Do put everything – such as logs, stones and leaves carefully back where you found it,

· Do stay safe – don’t put yourself into danger,

· Do wash your hands after working outside.

Main Activity

Animal Friendly code; Use the worksheet Be Animal Friendly to illustrate and write some do’s and don’ts discussed in the starter activit before studyinh any animal habitats in depth.

Display

Create a display of art work from the do’s and don’ts exercise.

Activity / Lesson Title : Planning the school grounds project

Aims : This session encourages pupils to take more active role in planning the school grounds project.

Objectives : Children should learn

· To implement changes that benefit animals

· To make a positive difference to wild animals ( hedgehogs, insects, lizards, bats, snakes etc... )and their habitats

· To mantain an interest and respect for wild animals and their habitats

What is needed : We shall need worksheets

Internet websites Wildlife Trusts A-Z

Eco-Schools programme

Starter Activity

Discuss the following questions

What animals are we hoping to attract ? ( depending on type of particular school’s grounds obviously!)
What do we need to do this ? ( a typical exp would be to build a bird bath)
How are we going to obtain what we need ?

Main Activity

Arrange the children into groups and give them a different worksheet
The pupils should than cut and paste the items they will need or colour them on the sheet
Older pupils could think about how could the school get the money, if needed.

New Vocabulary

action plan	landscape architect	garden designer
volunteer	health and safety

( new vocabulary to be learnt according to age group)

Display

The pupils’designs should be displayed in a prominent place to keep the whole school informed about the school grounds project.

Activity / Lesson Title : Keeping up the school grounds in good shape

Aims : Pupils can evaluate the difference it would make in creating a better environment at school.

Objectives : Children should learn

· To understand the ongoing responsability to care for the school grounds and the animals found living in it

· To compare and contrast the before and after look of the grounds

· To engage in group discussions for a wide range of purposes

· To reflect on how they can contribute and participate in the project

What is needed : Before and after photos if the project is done (even on a small scale),

3 large sheets of paper ,

evaluation form worksheet,

masks, animal cut outs or soft toys for hot seating.

Sticky notes

Starter Activity

Then and Now, Look at the before and after photos for comparisons

Main Activity

Mantaining the area

Display 3 large papers with the following headings
Jobs to be done most days
Jobs to be done every week
Areas to be left alone
Give each child/pair some sticky notes and let them write or illustrate their ideas and post these onto the relevant sheet,
Discuss how you will ensure that all school is aware of the ground rules and put your plan into action
Ask pupils to complete Evaluation Sheet

Plenary Activity

Hold a circle time discussion about what the pupils have learned from the project
Hotseating. Ask the pupils to use a soft animal toy / animal mask to explain in role what difference the improvements have made to that particular animal’s life.

New Vocabulary

maintenance

expectation

timescale

participation

( new vocabulary to be learnt according to age group)

Extension Activity

· Encoourage the pupils to find out as much as they can about this animal using books, wildlife magazines, videos and websites.

Display

Make a display showing the different stages of the project, including pupils’ ground rules poster and photos of the finished work.

Did you know ? ( to be told to students)

Garden birds are increasingly at risk from diseases as avian flu. Therefore it’s very important to mantain good hygiene when feeding garden birds,

To download a free copy of the leaflet Feeding garden birds, visit the UFAW website.

Activity / Lesson Title : What animals can we see in our school grounds ?

Aims : In this activity pupils look for evidence of animals in their school grounds and use this to identify different types of wildlife.

Objectives : Children should learn

How to be aware of different wildlife that live in the local areas
To crate a class code of condeuct to reduce impact of human activity on wild animals and their habitat
To encourage respect for wild animals and their habitats
To treat animals and environment with respect, care and sensitivity

What is needed : Worksheets

Clipboard

Reference books / websites planet arkive

Starter Activity

Agreeing a code of conduct

Display a selection of images of wildlife that may inhibit Maltese gardens/grounds
Tell the children that for this activity they will be going outside to observe if there are any of these animals in the school grounds
Decide as a class what important rules may be decided for a code of conduct

Main Activity

Take a look around

Explain to pupils that the aim of the activity is to look for animals, their habitats and evidence that animals are in the area

Ask the children to look at the Animals tracks fact sheet for examples of the type of evidence that they might see. Remind them NEVER to touch any animals droppings!

Provide them with clip boards, pens and paper to record their observations and take a tour of the school grounds.

On returning to the class, make a list of all the animals that the children have seen or have seen evidence of.

Plenary Activity

Everyone’s a winner

Did the pupils enjoy looking for and seeing the animals? Why?
Would they like to attract more animals to the grounds? Why?
How would making the school grounds more attractive to animals improve the grounds for pupils as well ?

New Vocabulary

observation	evidence	tracks
welfare	conduct	code

( new vocabulary to be learnt according to age group)

Did you know ? ( to be told to students)

An average Maltese garden may contain up to tens of animal species at a time.