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Animals in Entertainment (Grades 6-8)

Suggested level: Grades 6–8

Subject area: Language Arts

Goal: To understand that people use animals for entertainment in ways that do not benefit the animals.

Objectives: Students will:

  1. list animal-based entertainment and sport.
  2. identify illegal activities and those that cause pain.
  3. empathize with the animal’s point of view.
  4. discriminate between luxuries and necessities.
  5. generate a set of guidelines.
  6. recognize that people have differing opinions on acceptable uses of animals.
  7. evaluate forms of entertainment using animals.

Procedure

Ask students: Who saw a commercial or program on TV last night that had animals in it? Who has watched performing dolphins? Who has been to a circus?

  1. Assist students in developing a list of different types of entertainment and sport that involve animals (e.g. movies, circuses, rodeo, horse sports, dog racing, bullfighting, dog fighting, zoos, whale watching, dog and cat shows).
  2. Identify the types of entertainment listed that are illegal in your community. Ask students why they think some types of entertainment that use animals are legal while others are illegal. Which ones involve gambling? Which ones cause pain to the animals?
  3. For those that are legal, what is involved from the animals’ point of view. (e.g. living conditions, training methods)?
  4. Is the use of animals for human entertainment a luxury or a necessity?
  5. Following class discussion, each student writes his or her own set of guidelines for the use of animals in entertainment. Students should address such questions as: Is it wrong to keep wild animals in captivity for human entertainment? Is it wrong to train animals to do tricks? Is it wrong to make animals do dangerous stunts? Is it wrong to make them fight? Is it wrong to kill them for entertainment?
  6. As a class, compare guidelines. What common elements are there? Are there any areas where a significant number of students differ? Why?
  7. Students suggest what forms of entertainment might be acceptable under their individual guidelines.

Extensions

  • Research project on some aspect of animals in entertainment (marine shows, circuses, history of, films and commercials, rodeo, etc.)
  • Attend a circus, rodeo or dolphin show and write a critique.

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