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Friends for Life: The Human Animal Bond (Grades 5-8)

Suggested level: Grades 5–8

Subject area: Language Arts, Life Skills

Goal: To understand the bond that exists between people and their pets.

Objectives: Students will

  1. define what a bond is.
  2. define what a pet is.
  3. identify emotions shared between people and animals.
  4. list characteristics of a good relationship between people and pets.
  5. recognize the benefits for people of the human-animal bond.

Materials

Procedure

  1. Help students define the word bond.
  2. Hold up the pictures one at a time. Is there a bond between the people/animals in the picture? What makes you say so?
  3. What does friendship mean? How do friends behave toward each other?
  4. What is a pet? Why do people have pets?
  5. Divide the class into small groups. Each group discusses why they would want a pet, what they expect to get from the pet and how they think the pet should act. From their discussion, they make a list of the qualities they would want in an ideal pet.
  6. Distribute the animal cards. Each group decides which one of the animals most closely fits their requirements for an ideal pet.
  7. Bring the groups back together to share their decisions. Which animal did each group choose? Why? What were their reasons for not choosing a different animal. Did any of the animals have everything the group said they wanted in an ideal pet?
  8. Every day, people bring unwanted pets into animal shelters. Why do students think this happens? (often because people had unrealistic expectations both of the animal and of the amount of time and commitment required for care) How can it be prevented?
  9. What makes a good relationship between people and pets? Make a list of five to ten characteristics.

Extensions:

  • Make a poster, bulletin board display, web site or video celebrating good people-pet relationships.
  • Create a “Before You Get a Pet” brochure and/or questionnaire for prospective pet owners.

*Note for shelter educators: use actual shelter cards instead

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