Language Arts Activities
Choose one or more of the following activities to do with your class this week:
1. Brainstorm a list of common sayings that express cruelty or disrespect. (e.g. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Killing two birds with one stone.) Replace each with a positive saying.
2. Provide students with the format for cinquain poetry. As a class, create a sample poem about pets. Then students write their own cinquains describing their pets or the pets they would like to have. The fourth line should describe the student’s feelings for the pet. Students illustrate their poems and mount them on the bulletin board or combine in a class booklet.
Here is the format for a cinquain poem:
one noun
two adjectives
three verbs or a verb phrase
four words that describe how you feel about the animal
one word that sums up the whole poem
E.g.:
Dog
Bouncy, playful
Jumping, barking, licking
Always there beside me
Friend
3. Have an informal debate. Divide the class into groups and give each group a different resolution. Half of each group will be a team arguing for the resolution, half will be a team arguing against. Before starting, make sure everyone understands that in a debate, speakers are arguing for their assigned position. They don’t necessarily agree with what they are saying. Teams research their position and make a list of their main points with facts to back them up. Start the debate with the team members for and against alternating to make their arguments. When they have finished, open the topic to class discussion. Here are some animal-related resolutions you could suggest:
- Keeping exotic pets should be against the law (make sure everyone understands what exotic pets are).
- All animals should be treated with respect.
- Dogs and cats should be banned from cities.
- Circuses should not have animal acts.
- Pet stores should sell pet supplies, not pets.
Alternately, have students come up with their own resolutions to debate.
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