LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Read about a teen who is educating others about the connection between animals and climate change; identify a range of issues associated with raising animals for food; identify ways for teens to make a difference through activism.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 8: Demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.

CASEL COMPETENCY: Social awareness

KEY VOCAB

lobbying

vegan

animal sanctuaries

Lesson Plan: Helping Save Animals

Genesis Butler, 16, thinks the best way to change the world is to start with your fork. Here’s what she wants you to know.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “Helping Save Animals,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How can protecting animals positively impact climate change?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Helping Save Animals”; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION AND VOCAB

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Comprehension Quiz with vocabulary questions

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:

In PSA TO MAKE A CHANGE, have students work individually or in small groups to create PSA-style TikToks or videos that raise awareness about either teen activism or the connection between climate change and raising animals for food. In Option A, their videos should explain how raising animals for food directly contributes to climate change and how people can fight climate change by changing their diets. In Option B, their videos should explain why teens should not be afraid of activism and offer tips for teens who want to make an impact by engaging in activism. Encourage students to use what they learned in the article as well as the prompts in the skills sheet for guidance!

Print the Lesson Plan

Text-to-Speech