Education


Education Programs in the SchoolsFrom its earliest days, The Anti-Cruelty Society has understood the importance of Humane Education. Today, the Education Department presents programs to approximately 40,000 students annually in Chicago's Public and Private Schools. Our programs constantly grow, change, and evolve.

In this spirit, The Anti-Cruelty Society's Humane Education Department has produced four films that deal with a variety of issues. "Protecting the Web," "The Power of Compassion," "A New Friend for Life," and "Patterns of Abuse: Exploding the Cycle" have all been produced by The Anti-Cruelty Society in association with award-winning film maker Erik Friedl.

Information about our humane education programs:

General Information

  • Scheduling is done on a first come, first serve basis. Please call (312) 644-8338 to schedule programs, or for date availability.
  • When you call to make a booking, please check with other teachers as we would like to visit every classroom in the school. You can provide us with a schedule, or we will set one up based on your school's daily schedules (lunch, gym, library, computers, etc.).
  • Each teacher receives a folder of activities, information cards, brochures and other reproducible materials. Each student receives hand-outs: kindergarten through third grade children receive a coloring/activity book and take home pet care information, while the older students (fourth through eighth grade) receive fun activity sheets and take home pet care information.
  • We also invite your classroom to visit The Anti-Cruelty Society. You will receive a special presentation in our auditorium followed by a tour of our cat and dog adoption rooms and a visit with some animals.
  • We do not bring animals out to schools.

Kindergarten - Second Grade

For the youngest students, we have a variety of programs. These include Sharing Sam, a flannel board presentation dealing with the dangers facing a pet allowed to roam the neighborhood as well as the proper care of pets. In addition we have Bite Free, a program which will teach children how to safely interact with animals, how to meet a dog for the first time and what to do if a stray approaches. Children are then given an opportunity to show what they've learned when a 'virtual dog' is introduced to the classroom. Teachers may also select the "Animal Tales" program.

These programs address the following Illinois State Learning Standards Goals: Language Arts: 4A.1a, 4A.1b, Science: 12A.1a, 12A.1b, Physical Development and Health: 22A.1c

Third - Fourth Grade

These students are shown the entertaining video A New Friend for Life that presents the importance of making an informed decision before bringing a new pet into the home, along with the duties, commitment and rewards of having a pet. As an alternative, the children can participate in an interactive activity called The Grab Bag. In this activity students take turns drawing items from a bag. Then they must guess whether the item is good or bad for our pets. Each object is discussed. Third Grade teachers may also select the "Animal Tales" program.

These programs address the following Illinois State Learning Standards Goals: Language Arts: 4A.1a, 4A.1b, Science: 12.B.1b, 13B.2f, Physical Development and Health: 22A.1c

Fifth - Sixth Grade

The fifth and sixth grade students examine the relationship between themselves and domestic and wild animals, responsible pet ownership, and the need to spay and neuter cats and dogs. The students will view the video Protecting the Web and participate in a discussion.

This program addresses the following Illinois State Learning Standards Goals: Language Arts: 4A.2b, Science: 12B.2a, 12B.2b, 13B.2f

Seventh - Eighth Grade

The seventh and eighth grade program includes a discussion about the link between our interactions with animals and with humans, responsible pet ownership, overpopulation of pets, euthanasia and dog fighting. To stimulate discussion, there are three videos available for this age group. Depending on the topics emphasized in the program, students will see The Power Of Compassion, Patterns Of Abuse: Exploding The Cycle or One Last Fight: Exposing The Shame. Classes already familiar with companion animal care can be put to the test in a 'game show' activity called Pet Jeopardy, where student 'contestants' or teams answer questions from categories like 'Pet-Pourri' (dealing with pet care issues) or 'Wild Things' (dealing with wild animals).

These programs address the following Illinois State Learning Standards Goals:Language Arts: 4A.3a, Science: 12B.2a, 12B.2b, 13B.2f, Physical Development and Health: 22A.3c

High School

The high school level includes a variety of different programs for any number of topics. Among them are: The Link, a multimedia presentation that graphically illustrates the link between animal abuse and human directed violence; The Anti-Dog Fighting Workshop, where group dynamics are used to initiate and facilitate a debate among students about their thoughts and experiences regarding dog fighting; and Animal Careers, a presentation designed to help students explore a wide range of career options involving animals.

We can also customize presentations to compliment your curriculum. Possible topics may also include the role of humane organizations in society, domestication of cats and dogs, animal exploitation and abuse, dog fighting, animal law & animal welfare.

These programs address the folowing Illinois State Learning Standard Goals: English Language Arts 4.A. 4a, 4.B.4b, Physical Development and Health 24.A.4a, 24.A.4b

Field Trips to Anti-CrueltyField Trips To The Anti-Cruelty

Field Trips can be scheduled at The Anti-Cruelty Society year around from Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A maximum of 120 students and chaperones can be accommodated per field trip. There should be at least one chaperone per each ten students. Most field trip programs last from 1 to 1 ½ hours. The programs include a grade appropriate presentation (see the programs described under education programs at the school site). Following the program students will either tour the cat and dog adoption rooms or visit with some animals in the auditorium, depending on time of day and the size of the group.

Field Trip Only Programs

In addition to our regular programs, the following programs can be requested for field trip groups only.

  • Those Amazing Cats and Dogs--3rd through 5th Grade (2 hours)
    This multi media program will explore the amazing abilities of cats and dogs and how they are similar and different from their wild ancestors. They will learn about cat and dog body language & how to be safe around animals. They will also hear about some amazing cat and dog heroes. Following the program they will either tour the cat and dog adoption rooms or meet some animals in the auditorium, depending on the time of day and the size of the group.
  • Safety around Animals (Field Trip Version)--Kindergarten through 2nd Grade (1 hour)
    The youngest students will learn how to be safe around animals by learning how to read their body language, how to handle them correctly, the proper way to meet a new animal and what to do if a strange dog approaches them. The students will watch an entertaining video and practice meeting some real animals.
  • Paws, Claws, Feathers and Fins--2nd through 4th Grade (1 ½ hours)
    This program provides an overview of care for pets that are commonly kept in the classroom such as guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and fish. The students will watch an entertaining video. Following the program students will have an opportunity to visit with some animals from our shelter.
  • The Pact -- 4th through 6th Grade (1 ½ hours)
    This multimedia program explores how the relationship between animals and humans has changed over the centuries, all through the practice of storytelling. Tales of animal heroes such as Laika, the first dog in space, and the rise of mythic creatures like the Wolf-man, are told with the aid of video and music. The storytelling session concludes with select members of the class getting an opportunity to re-enact a classic animal fable in their own mini-stage production, complete with costumes and a musical soundtrack!
  • Animal Related Careers--6th through 8th Grade (1 ½ hours)
    Students will learn about careers working with animals including education requirements for different careers and what a typical day may be like working with animals through slides, videos and by examining some interesting objects.

Special Programs

  • Animal Tales -- Kindergarten - 3rd Grade
    Studies show that reading aloud to children strengthens their reading skills, and listening to animal stories helps children to realize that animals experience emotions and have basic needs similar to those of humans.
    "Animal Tales" is designed for kindergarten through third grade. Its purpose is to encourage teachers and students to read aloud animal friendly books. Our humane educators will kick off the program by reading an animal story to your classroom and discussing the humane messages in the story. To continue the program, classroom teachers that submit a list of thirty or more animal related books that they have read to their class or that have been read by the students, by May 1, 2006, will receive one free animal related book for their classroom library.

    Only classrooms that have received an Anti-Cruelty Society presentation are eligible for a free book    .

Elementary school teachers are invited to contact the humane education department to receive free support materials. These folders, grouped by grade level (K-2, 3-5, and 6-8), include activity sheets, information cards, and other materials. For a free packet, please call (312) 644-8338, and ask for the humane education department. Or, you may drop a note to:

The Anti-Cruelty Society
Humane Education Department
157 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610