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This unit introduces children to the idea of rights and responsibilities through exploring issues of animal welfare. They also find out about voluntary/community organisations that campaign on animal welfare issues. The first sections of the unit are designed for use with children at key stage 1 and the later sections are designed for use at key stage 2. However, the sections may be adapted and added to as necessary for use with different year groups. The activities also build on the early learning goals. For example, within 'Knowledge and understanding of the world', the children find out about, and identify, some features of living things, objects and events they observe.
Children learn about their basic human needs and the needs of animals. They learn that humans have a responsibility of care towards different kinds of animals - including pets and wildlife. In later sections of the unit they learn about the role of one or more local and/or national voluntary organisation concerned with animal welfare. These activities contribute to career-related learning, and develop children's sense of responsibility towards animals. Children learn about the effect that their choices and behaviour can have, at both a local and a national level.
This unit could be used as a framework to raise and explore other issues involving the work of voluntary/community organisations, eg social issues such as homelessness, environmental issues. The activities in the unit could be linked with work in English, science and geography. Some links are indicated in the 'Points to note' section. The unit also links with unit 8 'How do rules and laws affect me?' and unit 11 'In the media - what's the news?'.
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