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Animal Welfare Links With The Curriculum
The main links animal welfare has with the curriculum are
in the science and social studies curriculum. The section
or strand entitled “Making Sense of the Living World”
in the science curriculum contains achievement objectives
that cover animals.
The science curriculum covers our relationships with animals,
the needs of animals, and the characteristics of animals.
The social studies curriculum covers a number of issues, such
as why society has developed organisations, the development
of laws, economics and economic change, etc. The SPCA is an
organisation that developed as a result of social change;
is an organisation that seeks to challenge and enforce laws
and is also an organisation that asks consumers to make choices,
(placing animal welfare over economics). There is therefore
the potential for strong links with the social studies curriculum.
There are also links with the Technology curriculum; Technology
and Society and possible links can be created in most other
areas, for example mathematics (with statistical information),
English (animal related literature and plays), Art (animals
depicted in artworks).
Science curriculum links
The science curriculum is one of the main animal links to
the curriculum, in particular the strand “Making Sense
of the Living World”. The following are the achievement
aims for this strand:
“In their study of the living world, students will
use their developing scientific knowledge, skills and attitudes
to:
1. Gain an understanding of order and pattern
in the diversity of living organisms, including the special
characteristics of New Zealand plants and animals;
2. Investigate and understand relationships
between structure and function in living organisms;
3. Investigate and understand how organisms
grow, reproduce, and change over generations;
4. Investigate local ecosystems and understand
the interdependence of living organisms, including humans,
and their relationship with their physical environment.
Students need to be encouraged to consider the ethical implications
involved in making responsible decisions about living things.”
Source: “Science in the New Zealand Curriculum”,
Learning Media, Ministry of
Education
Animal welfare links with level 1, as follows, but could also
link in with levels 2-8 in many areas.
Level 1 – Accept responsibility for the needs of a houseplant
and an animal.
The SPCA is actually referred to in level 4 as a possible
learning experience (see Appendix 7).
Social studies curriculum links
There are a number of possible links within the social studies
curriculum. The three strands with possible links are “Social
Organisation”, “Time, Continuity, and Change”
and “Resources and Economic Activities”.
“Social Organisation”
Achievement aims:
“From their study of Social Organisation, students will
understand:
• People’s organisation in groups; and
• The rights, roles and responsibilities of people as
they interact within groups.”
Source: “Social Studies in the New Zealand
Curriculum”, Learning Media, Ministry of
Education
Possible SPCA links within the “Social Organisation”
strand are:
Level 3 How people organise themselves in response to challenge
and crisis;
How and why people exercise their rights and meet their responsibilities.
Level 7 How and why international organisations become established
and influence people and societies;
How communities and nations meet their responsibilities and
exercise their rights.
“Time, Continuity, and Change”
“From their study of Time, Continuity, and Change,
students will understand:
• Relationships between people and events through time;
and
• Interpretations of these relationships.”
Source: “Social Studies in the New
Zealand Curriculum”, Learning Media, Ministry of Education
Possible SPCA links within the Time, Continuity, and Change
strand are:
Level 3 How the ideas and actions of people in the past changed
the lives of others.
Level 6 Beliefs and ideas that have changed society and continue
to change it.
Level 8 Ways in which present beliefs, issues and events reflect
social change and continuity.
“Resources and Economic Activities”
“From their study of Resources and Economic Activities,
students will understand:
• People’s allocation and management of resources;
and
• People’s participation in economic activities.”
Source: “Social Studies in the New Zealand
Curriculum”, Learning Media, Ministry of
Education
Possible SPCA links within the Resources and Economic Activities
strand are:
Level 4 How and why people view and use resources differently
and the consequences of this;
How and why individuals and groups seek to safeguard the rights
of consumers.
Level 6 How and why individuals and groups make decisions
about the use of resources, goods and services.
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