AnimalTales Study
The Alberta SPCA commissioned a study to learn more about range and nature of the effectiveness of the AnimalTales program. The data for the study was collected from teachers, students, administrators and parents in 18 classrooms throughout rural, urban, and metropolitan settings across Alberta.
The full external report, “Building Compassion through Picture Books: How grade 2 and 5 students and teachers experienced the AnimalTales book program”, is available to download.
Key Findings from the AnimalTales Study:
- No significant difference in learning/attitudes of students based on gender, geographic location or size of school/area.
- Students were unanimous that they enjoyed the program; those who responded to the question expressed the hope the teacher would use the program again.
- Teachers were unanimous that they enjoyed using the program, and would use it again if circumstances permitted.
- Majority of students at both grade levels felt they learned something new about animals and how to treat them (or that their classmates did).
- Majority of teachers felt that their students learned something new about animals and how to treat them.
- Majority of students at both grade levels reported learning about compassion, kindness and how people, animals and the environment, are impacted by their actions.
- All teachers reported students learning about compassion, kindness and how people, animals and the environment, are impacted by their actions.
- The top three reasons teachers chose the AnimalTales program were the links to the Alberta Program of studies, well-developed lessons, and the program’s focus on animals.
- School leadership support and alignment with district objectives were both noted as helpful precursors to teachers being able to offer an effective program.
- The use of literature, and picture books in particular, was seen as positive by the majority of teachers and students at all grade levels.
