Lesson 5: Behaviour
This lesson will explore how the behavioural needs of animals are met. Watch the ‘Five Needs of Animals – Behaviour’ (4:30) video. There are two video options for this lesson: Interactive or Normal. The interactive version has questions built into the video that students answer as they watch. You can watch as a class and answer together, or have students watch the video on their own/in small groups and answer the questions individually. The normal version is just the video and has no questions.
Post-Video Discussion Questions
- What are some natural behaviours of kids your age? Learning, running, exploring, playing with other kids, etc.
- What are some natural behaviours of pets that you know?
- How are your natural behaviours similar to or different from an animal’s natural behaviours?
- Enrichment is anything that helps animals express their natural behaviour (such as toys, games, and other animals to socialize with). What are some examples of enrichment that help kids your age express their natural behaviours? Friends (playing with friends at recess), books (reading for fun or to learn new things), bikes (riding for fun or for transportation), games (playing alone or with others), etc.
- Why is it important for you to be able to express your natural behaviours? It helps you feel good, burns off energy, relieves boredom, helps you relax, helps you to build muscle, helps you to feel happy, allows you to be you!
- Why is it important for animals to be able to express their natural behaviours? Just like people, animals need the opportunity to express their natural behaviours to feel positive emotions such as contentment, enjoyment, etc. Animals that do not have an opportunity to express their natural behaviours might experience negative emotions such as boredom, anxiety, depression, and frustration.
- What are some examples of enrichment people can provide for animals? Give them toys, take dogs on walks to allow them to sniff, play with cats, provide plants and rocks to fish, etc.
Post-Video Activities
1. Animal Behaviour Brainstorm!
As a class, go through the Animal Behaviour Brainstorm Activity Slides. Have students practice problem solving by suggesting solutions to each dog or cat behaviour that people might see as a problem. All of these are natural behaviours for animals, it’s just that people don’t like them! Discuss each scenario as a class and brainstorm solutions that will allow the animal to behave naturally, but in a way that is more acceptable to people.
2. Two Truths and a (Tall) Tail
As a class, go through the Two Truths and a (Tall) Tail Activity Slides. Read each statement to students, ensuring everyone understands each statement. Then have students pick which statement out of the three is false. Students can decide individually, or they can form small groups or pairs and come to a group consensus.
Curriculum Connections
Science
- General Learner Expectations: Students will:
- 4-4 Demonstrate positive attitudes for the study of science and for the application of science in responsible ways.
- Specific Learner Expectations: Students will show growth in acquiring and applying the following traits:
- a sense of responsibility for actions taken
- respect for living things and commitment for their care
Science
- General Learner Expectations: Students will:
- 5-4 Demonstrate positive attitudes for the study of science and for the application of science in responsible ways.
- Specific Learner Expectations: Students will show growth in acquiring and applying the following traits:
- a sense of responsibility for actions taken
- respect for living things and commitment for their care
Science
- General Learner Expectations: Students will:
- 6-4 Demonstrate positive attitudes for the study of science and for the application of science in responsible ways.
- Specific Learner Expectations: Students will show growth in acquiring and applying the following traits:
- a sense of responsibility for actions taken
- respect for living things and commitment for their care
