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), bikes (riding for fun or for transportation), games (for 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 and allow them to sniff, play with cats, provide plants and rocks to fish, ensure reptiles have an appropriate sized tank, 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 still 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: The child demonstrates curiosity, interest and a willingness to learn about the environment and community.
- Specific Learning Expectations: The child:
- shows awareness of similarities and differences in living things, objects and materials
- becomes aware of the relationship between cause and effect
General Learner Expectations: The child explores familiar places and things in the environment and community
- Specific Learner Expectations: The child:
- recognizes familiar animals and their characteristics and surroundings; e.g., farm and zoo
Health and Life Skills
PERSONAL HEALTH
- Students will:
- W-K.1 describe ways, and make choices, to be physically active daily
Science
- General Learner Expectations: Students will:
- 1-4 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
- Topic E: Needs of Plants and Animals
- General Learner Expectation: Students will:
- 1-11 Describe some common living things, and identify needs of those living things.
- Specific Learner Expectations: Students will:
- 1. Observe describe and compare living things.
- 6. Identify the requirements of animals to maintain life; i.e., air, food water, shelter, space; and recognize that we must provide these for animals in our care.
- General Learner Expectation: Students will:
Health and Life Skills
PERSONAL HEALTH
- Students will:
- W-1.1 describe the health and benefits of physical activity
Science
- General Learner Expectations: Students will:
- 2-4 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:
- 3-4 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
