Animals are ever present in the lives of students. They have pets at home, visit zoos, and observe wildlife in their communities. Many students have an
intrinsic interest in animals which enables them to relate to and learn from animals in many ways.

Animals can teach us many of the skills associated with social and emotional learning. They can help us to live in the moment, manage our emotions, and build healthy relationships. Caring for and about animals helps foster responsibility and empathy – skills that extend to various aspects of their
lives.

The Five Competencies

This resources focuses on the five core social and emotional competencies of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) social and emotional learning (SEL) framework. These five areas of competence help students to develop a healthy sense of self, manage stress, understand different perspectives, and work together to create community where individuals can grow their strengths and interests.  

These five competencies are presented individually with learning scaffolded so that students can build on their understanding as they progress from one competency to the next.

Begin the program by downloading the teacher guide by clicking on the buttons below.