Through our humane education programs, the MSPCA strives to help children develop empathy and a sense of justice, increase their understanding of personal responsibility for animals, people, and the environment, and become motivated to make a positive difference in the world. The MSPCA believes that by encouraging critical thinking in children, we can help them formulate a system of self-initiated humane ethics by which they can determine appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
Humane education can be easily integrated into a traditional classroom setting, as part of a lesson within a core discipline, or as its own stand-alone activity.
Lesson Plans for Teachers
These prepared lessons address a variety of humane themes for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Lessons are aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and include an instructor’s introduction and resource guide.
Access Lesson Plans
This resource is great to share with kids and young adults considering a future career in animal science or animal welfare. View various general job descriptions and their relative education and training needs.
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Take the No-Hatch Pledge
As an organization, we recognize the benefits of studying animals in a hands-on setting. Our first concern, however, is the welfare of these animals. This link provides information on considerations to make before acquiring a classroom pet and alternatives to classroom chick hatching projects, dissection, and other projects that involve animals
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