[SCHOOL BELLS RINGING] My name is Ben and I am here today to talk to you all about Farm Sanctuary. Farm Sanctuary is a farm-animal rescue. You guys have heard of cat and dog shelters before, right? We rescue farm animals.
So my name is Ben and I am a humane-educator at Farm Sanctuary. So I go into middle schools and high schools. Introduce the students to our rescued animals through pictures and video. And through a presentation students get a better idea of how animals are treated in today's modern farms. There is so much going on that people don't know about. For us it's important to raise awareness. How these animals are treated with anything but care. You know, they're kept in really terrible conditions that none of us would want to be in. And none of us would want our cats or dogs to be in.
I was surprised because everybody-- most of us-- were clueless. We didn't know how animals were treated.
Honestly, I didn't really think about it. I avoided it.
The image you think of a farm is like this big old red barn, and little chicks running around everywhere. But the factory farms are these big, aluminum tins just filled with chickens.
And to give you guys a better idea of how tightly confined these chickens are, can I get three of you guys to come up here?
Me and my friends volunteered. Three of us, we were in this rectangle box. And we were supposed to represent the birds in the cage. So we're all just stuck together, and it's just really uncomfortable. And it kind of made me feel bad.
They have no space. Can't even turn around. It's just sad knowing that they have to live a life like this.
Our food system is in need of reform. Our hope is that through this program we can empower students to develop solutions to create a better world for the future. But it's also a great gateway to broader issues of our food system, including environmental impacts, public health and social justice.
Most of them have never had the opportunity to pet, or to experience a farm animal, the way they would their dogs or their cats.
So, what we're going to do next, is we're going to move on to the virtual reality aspect of the presentation. Let's have these four tables come up here.
Yeah we're really excited to bring in virtual reality into the classroom. As soon as we bring it out, kids are really, really excited at the thought of doing it. And it's also as close as you can get to a hands-on experience.
It was really fun to look around, and see them running around. And the cow coming up to me. And I was like, "Whoa, wait, wait a second."
So, I don't know if you were with me in the classroom, but I definitely screamed when I saw the cow.
[SQUEAL]
I was going absolutely crazy. Not only is it informative, it gives you a 360 look around at everything that's going on.
They were definitely engaged by when they were doing it. You know, it's almost like they got to be a little kids again. You know, I mean, in sixth grade they all act like they're teenagers but they're really still little kids. So that was really awesome.
The best part is seeing the sense of wonder and excitement that the kids experience when they meet these animals. They connect with them, they fall in love, and they want to help them. They want to create change.
I want other people to know how animals live. That we should be treating them like they are humans as well.
I have more of an emotional connection to wanting to help them instead of, you know, just letting them be in the factory farms.
That's absolutely crazy how one person can change your mind that quickly.
What surprised me today is what this organization is doing. How they're taking these animals, rescuing them, being their superhero.
What I see a lot is kids will be appalled at the treatment of animals inside of modern farms. They'll be shocked but they'll also come away with feeling like they've understood their lives so much more. And that's what I hope to give them, at least, a better understanding of their lives and their personalities.
Tomorrow’s Leaders
Recognizing that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders — in business, education, government, social justice activism, and all spheres of public life — Farm Sanctuary is educating young hearts and minds about our modern food system. The natural sense of compassion that many youth possess for animals, combined with critical thinking skills and knowledge of our food system, is a powerful force for positive change. Studies have also shown that humane education has benefits for academic performance as well as student health and development.
Farm Sanctuary provides free age-appropriate virtual, pre-recorded presentations by our humane educators, as well as free downloadable curricula for teachers, summer camps, and parents that meet national teaching standards.
Request a pre-recorded presentation now for the 2023-2024 school year!
Virtual Programming
College and University
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Essential Farmworkers and Conscious Food Movements
60 minutes
Jointly hosted by the Alliance for Fair Food (AFF), Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), and Farm Sanctuary, this presentation explores the relationship between farmworker issues and conscious food movements, with a goal of inspiring solidarity with farmworkers and coalition-based advocacy.
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Transforming Our Food System: From Exploitation to Sanctuary
60 minutes
This presentation examines our food system’s impacts on workers, communities, animals, and the planet and how these issues are interrelated and rooted in systemic injustice. Students learn how animals come to live at Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s first farm animal rescue organization, and about meaningful ways to create a more just, compassionate, and sustainable food system for all.
Virtual Programming
Grades 5-12
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Exploring Our Food System With the Animals of Farm Sanctuary
40 minutes
This presentation shares the stories of Farm Sanctuary residents, the realities of our modern food system for animals, humans, and the planet, and how plant-based food choices and reducing consumption of animal products can lessen our impact. (Unique versions available for grades 5-6 and grades 7-12.)
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The Environmental Impacts of Our Food
40 minutes
This presentation introduces students to the relationship of animal agriculture to climate change, deforestation, water use, and community health, and how increasing plant-based food choices can reduce our environmental “foodprint.”
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Our Food System Through a Social Justice Lens
40 minutes
Examining the impacts of our food system on workers, communities, animals, and the planet, this presentation offers a social justice lens for understanding how these issues are interrelated and rooted in systemic injustice. (For grades 7-12.)
Virtual Programming
Grades K-4
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Animal Tales: Learn About the Animals of Farm Sanctuary
30 minutes
Farm Sanctuary’s humane educators introduce students to the animals who live at Farm Sanctuary. Students learn how to draw a farm animal and find out what animals need to be happy and healthy.
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Sustainable Future: For Earth, Animals, and Community
30 minutes
Farm Sanctuary’s humane educators explore the environmental impacts of our modern food system and students join in drawing a positive vision for a more compassionate and sustainable future.
Virtual Programming
Pre-K to 1st Grade
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Sanctuary Sing-Along & Puppet Show
20 minutes
Join us for an inspiring sing-along and puppet show, featuring stories of the sanctuary animals.
Monthly Live Webinars for K-4 Classrooms
Farm Sanctuary’s humane educators are excited to offer FREE monthly 30-minute virtual webinar-style presentations for K-4 classrooms, which will take place throughout the 2023-24 school year!
Girl Scout programs
Farm Sanctuary offers educational resources to any Girl Scout or Girl Scout troop in the United States. These include custom presentations tailored to requirements for animal-related badges. Additionally, we offer the chance for Scouts to schedule a field trip to meet the animals in person and earn a Farm Sanctuary fun patch. Check out our FREE offerings below.
Pre-recorded Presentations
Farm Sanctuary offers a library of pre-recorded presentations about the lives of farm animals and issues of our food system for Pre-K to college educators, free of charge. Recordings include accompanying worksheets, coloring sheets, and sing-along lyrics for Pre-K to 4th grade as well as discussion questions and writing prompts for 5-12th grade and college/university classes. Farm Sanctuary’s pre-recorded presentations meet AA accessibility standards and features captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions. This project was made possible through the generous support of the Agnes Gund Foundation. Request access to our full library of pre-recorded presentations!
For Summer Camps
Farm Sanctuary offers virtual humane education presentations for summer camps of all ages, kindergarten through 12th grade. We invite camp organizers to access our educational programming free of charge. We look forward to joining your camp!
Children’s Virtual Tour of Farm Sanctuary
Come meet the animals of Farm Sanctuary and learn about our work in animal rescue! Students will meet rescued cows, sheep, pigs, goats, and chickens who live at our sanctuary in Upstate New York. They will learn about their unique personalities and how their lives at sanctuary are filled with love, care, and enrichment. Students will also learn about how our food system affects animals, humans, and our planet in an age-appropriate way. This video is primarily designed for grades K-4, but students of all ages are welcome to enjoy our virtual tour!
Kids' Activity Booklet
This free booklet offers eight pages of fun and facts to help kids learn more about farmed animals, participate in making healthy plant-based meals, and find out about rescued animals who live at Farm Sanctuary. It also includes a special Animal Helper Certificate for compassionate kids. Download it free below!
Free Sustainable Future Curricula
Exploring the Environmental Impacts of Food
Global Warming & Our Food System:
A Greenhouse Effect Inquiry Lab
Lesson Time
Section 1: 60–75 minutes
Section 2: 60–75 minutes
Overview
The surface of the earth is warmed by the sun’s radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of the Earth “trap” some of this radiation that would otherwise be released back into space, warming the planet. This is known as the greenhouse effect. Without the greenhouse effect, there would be no life on earth.
- Students will develop a model to explore how the greenhouse effect works in an inquiry-based laboratory activity.
- Students will differentiate between the greenhouse effect, global warming, and climate change.
- Students will also investigate some of the factors that are increasing greenhouse gas emissions and resulting in global climate change such as clearing land for agriculture and raising animals for food.
Global Warming & Our Food System:
A Greenhouse Effect Inquiry Lab
Lesson Time
Section 1: 60–75 minutes
Section 2: 60–75 minutes
Overview
The surface of the earth is warmed by the sun’s radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of the Earth “trap” some of this radiation that would otherwise be released back into space, warming the planet. This is known as the greenhouse effect. Without the greenhouse effect, there would be no life on earth.
- Students will develop a model to explore how the greenhouse effect works in an inquiry-based laboratory activity.
- Students will differentiate between the greenhouse effect, global warming, and climate change.
- Students will also investigate some of the factors that are increasing greenhouse gas emissions and resulting in global climate change such as clearing land for agriculture and raising animals for food.
Environmental Impacts & Our Food System:
Exploring the Evidence
Lesson Time
Section 1: 60–75 minutes
Section 2: 60–75 minutes
Overview
Modern animal agriculture has a pronounced impact on natural resources like land, water, and fossil fuel. Industrialized agriculture or factory farms, along with small farms, produce significant amounts of waste and are inextricably connected to the scale at which humans are able to raise billions of animals each year for food. The sheer number of animals raised for food has sparked concerns about animal agriculture, including the magnitude to which it is polluting our land, air, and water as well as contributing to global climate change.
- For this activity, students will learn how the volume and scale of modern animal agriculture is connected to pollution, depletion, and degradation of natural resources and global climate change.
- Students in small groups will construct an argument supported by evidence that explores a phenomenon related to animal agriculture and the environment.
Food Production & CO2 Equivalents:
Creating a Computational Simulation
Lesson Time
Section 1: 50 minutes
Section 2: 50 minutes
Section 3: 50 minutes
Overview
Global warming can be attributed to an increase in greenhouse gas production. Many people assume that this increase primarily results from the burning of fossil fuels, for instance from cars, but the agricultural industry is actually a major contributor. In this lesson, students will compare the carbon footprint of different types of foods to explore where greenhouse gases are coming from and which foods produce the most emissions.
- Students will use carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) to compare the amount of greenhouse gases released from different processes during food production.
- Students will use a spreadsheet to graph data in order to compare the CO2e for plant-based and animal-based food production.
- Students will then use a formula to calculate the number of miles driven by a typical car for 1 kg of different types of food.
Animal Agriculture & the Environment:
Creating a Computational Representation
Lesson Time
Section 1: 50 minutes
Section 2: 50 minutes
Section 3: 50 minutes
Section 4: 50 minutes
Overview
For this activity, students will learn how computational representations are used to simplify mathematical relationships. Students will research and gather data on the impact that the rise in industrialized farming has on the environment and the far-reaching consequences that animal agriculture has on humans. Students will use these data to create an infographic, a format that uses computational representations in order to visually explain a topic.
- Students will explore different types of infographics and methods for graphically representing data.
- Students will develop a claim based on their research of a topic related to animal agriculture and its effects on humans and the environment.
- Students will locate data that supports their claim and express it graphically, creating at least three computational representations (through pie charts, bar graphs, etc.).
Free Visual Arts Curricula
Animals and Art: The Story Behind a Portrait
Overview
Animals & Art: The Story Behind a Portrait engages students in learning about the lives of sanctuary animals and representing them as individuals through the creation of original animal portraits.
- Students will create art based on an individual animal’s story to which they feel a personal connection or a sense of inspiration.
- Students will research animal histories as a method of inquiry and basis for art-making on an unfamiliar subject.
- Students will explore the power of images to influence ideas, feelings, and behaviors.
Overview
Animals & Art: The Story Behind a Portrait engages students in learning about the lives of sanctuary animals and representing them as individuals through the creation of original animal portraits.
- Students will create art based on an individual animal’s story to which they feel a personal connection or a sense of inspiration.
- Students will research animal histories as a method of inquiry and basis for art-making on an unfamiliar subject.
- Students will explore the power of images to influence ideas, feelings, and behaviors.
Overview
Animals & Art: The Story Behind a Portrait engages students in learning about the lives of sanctuary animals and representing them as individuals through the creation of original animal portraits.
- Students will create art based on an individual animal’s story to which they feel a personal connection or a sense of inspiration.
- Students will explore animal histories as a basis for art-making and then create artist statements to explain their personal artwork.
- Students will explore the power of images to influence ideas, feelings, and behaviors.
Overview
Animals & Art: The Story Behind a Portrait engages students in learning about the lives of sanctuary animals and representing them as individuals through the creation of original animal portraits.
- Students will create art based on an individual animal’s story to which they feel a personal connection.
- Students will explore animal stories as a basis for art-making and create artist statements to explain their personal artwork.
- Students will analyze components in visual imagery and the power of art to convey messages and shape ideas.
Free K-3 Curriculum
Exploring the Lives of Farm Animals
Exploring the Lives of Farm Animals: Lessons that Teach Compassion is a guide for early education learners. Created by Farm Sanctuary and HEART this curriculum helps nurture students’ compassion for animals and each other through teaching strategies aligned to Common Core Standards and SEL Core Competencies.
Engaging activities—such as art to illustrate understanding, role-plays to foster empathy, and service projects for taking action—are designed to support the academic and emotional development of young people.
Through this curriculum, students will:
- Hone skills that are essential to their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor development.
- Gain insights into the feelings, needs, and natural behaviors of farm animals.
- Make connections between themselves and the animals they learn about and develop an awareness of and appreciation for the unique qualities of each animal.
Educating a Generation
“Most kids have no idea where their food comes from...[they] learned how their food is treated before it gets to their plate.”
-Ellen Cohen
Phillip A. Randolph Technical School, Philadelphia, PA
Phillip A. Randolph Technical School, Philadelphia, PA
Youth Advocacy
For youth ages 13-18 who are interested in creating a more just, sustainable, and compassionate food system, Farm Sanctuary’s online resource hub, Youth for a Just and Sustainable Food System, offers tools and inspiration, and our Youth Leadership Council provides a sense of community and the chance to connect with like-minded student peers from across the country. Through the Youth Leadership Council, we offer education on food system issues and support for school- and community-based advocacy projects aligned with each student’s personal interest.