Teachers' Information for Animals

Here are some suggestions for animal related discussions and practical activities:

Activity 1: Shell Decoration

Design shell decoration for a simple object such as a small box or hand mirror. Plan the design using paper templates of the shells. What other easily found animal materials could be used in the design?

Activity 2: Where is it from?

Create a wall world map and annotate it with images of animals and the products we get from them. Pupils may be put into groups to research a designated continent.

Activity 3: Should we use materials from endangered animals?

Discuss the ethics of using animal products for decoration. When did it become illegal to use ivory? When did it become illegal to use tortoiseshell for anything other than keeping a tortoise in? What are the problems with collecting works of art that contain ivory or tortoiseshell?

Pupils could create a list of everyday objects that are, or used to be, made out of animal products. What alternative materials could these objects be made out of? Is there any reason to use animal products these days?