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Animals are not ours
to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way.

Research and Discussion Topics for High School Students

This lesson is designed to help teachers present animal rights issues to their students. If you’re an educator, please feel free to adapt this material to fit your needs—and contact us if you need help incorporating these activities into your curriculum.

Suggested levels: High school

Objectives: To research, write about, and discuss various animal rights issues

Bring animal rights into the classroom by having your students answer meaningful questions through quick activities or short essays. The research and discussion topics cover various issues, including the companion animal overpopulation crisis and using animals for entertainment. The activities ask students to locate the source of animals who end up in pet shops; find evidence to show that animals feel depression, fear, and other emotions, just as humans do; and discuss the acceptability of breaking the law when there’s proof that an animal is being abused.

It’s easy to tie these topics and discussions to current events and various school subjects, such as history, philosophy, and more.

Download this lesson for free!

TeachKind can also send you free leaflets and stickers to go along with this lesson. Click here to order some.

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“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind

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