Learn Humane

Youth Education

Humane education is the first brick in the road toward a more humane and compassionate community! Through educational and outreach programs, Learn Humane Youth Education introduces New Mexico’s youth and adults to concepts, skills and resources that help humans build kind and compassionate relationships with their companion pets and one another.

Respect, responsibility, kindness, compassion, and citizenship

These are the qualities we want our children to acquire to ensure a positive community to come. Learn Humane brings these concepts to your students through events and activities that encourage them to consider the needs of companion pets and how their own actions affect others, both people and pets.

Class Presentations

Bring Learn Humane to your classroom! Our class or group presentations cover a variety of humane topics and are available for all grade levels. Our classes are structured for single or multiple classrooms and may be scheduled Monday – Friday, 7  am – 5 pm. See a list of available lessons below. 

Group Tours

Tours of our Main Campus are offered to youth and adult visitors. They are able to be scheduled Monday – Friday from 10 am – 5 pm. Tours can be combined with any Learn Humane lesson listed below. Tours typically require 1 hourAt this time, student tours must not exceed 20 children. 

Grades K-5

Our selection of programs for grades K-5 include:

Pet Care Basics

Grades K – 5
Requires 45 – 60 minutes

What do pets need from people? Students learn about responsible pet ownership while taking turns choosing pet care items from our “grab bag,” learning what the items are and why pets need them. Through group questions, we’ll explore how pets are similar to people.

This presentation is ideal for K-2nd grade classes learning about pets and animals, but is open to students through 5th grade.

This presentation helps meet the following NM State Education Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K-4.1, 3
Health Ed K-4 Benchmark 1 Content Standard 1
Health Ed K-4 Benchmark 2 Content Standard 3
Social Studies K-4 Benchmark IIID Strand: Civics & Gov’t. Content Standard III

Be a Tree - Dog Bite Prevention

Grades K-4
Requires 45-60 minutes

Did you know that half of all children are bitten by a dog by the time they are 12 years old? Luckily, many bites can be prevented through education. This fun and interactive presentation is perfect for all students grades K – 4. Be A Tree introduces children to tools to use to be safe with dogs. Students will learn basics about dog body language and how to make good choices and act safely around strange dogs and with their own.

The “Be a Tree” program is an innovative and interactive dog bite prevention education program created by the non-profit organization Doggone Safe. To learn more about this great resource for children and adults, please visit https://www.doggonesafe.com/

Please note: Due to the nature of bite prevention education, visitor dogs do not attend Be A Tree presentations.

This presentation helps meet the following New Mexico State Education Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K-4.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K-4.3
Health Education Content Standard 3, K – 4 Benchmark 3 and 6
Health Education Content Standard 5, K – 4 Benchmark 1

Careers With Animals

Grades 3 – 5
Requires 45 – 60 minutes

In this fun, interactive presentation students will explore 4 careers caring for animals that can all be found in Albuquerque with help from classmates.

Recommended for 3rd grade and up.

This presentation helps meet the following New Mexico State Education Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.1, 3.1
Civics and Government K – 4 Benchmark IIID 2.2, 3.2

Class Service Projects

Grades K – 5
Requires:

Bring Club Humane Service Projects to your classroom! Learn Humane will help guide your students through hands-on service projects that focus on topics to help animals, people and the environment. Students will work together to learn, discuss and share topics through poster design on topics such as Donation Drives, Spay & Neuter, Adoption, Fostering, Pet Food Bank, Speaking for the Voiceless, Positive Training, Pet Care Basics, Empathy and Kindness, and Protecting Nature to help animals and people in our community. Club Humane is available for all grade levels and will include: exploring and learning, service and action by being yourself, creating nature and animal art, stories about kids who help, animal games and animal yoga, with the opportunity to be selected to train and help present our Learn Humane presentations to younger school groups or be student leaders in your schools!

Custom Presentations

Do you have a companion animal related topic you’d like to introduce to your students? We can create custom presentations for any grade level. Contact our Humane Education Team to discuss creation of a special presentation.

Grades 5-12

Our selection of programs for grades 5-12 include:

Introducing Animal Humane

Grades 5 – 12
Requires 60 minutes

What is an animal shelter? What do shelters do? Why do they do it? During this presentation, which includes a slide show and interactive story-based game, students learn about Animal Humane New Mexico and how and why we care for New Mexico’s homeless pets. We will explore things students can do to help homeless pets. Students will be introduced to ideas of spay & neuter, adoption, and proper animal care.

This presentation helps meet the following New Mexico State Education Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5-8
CCSS.Math.Content.6-8.SPA.1
Science Strand II: Standard II: 5-8 Benchmark 1
Social Studies Strand: Civics & Gov’t. 5-8 Benchmark 3-D.7.1

Spay & Neuter

Grades 5 – 8
Requires 45 – 60 minutes

Pet overpopulation is an epidemic in our state, and every year thousands of pets lose their lives because of it. Through this combination slide show + activity presentation, students learn what spay & neutering is, and why it is so important for keeping pets out of shelters. Discussion covers the effects of one person (or pets) decisions, what pets need from people, and how our actions can help ourselves and others.

This presentation helps meet the following NM State Education Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5-8
CCSS.Math.Content.6-8.SP.A.1
Science Strand II: Standard II: 5-8 Benchmark 1
Social Studies Strand: Civics & Gov’t 5-8 Benchmark 3-D.7.1

Preventing Animal Cruelty

Grades 5 – 8
Requires 45 – 60 minutes

Pets depend on humans for love and care. What happens to pets when they do not receive that care? What can caring people do to prevent animal abuse and neglect, help pets and, ultimately, their whole neighborhood? Students learn what cruelty is, how it affects domestic animals, about the link between pet abuse and people being endangered and, most importantly, how to help. An informative slide show is followed by an activity where students take a pets’ perspective to tell their story.

This presentation helps meet the following NM State Education Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5-8.3
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5-8.3
Health Ed 5-8 Content Standard 5 Benchmark 1, 4, 5
Health Ed 5-8 Content Standard 7 Benchmark 5
Social Studies: Civics & Gov’t 5-8 Benchmark 3-D.7.1

Understanding Animal Behavior

Grades 6 – 12
Requires 60 – 90 minutes.

In this fun presentation, we take a look at how professionals like animal trainers influence the way animals act. We will take a quick and simple look at the science of learning and behavior before putting these theories into action trying out a modern tool of animal training: clicker training! With a fun, engaging game, students will learn more about how animals learn, and why kindness matters when we want to change someone else’s behavior.

Introduction to Animal Welfare

Grades 9 – 12
Requires 60 – 90 minutes.

Students get an introduction to animal welfare work, learning about why animal shelters exist, how they benefit our communities and about the Homeless Pet Problem that our shelters face. They will then learn more about how animal welfare concerns really reflect concerns human citizens are facing, and will consider more closely what steps successful shelters and rescues take both to protect the pets they care for and address the root causes of pet homelessness.This presentation combines well with other presentations offered for this grade level, or as a stand-alone for students learning more about animals or social welfare issues.

This presentation helps meet the following New Mexico State Education Standards:

Health Ed. 9-12 .Content Standard 5. Benchmark 1, 4, 5
Health Ed. 9-12. Content Standard 7. Benchmark 5
Science Strand II: Standard II: 9-12 Benchmark 1: E.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-12

Custom Presentations

Do you have a companion animal related topic you’d like to introduce to your students? We can create custom presentations for any grade level. Contact our Humane Education Team to discuss creation of a special presentation.

Custom topics covered for middle and high school students in the past have included: behavior science & training, evolution of dog breeds, confronting puppy mills, basics of companion animal health.

Provide your own comprehensive humane education program for your students with our help! FREE Learn Humane curriculum books are available for grades K-3 and 4-6. Curriculum is aligned with NM state-standards and is excellent as a unit on animal care.

For additional information, please contact Savannah Olivas, Humane Educator at 505.938.7864.