Expert: Bonnie Shimmin - 7/31/2011

Question
Hello,
     I am currently a student who is thinking about becoming a teacher. I really love history and think that i would like to teach history to middle schoolers. However, i would also like to tie in the history of animals into the curriculum so that i can try to teach students about the human animal bond and maybe inspire them to not do things such as abuse an animal. So my question is do you have any ideas on how i could tie in the history/treatment of animals into my curriculum? Also, would using animals in the history of art (like showing animals in paintings or sculpted as jewelry) be good examples to use to show the importance of animals to humans?

Answer
Dear Kinuyo,

I have been thinking about your question and really do not see how you could design your own history class - certainly not in a public school.  Whether you are teaching lower grades or upper ones, each class is very clearly organized with lessons and text books.  You could do an after school club or an elective that you might be able to design.  I like your ideas about including the arts, and there are many children who would love to learn about animals, so I think you wouldn't have trouble getting kids to show up.  

Sorry I'm not more positive.  Maybe I'm just thinking too narrowly - but a class in the history of animals just doesn't seem possible in this educational climate.

Good Luck,
Bonnie