tree hugger

Becoming Humane Beings (lesson plans)

by Marsha Rakestraw Right at the start of the school year is a great time to encourage students to think about the world they live in, the choices they make, what a humane world looks like, and the power they have to help bring such a world to reality. What does it mean to become…

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12 Tips for Saving Money and Making Humane Choices

by Marsha Rakestraw Although the economy is growing and poverty has slightly declined, many people still struggle with finances and look for ways to save money. Many people look to “dollar” and discount stores for their purchases, which saves them money, but also means that they’re making choices that harm people, animals, and the earth….

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post it notes

Inspiring Changemakers to Find Solutions with the Rethink Challenge

by Marsha Rakestraw One of the most powerful aspects of humane education is its focus on positive solutions. Educating students about global challenges is important, but it’s the integration of connection, creativity, critical thinking, and creating solutions that really feeds and enables students’ hunger for becoming changemakers for a better world. In the Summer 2014…

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wonder box

The Wonder Box

The Wonder Box is used to hold a collection of various natural found objects (shells, leaves, feathers, rocks, twigs, deceased insects, etc.). Students can interact with the objects, inspecting them, using their five senses, drawing/sketching, painting, a picture of the object(s), writing a poem, listing describing words, creating a story, etc. The Wonder Box can…

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humane education

3 Sources for Funding Your Humane Education Project

by Marsha Rakestraw Many a great changemaking idea has been stifled by the challenge of finding funding. In the past, options were limited and often a bit complicated. But with the exponential growth of our digital world, it’s becoming a bit easier to gain traction in financing smaller projects. Here are three sources to help…

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Resources: Council of all beings

Council of All Beings

An activity to widen perspectives Participants “become” a being or part of nature and share the lives, concerns, hopes, and wisdom of their being in a Council. This activity widens perspectives, builds appreciation and compassion, and invites participants to consider their impact. Grades: Recommended for grades 4 and up Time: 1-2 hours Common Core Standards…

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dog in costume

9 Tips for Horrorific & Humane Halloween Costumes

by Marsha Rakestraw Dressing up on Halloween isn’t just for kids. According to the 2011 National Retail Federation survey, almost half of adults plan to don costumes for Halloween this year, and more than 1 in 10 pet guardians will adorn their furry friends. Americans are expected to spend $2.5 billion on Halloween costumes this…

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Resources: Council of all beings

Consejo de Todos Los Seres Vivos

¿Qué espera una montaña? ¿Y un lobo, una vaca o un rio? Los participantes deben de convertirse en una parte de la naturaleza y compartir sus vidas, preocupaciones, esperanzas y conocimiento del ser que son en un Consejo. Recomendado para grados 4 en adelante Duración: 60-120 minutos

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La Caja Asombrosa

La Caja Asombrosa

La caja asombrosa se utiliza para guardar una colección de varios objetos naturales encontrados (conchas, hojas, plumas, rocas, ramas, cadáveres de insectos, etc.). Los estudiantes pueden interactuar con los objetos, inspeccionándolos, utilizando sus cinco sentidos, dibujando/haciendo bosquejos, haciendo una pintura de un objeto, escribiendo un poema, haciendo una lista de palabras descriptivas, creando una historia,…

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