Caged at what cost?

Key stage: 3/4

Subject / Area of learning:

Objectives:

Students should learn:

to form opinions and debate those opinions
to consider the ethical and moral issues that intensive farming can raise
about the different methods of egg production and how these affect the welfare of egg-laying hens
to understand that consumers have the power to improve the lives of farmed animals

At the end of this lesson:

most students will have a basic understanding of the three main methods of egg production used in the UK.
most students will have formed opinions and will understand that we can all make a different to the conditions in which animals are kept on farms
some students will know that some methods of farming are kinder than others
some students will have formed opinions and debated them. They will also be able to provide examples of a number of ways in which they as an individual can try to improve the lives of farm animals

What's included in this lesson:

Starter activity - help students to decide what they think about farm animals and how they should be treated.

Main activity - Laying hens: what do you know?

Plenary activity - What can you do? Explore what individuals can do to try to improve the conditions in which farm animals are kept.

Extensions activities:

complete research into what is already being done by retailers to improve the welfare of laying hens
prepare a presentation for the rest of the the group to highlights this information
survey a local supermarket or bring in egg boxes to see if the labelling is clear
students can make their own illustration of what they think the three systems for keeping laying hens look like
design posts to highlight the health and welfare problems associated with battery cages