How we treat animals

Kinga | Feb 25, 2026Feb 25, 2026

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this ESL lesson on animal treatment are to:

• discuss how animals impact human life;
• read and talk about the mass use and harm of animals by people;
• watch a video about retired hens.

In this lesson, students reflect on animals’ roles in human life, read short texts and express their opinions on the ethics of human use of animals. They propose animal welfare regulations, watch a video on how retired hens help Cyprus olive groves and discuss animal retirement. Students talk about the impact of different attitudes to animals, read headlines and share their preferred future scenarios. They can also do an extra vocabulary task to review useful phrase s (e.g. viable alternative, morally defensible, turn a blind eye to something).

WARM-UP AND DISCUSSION

This ESL lesson on animal treatment starts with a warm-up. Students name areas of human life in which animals play an important role. They give examples and details. At this point, students can do an extra vocabulary task to review phrases for discussing how we treat animals (e.g. draw the line, necessary evil, the end justifies the means). They look at questions and possible answers. Students choose the correct words to complete the phrases in the questions. They then choose the comment that best answers each question based on the meaning of the phrase. After that, students examine opinions on the ethics of human use of animals (e.g. zoos are prisons with good PR). They say to what extent they agree or disagree with the statements. Following that, students read short texts about the large-scale use and mistreatment of animals. They do tasks where they analyse data, discuss ethical issues and propose solutions. 

VIDEO AND MORE DISCUSSION

In this part of the ESL lesson on animal treatment, students look at the words ‘hens’ and ‘retirement’ and say how they might be connected. They then watch a video about retired hens and check their answers. Moving on, students complete comments about the video (e.g. it looks good at first sight, but…) with possible ideas. Afterwards, they choose the one which is true for them and elaborate on it. Following that, students discuss ideas for animal retirement in different scenarios (e.g. an old dairy cow that no longer produces milk). Next, they examine points related to modern attitudes toward animals (e.g. throwing pets birthday parties) and discuss why people do them and how they affect animals. Students say whether there are any downsides. Finally, they read headlines involving legal rights and protections for animals. Students choose a preferred future scenario and justify it.

WORKSHEETS

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