Freedom Food farms
This lesson examines the needs of farm animals and introduces pupils to the five freedoms. Pupils will also find out about the RSPCA Freedom Food labelling scheme and how farming establishments can become members. Farming - you decide! could follow on from this lesson.
Curriculum objectives
Pupils should learn:
- that the life processes common to humans and other animals include nutrition, movement, growth and reproduction
- to research, discuss and debate topical issues, problems and events.
Animal welfare objectives
Pupils should learn:
- that farm animals have needs
- that we should aim towards giving farm animals five aspirational freedoms:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
- Freedom from fear and distress
- that establishments that rear farm animals should meet specific animal welfare standards.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this lesson:
- most pupils: understand what the five freedoms are and that people are responsible for ensuring the needs of farm animals are met. They know what the RSPCA Freedom Food label looks like and what it represents
- some pupils have not made so much progress and: can identify some needs that farm animals have. They know that RSPCA Freedom Food assessors visit some farms to check that the animals are properly cared for
- some pupils have progressed further and: understand how the RSPCA uses its welfare standards as a basis to assess farms, and that these welfare standards aim towards helping to give the animals the five freedoms as far as possible. They can explain why the Freedom Food label is important to display on food packaging.
