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Give Students a Better Tomorrow by Teaching Them Compassion Today

The Animal Connection seeks to foster empathy, responsibility, and compassionate action through nurturing kindness towards animals and nature. Students develop empathy for their peers and others while raising awareness about animal welfare in their community. We help teachers create the next generation of animal advocates who are compassionate action-makers.

In the 2023-2024 school year,
The Animal Connection reached:

Students served.

Teachers using The Animal Connection

Classrooms

We help teachers establish a solid teacher-student bond that helps improve classroom behavior.

The Animal Connection is designed to address New Mexico’s Social Emotional Learning framework, facilitating student development into compassionate, responsible, and proactive members of society. Our lessons use a child’s natural affinity towards animals to improve their social awareness and empathy for their peers and others.

Participating teachers have observed many of the following outcomes. APNM’s goal is to continue assessing prosocial and humane attitudes across New Mexico and to advocate for humane education at the state level.

  • Better student connection to subjects and discussions.
  • Improvement in student-peer relationships.
  • Increased acceptance of responsibility (for animals, each other, and the community) and academics.
Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM) offers New Mexico educators
the chance to use The Animal Connection curriculum online at no cost.

Testimonials

Our students love us, and you will too!

Our students remember these invaluable experiences of our lessons. Here's what they're saying:
My favorite thing [about The Animal Connection] was learning about taking good care of animals or pets.
- 2nd Grade Student

New Mexico Teachers love The Animal Connection:

“The duration and quality of this program are sure to leave a lasting impression on my students. Many have never known a properly cared for animal. And now they have a reference point for the rest of their lives.”
- 4th Grade Teacher
“The Animal Connection has made a huge impact on my class. They learned about what causes a person to be a bully and have openly discussed episodes of bullying that have taken place within my own class! They have taken this to heart and treat each other with more kindness.”
- 5th Grade Teacher
“The Animal Connection program engaged my students in topics that are rarely discussed in a school setting. By talking about animals and the neglect and abuse some experience, my students developed compassion for those that are innocent and vulnerable…even classmates.”
- 6th Grade Teacher

FAQ


You have questions, we have answers

We've put together a list of the most frequently asked questions by New Mexico Teachers.

What is The Animal Connection?

The Animal Connection is a humane education curriculum that New Mexico teachers can use to help strengthen the teacher-student bond by instilling compassion and empathy in students with animals. The program includes video lessons, lesson plans, and suggested activities for teachers. The curriculum also aligns with New Mexico Public Education's core standards and social-emotional learning standards. 

How can I access The Animal Connection courses?

Teachers can access all videos, lesson plans, and suggested activities using the LearnWorlds education platform. Teachers can sign up for an accounting using their school e-mail and that's it! 

Will The Animal Connection replace my lesson plans?

No. The Animal Connection is designed to supplement a teacher's already existing curriculum.

Is The Animal Connection free?

Yes! Animal Protection New Mexico offers The Animal Connection curriculum for free for all New Mexico educators.

Bring The Animal Connection to Your Classroom.

Thank you!

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