Opener

In this activity give students approximately 5 seconds to view images.  For each image the students must record their first reaction.  Images selected should spark healthy dialogue.  Please frontload the discussion with how to respect the diversity of view points.  To complete the activity do the following:

1. Hand out the table called, My Reaction to each student in the class.
2. Print the photos on overhead sheets or use a computer to show the photos selected.
3. Tell your class that you will show each image for approximately five seconds and they should write down as many words or phrases that come to mind after seeing each image. 
4. After all the images have been shown, ask your class to share their reactions to the images.  Depending on the diversity of your class, you may have many different reactions or homogenous reactions. 
5. When doing this activity with a wide variety of grade 11 students from across Canada we found that generally urban students were more likely to write down words that reflect animal rights issues and a possible rejection or disinterest of fur clothing.  Urban students often said, ‘ah, isn’t that cute’ when a picture came up of a baby animal.   Whereas rural students were more likely to write down words that reflect an acceptance, interest or personal use of fur clothing and often wrote down words such as ‘yummy’ or ‘warm’ when an animal that is part of their diet was depicted.  It is important to note that neither of these responses are right or wrong, simply different and beginning this conversation will help students view the following activities from another perspective.

6. Discuss why the students’ reflections follow this pattern.  This opener illustrates how the animal rights movement in the 1970’s and the 1980’s was supported in urban areas whereas the rural and northern communities felt betrayed and misunderstood. 

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