Los Angeles struggles to save animals amid fires

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will explore the challenges faced by animals and rescue workers during the fast-moving wildfires in Los Angeles. The featured video highlights how thousands of people and their pets have been displaced, with animal rescue groups working tirelessly to save cats, dogs, birds, and even large animals like horses. Students will learn about the impact of smoke inhalation, injuries from fleeing the fires, and the struggles of families forced to leave their pets behind.

Through vocabulary activities, students will engage with key terms related to natural disasters, emergency response, and animal welfare. Comprehension is reinforced with true/false and multiple-choice questions focusing on the details of rescue efforts, medical treatments, and community support.

Class discussions encourage students to reflect on the importance of protecting animals during disasters, the role of emergency shelters, and ways communities can assist through donations, fostering, or adoption. A role-play activity allows students to simulate an emergency call to an animal rescue center, practicing real-life communication skills.

To wrap up, the independent writing task invites students to create their own Pet Emergency Plan, explaining how they would keep their pets safe in a natural disaster. This lesson combines real-world awareness, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving, all while emphasizing the deep bond between people and their pets.