Martin Luther King Jr. lesson plans

Citizenship Skills Lesson in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

PDF Version

Purpose
This activity will show students how their choices influence the lives of animals in laboratories. They will also learn skills that will enable them to be responsible consumers and active citizens.

Materials
To do this assignment, students will need a list of companies that do and that do not test on animals. Use the "Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide," which is available for free from TeachKind.org, or obtain printable PDFs at CaringConsumer.com.

Background
Many people use products, such as Crest toothpaste, Ivory soap, or Bounty paper towels, without even realizing that the company that makes them tests on animals. In the 1980s, there were fewer than 50 "cruelty-free" companies-those that do not test products on animals. Thankfully, compassionate consumers did not want to blind bunnies or poison rats for new shampoos, soaps, or lipsticks, so they used their consumer power by boycotting companies that tested their products on animals. As a result, scores of companies, including Avon, Revlon, and Estée Lauder, stopped testing products on animals-and now, more than 550 companies are cruelty-free!

However, several major companies, like Procter & Gamble, continue to test their products and ingredients by using painful, unreliable animal tests. U.S. law does not require these products to be tested on animals, but companies continue to do so for legal-not medical-reasons. The European Union voted to ban product testing on animals. It is up to the American people to determine whether the U.S. will follow the E.U.'s compassionate lead.

To learn more about animal testing, visit StopAnimalTests.com.

Activity
Determine which products that you use are tested on animals. Fill in the information for at least four of the following items:

Item	Brand Name	Manufacturer*	Tested on Animals?
Shampoo	___________________	_____________________	________________
Soap	___________________	_____________________	________________
Toothpaste	___________________	_____________________	________________
Cologne/perfume	___________________	_____________________	________________
Deodorant	___________________	_____________________	________________
Make-up	___________________	_____________________	________________
Laundry soap	___________________	_____________________	________________
Dishwashing soap	___________________	_____________________	________________

* This information is often found on the back of the product, next to the contact information.

** Refer to your lists of companies that do and that do not test on animals. If a company is not on either list, write "not listed."

Empowerment
Everyone has the power to influence corporations and the government. You can help animals in laboratories and practice important citizenship skills with the following activities:

Write polite letters to companies that still conduct animal tests, asking them to stop. If you are boycotting their products, let them know. If you used their products in the past, let them know that as well. You can find a list of companies that test their products on animals and their contact information at StopAnimalTests.com/c-cconsdo.html.

Purchase cruelty-free products. If any of the products that you use are tested on animals, find suitable replacements for them. Products that are not tested on animals are called "cruelty-free." Health-food stores and co-ops often carry an abundance of cruelty-free soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and personal care products. Grocery stores, drugstores, department stores, and specialty shops also carry a wide range of cruelty-free products.

Contact your federal representatives. Ask them to support legislation that would ban the use of animals to test cosmetics and household products. To make your letter more effective, use the following tips:
- Provide your full name and address.
- In a clear, concise manner, explain what actions you want your representatives to take.
- Explain how this issue impacts you personally.
- Be polite and friendly.
- Request a response.

Printable Version of the Animal Testing Education Activity Sheet