COVID-19 explained at KS3: Bats, Pangolins and Other Animals

This lesson, entitled “Bats, pangolins and other animals?” is designed to help answer some of the questions that children may have about COVID-19. It looks at how the new coronavirus and other zoonotic diseases may have emerged, and the part humans have to play in this.
The lesson teaches children about the wildlife trade and encourages them, as true global citizens, to believe that people can bring about change for the better. Throughout the lesson we introduce the idea of One Health and how the health of people, animals and their shared environment are inextricably linked.
The free resources include a colourful PowerPoint presentation that could be used for a class or in an assembly, a lesson plan including detailed notes to support teachers and a structured worksheet that could be used in class or at home.
The main points covered are:
• All about COVID-19
• Where did it come from?
• Has this happened before?
• Can we stop a pandemic like this from happening again?

This resource is part of a larger programme run by international animal welfare charity WVS (Worldwide Veterinary Service), called the International Schools Initiative. This programme covers animal welfare and important global environmental issues that affect animals such as habitat loss and climate change. It’s a great way to teach children the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to become good global citizens while supporting the “Living in the Wide World” core theme of your PSHE curriculum. Find out more at https://www.internationalschoolsinitiative.com or contact us at nicky@wvs.org.uk