Teaching Controversial Issues
Worksheets from East Bergholt School – Year 7
Animal Rights
– sheet 1 of 4
We have traditionally
eaten meat.
We crave juicy steaks.
Some animals aren’t
reared in factory farms.
They are given the right
to roam around in the
fresh air and they are
looked after with a
thought for their
welfare. These animals
come from free-range
farms or organic farms,
where they lead happy
lives until the time they
are slaughtered.
Free-range and organic
animals are treated
humanely.
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We have a right to eat
meat.
Our bodies are adapted for
eating meat – we have teeth
for ripping and chewing
meat and we have digestive
enzymes that allow us to
eat meat.
Animals aren’t as
intelligent as us and don’t
understand what is
happening to them.
There are strict laws
governing the slaughter of
animals – they are knocked
unconscious before they are
killed and so are unaware of
their fate.
Animals were put on the
earth to provide humans
with food.
Animal protein is good for
you.
A vegan or vegetarian diet
needs to be carefully
balanced if it
is to provide all the
vitamins and minerals that
we need to be healthy.
Meat provides us with
these nutrients.
Because animals are reared
in a healthy way and
treated properly their meat
tastes better. Much of the
livestock on our farms are
only here because we
ultimately eat them.
Teaching Controversial Issues
Worksheets from East Bergholt School – Year 7
Animal Rights
– sheet 2 of 4
In the organic system,
animal welfare is of
supreme importance.
This includes both the
growing and the
slaughtering process.
There must be respect
for the animal
throughout its life.
Therefore, if the animals
have been given a
dignified life, and
dispatched efficiently,
with minimal suffering,
then why feel sorry for
them?
A vegetarian refuses to
eat any product that
contains part of an
animal’s body as food –
this includes chicken and
fish.
© 4 Ventures Limited 2003
People become vegetarians
for health reasons and
reasons relating to animal
rights. A vegetarian
doesn’t want to contribute
to the animal suffering
involved in factory
farming and slaughter.
Others believe that it is
morally wrong to eat
animals.
Factory farms keep animals
inside large, smelly,
windowless buildings. They
never feel fresh air or take
proper exercise. Factory
farms produce meat and
dairy products as cheaply
and quickly as possible, so
that the farmer gets
greater profits.
Teaching Controversial Issues
Worksheets from East Bergholt School – Year 7
Animal Rights
– sheet 3 of 4
Most animals will go to be sold
at livestock markets. A
butcher, farmer or meat
wholesaler will go to buy the
animals. Sometimes they are
sold for slaughter, and they
will go straight to the
abattoir. Others will be sold
on to be fattened up for
breeding / dairy use. The
journey to and from the
market can be frightening. At
the market there are rules
that have to be followed
about the care of animals. But
the market is still a
frightening place
Animals are slaughtered in
slaughterhouses or abattoirs.
Animals must be stunned before
killing, and this is carried out by
a fired bolt or electrical stunner.
This doesn’t always work. Animals
are then hung by one leg, and the
throat is cut to drain the blood
out. The meat is then tenderised
before being butchered.
What is a Vegetarian?
What is a Vegan?
Don’t Vegans get ill from not
eating animal produce; they
contain things that are good
for you?
But why have you decided not
to eat or use any animal
products at all?
What is factory farming?
What happens between the
animals leaving the farms and
arriving on our plates?
Does all meat come from
factory farms?
So, eating organic or free-range
meat is ok?
Do we really need to eat
meat?

Vegans have chosen not to
eat or use animal products
at all.
© 4 Ventures Limited 2003

They eat no flesh, fish, fowl,
milk, honey, dairy products or
eggs or products containing
them such as cakes, pies and
pastries, or gelatine-based
products such as jelly.

Strict Vegans also try not
to use any animal products
in their life. This includes
leather clothing, shoes,
silk, wool, duck-down and
many other animal
products.
Teaching Controversial Issues
Worksheets from East Bergholt School – Year 7
Animal Rights

– sheet 4 of 4
To get all the vitamins

that they need a Vegan
needs to plan a good
diet, containing lots of
grains like wheat, pulses
like lentils, seeds, nuts,
fruit and vegetables.
© 4 Ventures Limited 2003
Vegans believe that animals are
living creatures, animals have
rights and it is wrong to exploit
them and use them for human
use.

Vegans are concerned
about what happens to
the animals during their
lives. It is wrong to
treat humans as
products or tools or to
use them as slaves – so
it should be with other
animals. All animals have
a right to be treated
with respect and
without exploitation.