Kids' Corner

Next of Kin Curriculum: Educating the Next Generation

Photo credit: CHCI

NEAVS has joined forces with Friends of Washoe, the Chimpanzee and Humans Communication Institute (CHIC), in Washington state and developed an ethical science curriculum for grades 2-12.

The new curriculum, "Next of Kin", named after the well-known book by author, Friends of Washoe's co-founder, and NEAVS' Advisory Board member Roger Fouts, PhD, will be headed up by Rachel Fouts-Carrico, a six-year teaching veteran and humane educator.

By combining the latest technology with site visits and outreach teachers, Next of Kin offers a compassionate way of thinking in a new and exciting format. By the program's second year, students all across the country can participate through Internet or CD-ROM platforms that use media rich audio, video, and animation techniques. This will all be integrated with teacher-feedback and individual student evaluation elements and will be part of the science curriculum.

"We knew that the program needed to be something comprehensive and something that the teachers are willing and eager to use," said Fouts-Carrico referring to the interactive CD-ROM portion of the curriculum. "This is a whole different way of looking at education; we are developing an entire curriculum." Fouts-Carrico added that the teachers she has been in contact with are very enthusiastic.

Photo credit: CHCI Washoe & Rachel

Students who participate are also invited to visit the Seattle, WA-based organization, part of Central Washington University, to participate in a Chimposium, an opportunity to observe Washoe and her chimpanzee family interact and communicate with sign-language, and get a hands-on experience with the animal kingdom.

"NEAVS regards this project as an opportunity to embrace all animals and look at each species as a group of individuals, not tools without feeling and consciousness," said NEAVS President Theodora Capaldo, EdD. "From the frogs in the wetlands to the great apes in their social communities, the next generation will be able to see animals in a new way and learn from humankind's past mistakes."