Looking to share this information in an accessible way with other sanctuaries and supporters? Check out and share our infographic on six specific ways sanctuary educators can foster critical thinking about farmed animalsA species or specific breed of animal that is raised by humans for the use of their bodies or what comes from their bodies. with folks who visit their sanctuary space(s) and participate in their programming. Want the full resource? Check it out!
6 Ways to Foster Critical Thinking for Sanctuary Educators Infographic by Andie Springirth
Click Here for a Text Description of this Infographic!
Title: Six Ways to Foster Critical Thinking for Sanctuary Educators
Title Background: There is an illustration of a blue watering can sprinkling water over an illustration of a person with flowers growing out of their head. They are smiling and wearing a salmon-colored shirt with a white collar.
Infographic Background: The background of this infographic is lavender.
Subheader 1: Provide a Framework and Model the Process
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of three wooden blocks. One block is stacked on top of the other two. The block on top has the letter A written on it. The block on the bottom left has the letter B written on it and the block on the bottom right has the letter C written on it.
Text Accompanying Image: Model a critical analysis of your own ideas and practices related to farmed animals in front of the folks visiting your sanctuary, and explain the ways in which this changed your thinking and behavior. What kinds of assumptions did you become aware of and how did you contend with them?
Subheader 2: Teach Folks How to Identify Assumptions
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a red magnifying glass with blue-tinted glass.
Text Accompanying Image: Have folks point out and question assumptions about animals that are held by outside sources such as other individuals, groups, organizations, books, movies, etc. Examine their assumptions together and help folks separate hard facts from misleading claims.
Subheader 3: Let Folks Reflect on Their Own Ideas and Practices
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of three speech bubbles. Each speech bubble has a smiley face on it. Each face is a different color. One is orange, one is red, and one is teal.
Text Accompanying Image: As you ask folks to reflect critically on their own ideas and practices related to farmed animals, refrain from judging anyone. Instead, encourage and celebrate the process! Thinking critically is hard work!
Subheader 4: Foster Empathy Towards Farmed Animals
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a pink heart.
Text Accompanying Image: Fostering empathy towards farmed animals allows folks to participate more fully in the critical thinking process, where they are asked to consider as many different viewpoints as possible prior to coming to a well-grounded conclusion.
Subheader 5: Help Folks Fight Cognitive Fatigue
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a yellow lightbulb.
Text Accompanying Image: Monotonous mental and physical routines can cause cognitive fatigue and prevent us from thinking critically.You can help folks fight cognitive fatigue by introducing them to new ideas that challenge them to make new connections and see and think about farmed animals in innovative ways.
Subheader 6: Avoid Allostatic Overload
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a yellow sun.
Text Accompanying Image: Be extra mindful of the rhetoric and imagery you use in your programming. Eliciting too much negative emotion for too long through distressing content can hinder the critical thinking process. You can avoid allostatic overload by helping folks remain as calm as possible throughout your programming.
Text at the Bottom of the Infographic: www.OpenSanctuary.org
Title Background: There is an illustration of a blue watering can sprinkling water over an illustration of a person with flowers growing out of their head. They are smiling and wearing a salmon-colored shirt with a white collar.
Infographic Background: The background of this infographic is lavender.
Subheader 1: Provide a Framework and Model the Process
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of three wooden blocks. One block is stacked on top of the other two. The block on top has the letter A written on it. The block on the bottom left has the letter B written on it and the block on the bottom right has the letter C written on it.
Text Accompanying Image: Model a critical analysis of your own ideas and practices related to farmed animals in front of the folks visiting your sanctuary, and explain the ways in which this changed your thinking and behavior. What kinds of assumptions did you become aware of and how did you contend with them?
Subheader 2: Teach Folks How to Identify Assumptions
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a red magnifying glass with blue-tinted glass.
Text Accompanying Image: Have folks point out and question assumptions about animals that are held by outside sources such as other individuals, groups, organizations, books, movies, etc. Examine their assumptions together and help folks separate hard facts from misleading claims.
Subheader 3: Let Folks Reflect on Their Own Ideas and Practices
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of three speech bubbles. Each speech bubble has a smiley face on it. Each face is a different color. One is orange, one is red, and one is teal.
Text Accompanying Image: As you ask folks to reflect critically on their own ideas and practices related to farmed animals, refrain from judging anyone. Instead, encourage and celebrate the process! Thinking critically is hard work!
Subheader 4: Foster Empathy Towards Farmed Animals
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a pink heart.
Text Accompanying Image: Fostering empathy towards farmed animals allows folks to participate more fully in the critical thinking process, where they are asked to consider as many different viewpoints as possible prior to coming to a well-grounded conclusion.
Subheader 5: Help Folks Fight Cognitive Fatigue
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a yellow lightbulb.
Text Accompanying Image: Monotonous mental and physical routines can cause cognitive fatigue and prevent us from thinking critically.You can help folks fight cognitive fatigue by introducing them to new ideas that challenge them to make new connections and see and think about farmed animals in innovative ways.
Subheader 6: Avoid Allostatic Overload
Image: The background of the image and the text accompanying the image is white. There is a small illustration of a yellow sun.
Text Accompanying Image: Be extra mindful of the rhetoric and imagery you use in your programming. Eliciting too much negative emotion for too long through distressing content can hinder the critical thinking process. You can avoid allostatic overload by helping folks remain as calm as possible throughout your programming.
Text at the Bottom of the Infographic: www.OpenSanctuary.org
