The first online lesson resource for teachers which uses pets to theme and encourage learning has been launched by the Masterfoods Education Centre. The resource materials at www.educationzone.mypetstop.co.uk follow the National Curriculum framework and are free for teachers.

Covering the core subject areas - Literacy, Numeracy, Science and PSHE & Citizenship - resources available include worksheets and shared texts and can be used individually or for group activities. Suitable for teaching children aged four to eleven, the resources are supported by teachers’ notes.

Claire Paylor from Masterfoods comments, ‘Animals are a natural source of interest for children and recent studies have shown that this interest can help to facilitate learning and have a positive effect on child development. The website offers resources that build on a child’s natural affinity with pets to create a fun, educational tool for school teachers and parents to use.’

Support materials, including posters and leaflets, are also available to order by post or telephone.

The launch of www.educationzone.mypetstop.co.uk coincides with this year’s National Pet Week which, entitled ‘Teacher’s Pet’, also makes the valuable connection between pets and learning.