Since so many young people bully and abuse others—their peers as well as animals—it’s important for educators to teach students to be kind and empathetic. That’s why TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—has revamped its popular classroom resource, the Share the World curriculum kit, and is sending free copies to 26,000 elementary schools nationwide.

Share the World is an all-inclusive program that comes with a 23-minute DVD, colorful classroom posters, a teacher’s guide, worksheets and activities, and a kindness pledge for students. The kits, which are available in English and Spanish, are free to all teachers, but the lessons are invaluable. They’re designed to enhance students’ understanding that animals are living, feeling beings who should be treated with respect and compassion.

The program helps children see that animals experience the same needs and feelings that we do, such as pain, fear, love, and joy, and also enables them to appreciate the interesting characteristics and abilities of animals—such as an octopus’s capacity to change color as a means of communication.

Share the World is packed with kid-friendly ways to follow the Golden Rule by showing kindness and respect for all living beings. And while the program teaches children about animals and helps them develop critical-thinking skills, it also gives them a chance to practice their reading and writing skills in fun new ways.

Would you want your grandchildren to learn that “c” is for compassion and to grow up having respect and tolerance for their classmates as well as for mice, chickens, cows, elephants, beavers, rabbits, lions, fish, frogs, and all other animals? Just contact TeachKind and ask for a copy of Share the World for your grandchild’s school—or for the local neighborhood school. You’ll earn a gold star from your grandkids!