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DOG THEME

CRAFTS:

3D Doghouse
Make a three dimensional picture by making a dog house out of craft sticks, a dog from furry material, a cord leash, water bowl from wall paper, a real dog bone, etc.

Bone Prints
Purchase a box of large dog bone snacks. Set the bones, shallow bowls of paint, and colorful construction paper on a table. Allow the students to dip the bones into the paint and press them on their papers to make designs. Talk about why dogs enjoy the snacks and why the snacks are beneficial (source of vitamins, helps clean the teeth). You may also wish to explain that people often use these snacks as treats when they train dogs as well as other animals.

Bag Puppies
Make puppies from brown lunch bags. Let the child draw the face on the bag and glue on ears.

Dog Dishes
Buy new dog dishes and have the kids decorate them with stickers. They can use them for cereal bowls at home or just to hold trinkets.

Dog Tags
Have the children choose dog names for themselves. Write the name on bone-shaped construction paper. Have children decorate their bones. Attach yarn and let them wear them.

Paw Prints
Have the students help you make paw stamps. You may make them by carving potatoes with spoons, molding clay into paw shapes, or cutting corrugated cardboard and gluing it to another piece of cardboard. Allow the students to dip their stamps into shallow bowls of tempera paint and press onto paper.

Stuffed Dog Shapes
Cut pair of dog shapes from a variety of colors of paper. Allow each student to choose color. Allow them to color and add collars, dog jackets, etc. Staple or glue edges of dog shapes together leaving small opening. Stuff with wadded up newspapers--staple shut. Hang these from ceiling or use as wall display. Let students name their dog.

Walking Fido
Fold a large sheet of paper long like a hot dog bun (not short like a taco) and trace a dog shape on it (head, body, tail and two legs). Cut out the dog shape and fold open. The dog will stand up on four legs (the back is the fold of paper). Decorate and tie yarn around the neck and take Fido for a walk. 

Yarn Dog
Materials: Colored rug yarn or thick 8 ply knitting wool, Paper White Glue, Dog Photos or Pictures, Cardboard
What to Do: Trace a good, clear picture of a dog, the larger the better, onto the cardboard. Cut the yarn or wool into 1" or 2" strands. Use an egg carton to separate the colors & to make selecting and handling of the yarn easier. The child then glues the yarn strands onto the dog outline to make hair & a tail. Draw a mouth & eyes & define the ears & the tail. Finally invent an appropriate name for the dog.

GAMES & ACTIVITIES:

A Mother Dog and Her Pups 
Arrange this ahead of time with a friend or dog breeder.  Have a mother dog and puppies for the kids to observe and examined.  A calm mother dog that has had a litter of puppies before and been around children will probably permit her puppies to be touched.  Observe the mother and her pups.  How does she care for them?  Clean them?  Beat them?  Can all the pups beat at once?  Softly pet the cops.  Feel there for.  Compared to mothers for.  Look at puppies team; the mothers examined a paw, feel at pad.  Is it rough?  Soft?  Smell?  How do the pups compared to their mother?  Listen.  He can the pups bark?  Do they cry?  Watch them move.  Are they secure on their feet?

Doggie, Doggie, Where's Your Bone?
They sit in a semicircle with one child sitting in a chair facing away from the group. Place a toy bone, or beanbag under the chair. One child is chosen to go "steal the bone". All of the children then sit with their hands behind their backs and say, "Doggie, doggie, where's your bone? Someone stole it from your home!" The "Doggie" then turns around and tries to guess who has the bone.

Dog Parts
Talk with the students about body parts. Explain that dogs have body parts too. Have the student name all the body parts they can of a dog. Use a display to put labels on.

How do dogs eat?
Put a favorite snack, cupcake, etc. on a paper plate on the floor. Have children get down on their hands and knees and try to eat without using their hands. What about water? Can they drink out of a cereal bowl filled with water?

Hand Print Dogs
Paint each student's palm the color they choose for their dog. Press hands on paper. When dry, allow students to use crayons, markers, paint or paper shapes to add the dog's face, tail, markings, etc. Encourage the students to draw backgrounds on their pictures showing the animal's environments, where they sleep, what they eat, etc.

Kennel Club
Decorate the front door with a discreet Kennel Club sign. Inside, set up a table as the groomer's salon. Hang a sign to that effect and place a mirror on the table. Fill the playroom with doghouses made from large cardboard boxes--one for each kid, with his name over a simple cutout door. (Wait until the kids arrive if you think they'll choose special puppy names.)

Match the Dog Game
Have dog cut outs with different numbers of dots on them. Have dog house cut outs with corresponding numbers written on them. The children count the dots on each dog and match it to the dog house with the corresponding number. 

Playing with Dogs
Using stuffed animals as props, talk with your children about the proper way to hold, pet, and play with dogs.

Obedience School
Based on Simon Says, preface the commands with "the trainer says" Use appropriate dog tricks or behaviors such as: lie down, beg for a treat, roll over, speak (woof), scratch your ear, wag your tail, show your tongue and pant.

Quick & Easy
-Make Clifford the big red dog. Use a triangle shaped piece of red paper. Fold down the ends to become ears. Put a black nose on the pointed end and add some eyes and whisker freckles.
-Have the children discuss the different types of dogs there are: big & small, fluffy and smooth, etc.
-Have the children write an ad for what type of puppy they are and what kind of owner they are looking for.
-Discuss the things needed to take care of puppies.
-Let children glue pieces of yarn on a precut out shape of a dog.
-Let them sponge paint paw prints on a piece of paper.
-Let the children put on a pretend dog show, showing all the kind of tricks they know.
-Discuss the many useful jobs dogs have: police dog, seeing eye dog, sled dog, rescue dog, guard dog, etc.

Smart Dogs
Five stuffed dogs sitting in a row
"Tell me please, what do you know?"
The first one said, "I know my name."
The 2nd one said, "I know a game."
The 3rd one said, "I know a song."
The 4th one said, "I know right from wrong"
The 5th one said, "I'll tell you true, What I know is that I love you."
DISCUSSION: Ask children something that they know. Do they know their name, a game, or a song? Dog #4 knew right from wrong, how do we know what is right from wrong?

Visit
Have someone from the blind association to bring a guide dog in and to talk to the class about the dog and what he does, how he is trained, etc.
Have a mobile dog wash come to wash a dog.

SONGS:

A Poodle in a Fuddle (Children stand in a circle, look from left to right )
A poodle in a fuddle
In the middle of a puddle!
(step left )
Will he wade to the left?
(step right)
Will he wade to the right?
(step into the middle)
Will he stay in the middle?
(Point up to the sun)
Till the sun shines bright?
(Hold hands over head to form sun)
When the sun shines bright,
(Crisscross arms and move one left, one right)
Will the puddle disappear?
(Point to floor in front where standing)
Will the poodle in the middle
(Cup hands to mouth and say this louder, as though cheering) Give a great, big cheer?!

(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale!
I must take a trip to California
And leave my poor sweetheart alone
If he has a dog he won't be lonesome
And the doggie will have a good home
How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale!
I read in the papers there are robbers
With flashlights that shine in the dark
My love needs a doggie to protect him
And scare them away with one bark
I don't want a bunny or a kitty,
I don't want a parrot that talks,
I don't want a bowl of little fishies;
He can't take a goldfish for walks.
How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale!

Two Little Puppy Dogs
Two little puppy dogs
(hold up two fingers)
Lying in a heap,
(let two fingers fall down.)
Soft and Wooly
(pet two fingers with opposite hand.)
And fast asleep.
(lay hands against the side of your face and close eyes.)
Along came a pussycat
(hold up one finger from opposite hand and move toward the two little fingers.)
Creeping near,
"Meow", She cried right in their ear.
Two little puppy dogs
(hold up two fingers)
After one cat,
(two fingers chase the one finger).
Did you ever play tag like that?
(point to the children)

This Little Doggie
(Start by holding up five fingers.)
This little doggie ran away to play. (take one finger away)
This little doggie said, "I'll go too some day." (take next finger away.)
This little doggie began to dig and dig. (pretend to dig with next finger, then take it away.)
This little doggie danced a funny jig. (pretend to dance with next finger, then take it away.)
This little doggie cried, "Ki! Yi! Ki! Yi! I wish I were big." (take last finger away.)
 

STORIES:

Have any good stories? Let us know!
 

FOOD SUGGESTIONS:

People Biscuits
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons margarine
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 egg
Raisins
Soften the margarine to room temperature. Mix all of the ingredients except the egg with a fork to form a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead 10 times. Roll dough 1/2 inch thick. With a gingerbread man cookie cutter, cut out the dough and placed on a greased cookie sheet. Brush the biscuits with a beaten egg. Add raisin eyes. Bake in 400 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy your People Biscuits!

Puppy Chow
1 stick butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1 box Crispix cereal
2 cups powdered sugar
Melt together butter, semisweet chocolate chips and peanut butter. Pour over 1 box of Crispix cereal in medium bowl. Put sugar in a large bowl and add the ingredients to coat. Serve in a plastic bag. 

Snack Idea
Use cookie cutters to cut toast into bone shapes for "doggy snacks"
 

TIPS/NOTES:

Humane Society
Find out where your local Humane Society is located. Call to find out about educational services; some have tours and classes for children that your group might be able to join in; some have reproducible educational materials on caring for pets and animal safety.