My Library is Going to the Dogs

Patricia BurgstahlerKenmore - Tonawanda UFSD

pburgstahler@kenton.k12.ny.usSLMS 2010

Meet Noah

KindergartenUnit – Choosing the Right Pet

Daddy, Could I Have an Elephant – J. WolfWhat Pet to Get – Emma DoddOh, the Pets You Can Get – Tish RabeEmma’s Strange Pet – Jean LittleFranklin Wants a Pet – P. BourgeoisHarry’s Dog – Barbara A. PorteThe Best Pet of All – D. LaRochellePick a Pet – Shelley RotnerPumpernickel Tickle and Mean Green CheeseMr. Green Peas – Judith Caseley

• Kindergarten Activities/Skills:• T-chart of wanted and unwanted traits• Venn Diagram comparing two or three pets• Venn Diagram comparing pets/wild or zoo

animals/farm animals• Nature’s Children – looking for attributes• Wordle book – listing attributes/publishing

First Grades

Activity – Read to the Dog

Henry and Mudge series – Rylant Slippers – Andrew Clements Biscuit - Capucilli Brenda and Edward – D. LaRochelle Clifford - Bridwell Carl (wordless) – A. Day Jack and the Night Visitors (wordless) – P. Schories Dog and Bear – L. Seeger Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog – S.S. Miller

Rationale – Read to the Dog

Significantly increases fluency/confidenceLittle or no intimidationSmall group participationListener is non-judgmentalSense of self-worth/special activityInvolves the community – therapy dogs etc.Can be continued at home or with a friendStuffed animals can be substituted

Second Grades

Communications Unit- There is more than just the written word.

Read The Kitten Who Couldn’t Purr Discuss body language and sign language Handmade Alphabet/Talking Hands Series – student sharing American Sign Language web site/Deaf Ed. Teacher demo Read about Louis Braille and show Braille cards Make nameplates using split peas Am. Foundation for the Blind – www.afb.org/braillebug Visiting guide dog, watch Audrey to Merlin video Learning etiquette - dealing with the disabled/blind Disability History Museum presentation

Books about service dogs and Special Olympics

Dogs at Work – Capstone series Working like a Dog Animals with Jobs – Thomson/Gale series Bravest Dog Ever – Standiford Pets to the Rescue (series) – A. Clements My Dog, My Hero – Byars The Right Dog for the Job – Dorothy Patent Do Dogs Make Dessert? – M.Dahl Helping Paws – Jane Duden Looking Out for Sarah – Lang Private and Confidential: a story about Braille – Ripley Way to Go Alex – Robin Pulver

Third Grades

Dog Breed ResearchBuilds on what they have learnedRequires an essential question- Where would

the ideal place be for this breed to live and why?

High interestEnd of the year fun – outdoor dog showIncludes community participation

Third Grades Resources

Enchanted Learning.comVarious dog breed book seriesAnimal Planet – animal.discovery.comAm. Kennel Club - www.akc.orgIntegrates other subjects

MathScienceArt

Fourth Grades

Lewis and Clark Learning CentersExplore the roles of each person and SeamanDevelop a sense of time and activity on the

trail using Dog of Discovery – Laurence PringleSeaman’s Journey – Patricia EubankVisiting Newfoundland dog completes the

experience since students have researched the journey from the dog’s perspective

Fifth Grades

Began as a way to study the statesContinued with National Park ResearchConnects with science of animal adaptationsAllows for discussions of animal rights and

cultural differences even within the USOpens channels of communication with

others about these topics

Resources

Balto, the Bravest Dog Ever and other versionsGold Rush Dogs - MurphyGary Paulsen – Woodsong and DogteamIditarod Trail Committee web site especially

info for educatorsLocal sled dog clubsVeterinarians and breeders

The end of a long day…