Pets
Pet- a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
Objectives
Describe the basic needs of animals.
1. Identify some animals which make good pets.
2. Identify a pet's basic needs.
3. Compare the needs of other animals with pets.
Possible Unit Overview
* I have laid the unit out as a 4 week block but it could be extended over a longer time period or compressed.
Week 1: Talk about what animals make good pets. Go for a neighborhood walk to see what pets are in the area. Research a variety of pets and choose a class pet (see lesson).
Week 2: Learn about pet care. Visit a pet shop to learn about the best food, home, and other tools for a pet. Compare pet needs to other animals needs.
Week 3: Talk about pet illnesses. Visit a veterinarian clinic and have the vet talk about treating pet illness.
Week 4: Learn about pets around the world. What pets do we have in Canada that other places might not have and vice-versa?
Week 1: Talk about what animals make good pets. Go for a neighborhood walk to see what pets are in the area. Research a variety of pets and choose a class pet (see lesson).
Week 2: Learn about pet care. Visit a pet shop to learn about the best food, home, and other tools for a pet. Compare pet needs to other animals needs.
Week 3: Talk about pet illnesses. Visit a veterinarian clinic and have the vet talk about treating pet illness.
Week 4: Learn about pets around the world. What pets do we have in Canada that other places might not have and vice-versa?
Overarching Questions
What animals make good pets?
What are animals basic needs?
What is involved in caring for a pet?
What are the benefits of owning a pet?
What are animals basic needs?
What is involved in caring for a pet?
What are the benefits of owning a pet?
Pet Vocabulary
Pet Dog Cat Bird Lizard Snake Hamster Mouse Bird Ferret Gerbil Guinea-pig Rabbit Fish Turtle Salamander Chinchilla Spider Shell Paw Fur Scales Fin Wing Tail Ears Crawl Scamper Swim Climb Run Hop Food Leash Water Cage Toy Cage House Aquarium Wet Dry Veterinarian
Ideas
KWL Chart: Make a KWL chart a few days before starting the section on pets. Refer to the chart for lesson planning.
Wordwall- Make a wordwall of pet vocabulary in the classroom to assist students with writing. (See Pet Vocabulary).
Pet Center- create a pet center with books on a variety of pets, tools to take care of pets, and pictures of pets.
Classroom Pet Exchange- Visit this website to see how you can connect with another classroom during the pet unit.
Wordwall- Make a wordwall of pet vocabulary in the classroom to assist students with writing. (See Pet Vocabulary).
Pet Center- create a pet center with books on a variety of pets, tools to take care of pets, and pictures of pets.
Classroom Pet Exchange- Visit this website to see how you can connect with another classroom during the pet unit.
Lesson Plans
| pet_lesson.doc |
Responsible Pet care- A variety of lessons that teach children how to properly care for animals.
What Pet Should You Get?- A grade one language arts lesson plan on pets.
Who Lives Here? In this lesson children will discuss the different kinds of housing that different pets require
What Pet Should You Get?- A grade one language arts lesson plan on pets.
Who Lives Here? In this lesson children will discuss the different kinds of housing that different pets require
Field Trips
Visit a vet clinic (Or have a vet come to the class): Have a vet talk to the children about animal illnesses and treatment.
Take a virtual tour of a vet clinic: Sandy Animal Clinic
Visit the humane society: Have someone talk to the children about caring for animals.
Visit a pet shop: Students will observe pets and learn about various pet products. Have a discussion about items that a pet needs and items that are unnecessary.
Neighborhood walk: Take a walk through the neighborhood to see what pets are in the neighborhood.
Show and tell: Have students take turns bringing their pet to the class.
Take a virtual tour of a vet clinic: Sandy Animal Clinic
Visit the humane society: Have someone talk to the children about caring for animals.
Visit a pet shop: Students will observe pets and learn about various pet products. Have a discussion about items that a pet needs and items that are unnecessary.
Neighborhood walk: Take a walk through the neighborhood to see what pets are in the neighborhood.
Show and tell: Have students take turns bringing their pet to the class.
Safety
Wash hands before and after handling pets.
Avoid handling lizards because they can carry samonella poisoning.
Avoid handling hampsters because they are known for transferring diseases.
Don't stick fingers into an animal cage.
Avoid handling lizards because they can carry samonella poisoning.
Avoid handling hampsters because they are known for transferring diseases.
Don't stick fingers into an animal cage.
Interdisciplinary Connections
Language Arts
Read a variety of books on pets.
Write a persuasive piece convincing someone that a certain animal will make an excellent pet.
Create an ABC pet book.
Write a persuasive piece convincing someone that a certain animal will make an excellent pet.
Create an ABC pet book.
Math
Create a favorite pet graph for the class.
Use toy pet figures to make patterns.
Use toy pet figures to make patterns.
Science
Try out some of the activities in the book Pet Science with the class pet.
Use chia pets in the classroom to teach about plants and responsibility. See this article.
Study the different kinds of footprints pets make.
Use chia pets in the classroom to teach about plants and responsibility. See this article.
Study the different kinds of footprints pets make.
Art
Have students represent a pet they like by sculpting, painting, origami, sketching, or any other way they wish to represent a pet. Provide a variety of materials.
Social Studies
Learn about pets from around the world. Examine the different roles pets play in different parts of the world. Ex. In some cultures cats are eaten.
Locate where pets come from on the map.
Locate where pets come from on the map.
Physical Education
Incorporate various pet locomotions into physical education experiences. For example, scamper like a mouse, hop like a frog, and run like a dog.
Play animal tag using animals that make good pets. See game instructions here.
Play animal tag using animals that make good pets. See game instructions here.
Aboriginal Education
Read The Good Luck Cat.
Some first nations children played with puppets made by stuffing animal hair into hides that formed the shape of the puppet. Provide hides and other supplies for creating pet finger puppets.
Some first nations children played with puppets made by stuffing animal hair into hides that formed the shape of the puppet. Provide hides and other supplies for creating pet finger puppets.
Health
Discuss animal illnesses.
Discuss pet safety.
Discuss pet safety.
Websites
Shidonni
Pet of the Day
Every day since 1997 Pet of the Day has featured a new pet profile and photo.
FBI Working Dogs
Learn about some of the working roles dogs play in our society.
Fact Monster- Pets Page
Tons of facts about all kinds of pets!
Super Poke Pets!
Adopt and take care of an online pet. You can feed it, play with it, and so much more.
BBC-Science-Pets
Find out about a variety of pets ancestry.
Videos
Pet Advice Series
5min.com- Pet Behavior
Check out all the pet videos at 5min.com.
Articles
Choosing a pet
This article addresses a variety of considerations when choosing a pet.
| choosingapet.pdf |
Poems
Pets
I'm a dog
All tail and bark
Snapping, yapping
In the park.
I'm a cat
As thin as a wire,
Creeping, sleeping
By the fire.
I'm a rabbit
all fluff and ear,
Trapped in a cage
And twitching fear.
John Kitching
My Pets
There are lots of pets in my house.I have one gerbil and one white mouse.(Hold up one finger on each hand.)I have two kittens and two green frogs,(Hold up two fingers on each hand.)I have three goldfish and three big dogs.(Hold up three fingers on each hand.)Some folks say that's a lot!Can you tell how many pets I've got?
(Twelve)
-Unknown
I'm a dog
All tail and bark
Snapping, yapping
In the park.
I'm a cat
As thin as a wire,
Creeping, sleeping
By the fire.
I'm a rabbit
all fluff and ear,
Trapped in a cage
And twitching fear.
John Kitching
My Pets
There are lots of pets in my house.I have one gerbil and one white mouse.(Hold up one finger on each hand.)I have two kittens and two green frogs,(Hold up two fingers on each hand.)I have three goldfish and three big dogs.(Hold up three fingers on each hand.)Some folks say that's a lot!Can you tell how many pets I've got?
(Twelve)
-Unknown
The Furry Ones
I like--
the furry ones--
the waggy ones
the purry ones
the hoppy ones
that hurry,
The glossy ones
the saucy ones
the sleepy ones
the leapy ones
the mousy ones
that scurry,
The snuggly ones
the huggly ones
the never, never
ugly ones...
all soft
and warm
and furry.
- Aileen Fisher
I like--
the furry ones--
the waggy ones
the purry ones
the hoppy ones
that hurry,
The glossy ones
the saucy ones
the sleepy ones
the leapy ones
the mousy ones
that scurry,
The snuggly ones
the huggly ones
the never, never
ugly ones...
all soft
and warm
and furry.
- Aileen Fisher
Digital Books
Books
Oh the Pets You Can Get - Tish Rabe
Dogs and Cats - Steve Jenkins
Wet Pet, Dry Pet, Your Pet, My Pet - Dr. Seuss
What Pet to Get? - Emma Dodd
The Pigeon wants a Puppy - Margi
Pet Show - Ezra Jack Keats
The Perfect Pet - Margie Palatini
Pet Science: 50 Purr-fectly Woof-Worthy Activities for You and Your Pets by Veronika Gunter and Rain Newcomb
The Classroom Pet- Grace MacCarone and Betsy Lewin
I Want A Pet- Lauren Child
