Reading activities

• Have children read stories to the dog, either one at a time or in small groups

• For younger children, the teacher can read in a circle while the dog sits or lies down amongst the children. Teachers can ask questions about the story while reading.

 

Writing/Interviewing

• Before the team arrives have children prepare a list of questions to ask the therapy team. Spend one class period doing interviews

• Students then write up their interviews as a report

• The next time the team visits, students read their stories to the class and the team

 

Writing - Write a fictional story about the dog after a visit. Even more, work as a group of students to write and illustrate a fictional story about the dog

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Art – Draw pictures of the dog, or the team, at a visit or doing something that dogs do. While the students are drawing, they can ask questions and talk to the handler, who will walk around the room with the dog.

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Research – after a visit from the team, have students research and write something about the dog – breed, what it means to be a therapy dog, etc. – and prepare a small report. This could be turned into a two-visit activity that involves presenting the reports.

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Discussing Manners, Etiquette, etc. – A visit from a dog team opens up discussion possibilities, like: taking responsibility for another life; treating animals (and people) the way you want to be treated; how are people and animals different in terms of manners, etc.; what about your own pets.