How to Strike a Match
Goal: Students will understand that not all dogs are the same, and that before adopting a new dog, a household should first determine that the dog they are adopting will fit their lifestyle.
Grade Levels: 1st–8th grade
Time: 20 minutes
Audience Size: 5–20 students
Objectives:
- Students will recognize lifestyle traits that could be compatible (or incompatible) with a particular dog. (Examples: size of house, current pets, number of children in the home, yard, etc.)
- Students will name dog traits that may make a dog incompatible with one family, but compatible with another. (Example: breed, size, personality, friendliness with other animals, activity needs, grooming needs, etc.)
Materials (one for each group):
- Chalkboard, dry erase board, or easel
- Dog and Family Cards (5 dog cards and 5 family cards)
Introduction:
A dog’s breed, size, age, personality, activity needs, likes, dislikes, and other factors all come together to make every dog – and every dog’s specialized needs, unique. For example, while all dogs require some degree of grooming, some dogs, particularly long-haired breeds, may require more frequent grooming. Even dogs of the same breed will have varied needs. Whereas an old Labrador retriever may not require intense exercise, a 6-month-old Labrador retriever may have a high drive for physical activity. A home that is suitable for dog may not be a good fit for another.
Procedure:
- Divide students into groups of 4–5 individuals.
- Give each group one of each card.
- Instruct each group to work together to read each card and to match each dog with the ideal owner.
- After each group has matched up their cards, draw a simple chart on the chalkboard showing which dog the groups chose for each fictional family.
Summary:
Speaking together as a class, ask students why they thought a particular dog would be compatible with the family they chose.
In real life, what might happen happen when…
- stay-at-home apartment dwellers choose a playful puppy?
- a family with kids chooses an easily frightened dog?
- frequent travelers choose a dog who gets car sick?
*EXTENSION: A great resource for children to learn about dog breeds is the show Dogs 101 on Animal Planet. Short, three-minute clips detailing common breeds can be found on Youtube.com.
