House of Hugs "Pets" Theme

Pets

Coloring Sheetsfor the Pets Animal theme.

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.
Pets in classroom
Walking sticks! They are absolutely wonderful. They require free maintanance - water and blackberry branches. I got mine from another teacher but she says that pet stores sell them. My kids just love them. I put them out before they arrived and let them discover them on their own. I had a parent listen carefully and record what they were saying about their new discovery. Then at circle, I took one out and let them hold it. They are fun, it you touch it, it will wave it' leg like it is waving at you - the kids thought this was wonderful. Just put them in a container with blackerry branches (they will eat the leaves) and spray them with a water bottle (keep the leaves moist but not drenched you don't want puddles on the bottom of the container - they will drown)
Have you thought of having some insects as pets in the classroom?They cost almost nothing to maintain & are easy to keep etc...How about some sow bugs?
Also known as pill bugs,woodlice,rolly polly they have many names.They actually are not considered to be a true insect but from the arthropod family.Related to the crab.
We had some of these interesting creatures in our class.I have them all over my yard.They require damp soil >not too moist.They feed on rotting vegetation & leaves.
Add a small amount of vegetable peelings to your soil.The children love to handle these cute creatures.If your kids get bored w/these you can set them free &; get some other creature from outside. Ask the children to find info.on other insects that you find in your area.What a wonderful discovery for all.When you have found the information on the insect that you know is available in your area you can make an attempt to maintain it in your classroom.Also when your adding your weekly grated carrot peeling be sure to give the area a light spray with water.Use rain water ot let the tap water sit out for a few days to release the chemicals in the water.(Forgot to add this info.above).
Cat Handprint
We first used a wallpaper sample book to let the children cut out a rug for their cat to sit on. Then we put their handprint upright on the "rug" (fingers together, thumb outstretched a little becomes the tail). We then used the top of a liquid detergent cap to make a circle at the top of the handprint (to become the cat's head). They were really cute--add facial features, whiskers, etc. I also had the children name their kitten--we Aaron's kitty, "Socks" at the top.
Pet Day
Plan a Pet Day with your children. Invite them to bring in their pets -- or photos of their pets -- for others to see. Give each child a chance to talk about his or her pet and to tell how he or she helps care for it.
Pets and Owners (Movement Activity)
Have half your children pretend to be pet owners and let the other half pretend to be their pets. Have the owners do pretend activities such as feeding, walking, petting, and playing with their "pets." Then let the children reverse roles.
Our Pet Rhyme
Our pet has A special place.
We keep it clean and neat.
We feed our pet Every day.
It sure likes To eat!
The Cat of Many Colours (Before you read the poem, ask the children to listen carefully for the colour of their cat puppet. When they hear the colour, have them wave their puppet in the air.)Cut a cat shape out of white, purple, red, orange, blue, green, yellow, and black construction papter. Cut out a shape for each of your children (or if children are old enough have them do it) and attach each shape to a craft stick to make a stick puppet. Give a stick puppet to each child.
Once there was a cat all white Who wished that he were black as night. He was as thirsty as could be, And in the cupboard, what did he see? Grape juice right before his eyes! He drank it. Then, to his surprise, He turned from white to something new: Deep dark purple was his hue. He peered into his little cup, Saw tomato juice, and lapped it up. He soon became the brigthest red. He thought,"Maybe I should go to bed;" But he wasn't tired, and so He looked for somewhere else to go. He spied an orange on the floor, And pounced in it, and played some more. As he played this little game, Orange was what he became. He played with some blueberries, too, So suddenly the cat turned blue. A sour lime sat on the ground. The kitty licked it, and he found That he felt strange and not so keen, For he had turned the colour green. Now he was a sad little fellow, So he ate a banana and turned bright yellow. Just then he saw a tasty treat, Another food he had to eat. A long black piece of licorice Gave the little cat his wish. He ate it all, and soon he was Black from his head down to his paws! Whay did this happen? You guessed right, If you blamed it all on Hallowee'en night.
Love Your Pets Song Sung to: �Row, Row, Row Your Boat�
Love, love Love your pets,
Love them Every day.
Give them food And water, too,
Then let them Run and play.
PET CARE
Using stuffed animals as props, talk with your children about the proper way to hold, pet, and play with pets.
FIVE LITTLE PARAKEETS: Five little parakeets Peekin in the door. One bumped his beek then there were four
Four little parakeets Perched in a tree. One lost his balance When he winked at me.
Three little parakeets Paddling a conoe One went fishing Then there were two
Two little parakeets Ate a sugar bun One got a tummy ache Then there was one.
One little parakeet Crying, boo hoo. I'm all alone What shall I do
Come here, little parakett Until you're older, You can sit Upon my shoulder.
The children love these, and we make up fingerplays to do with them, they really get into the BOO HOO part, some of them look as if they really are cry, and there eyes are so red after rubbing them while fack crying.
THIS KITTY
(Start by holding up all 5 fingers. At each line take one away.On the last line have the final finger run through a hole made by the left hand.) This kitty said, "I smell a mouse," This kitty said, "Let's hunt through the house." This kitty said, "Let's go creepy creep." This kitty said, "Is the mouse asleep?" this kitty said, "Meow, meow, I saw him go through This hole just now."
Fish and Fish bowl
Cut off 2 inches from a paper plate. This is the fish bowl. Children can either draw or cut out colored fish from construction paper. Fish can be glued to paper plate. Attach string and hang from the ceiling.
My Puppy
My puppy has a doghouse,
just outside my door.
He licks me when I pet him,
and wags his tail for more.
He's always there beside me,
no matter what I do.
My puppy is my special friend,
and a family member, too.
My Pets
I have 5 pets that I'd like you to meet They all live with me on Mulberry Street (Hold up 1 hand)
This is my chicken, the smallest of all He comes a-running whenever I call (Point to little finger)
This is my duckling. He says, Quack, Quack, Quack As he shakes the water from off his back. (next finger)
Here is my rabbit. He runs from his pen. Then I must put him back in it again (middle finger)
This is my kitten. Her coat's black and white. She loves to sleep on a pillow at night. (index finger)
Hereis my puppy who has lots of FUN!!!!(thumb)
He chases the others and makes them run. (move thumb slowly and fingers rapidly.)
I have a dog and his name is Harley.
He eats so much and even eats barley.
His ears flip-flop, And his tail wig-wags,
And when he walks he goes zig-zag.
He goes flip-flop, wig-wag, zig-zag.(three times)
I love Harley and he loves me. (hands at either side of head for flip-flop, hips wiggle for wig-wag, arms cross for zig-zag)
My dog Harley he loves to play.
He rolls around in the mud all day.
I whistle but he won't obey.
He always runs the other way.
My Puppy
I like to pat my puppy (make puppy with one fist, pat)
He has such nice soft fur (pat puppy)
And it I don't pull his tail (pull tail)
He won't say GrrrR! (make angry face)
Soft Kitty (Make a fist of left hand for kitty, and pet the kitty.)
Soft kitty,
warm kitty
Little ball of furr
Lazy kitty,
pretty kitty
purr, purr, purr
I Wanna Be a Dog (Barry Polisar)
Oh I wanna be a dog, I wanna wag my tail
Chase cars, knock over garbage cans Bite the lady that brings me the mail
Oh I wanna be a dog I wanna dig big holes
I wanna chase French poodles and basset hounds And look for telephone poles
Oh I wanna have dog breath I wanna learn to growl
Scratch fleas and ticks and run after sticks
The moon's gonna make me howl
Oh I wanna be a dog I wanna big wet nose I wanna run on the street,
get mud on my feet
And put them all over your clothes
Oh I wanna have dog breath I wanna learn to growl
Scratch fleas and ticks and run after sticks The moon's gonna make me howl
Oh I wanna be a dog I wanna lie around Being human these days is getting a little crazy
I just want to be a hound Being human these days is getting a little crazy I just want to be a hound.
(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
(Words and Music by Bob Merrill) How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)

The one with the waggely 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 he doggie will have a good home.
How much is that doggie in the window? (Bark! Bark!)
The one with the waggely 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 flashlightsthat 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 waggely tail
How much is that doggie in the window?
(Bark! Bark!) I do hope that doggie's for sale.
Three Little Kittens
Three little kittens lost their mittens And they began to cry:
Meow, meow, meow
What? Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens Then you shall have no pie:
Meow, meow, meow
Three little kittens found their mittens And they began to cry:
Meow, meow, meow
What? Found your mittens, you good little kittens Now you shall have some pie:
Meow, meow, meow
Brown Bag Puppies
Make puppies from brown lunch bags. Let the child draw the face on the bag and glue on ears.
Animal Crackers In My Soup. Make chicken noddle soup with animal crackers in it.
Play time
At many toy stores you can buy those small plastic animals for cheap to put in your block area.
Cut out different animal shapes for easel art or sponge painting.
Animal Guess Game -

Cut pictures of animals (2 of each animal) out of magazines or coloring books. Pin one picture on each child's back. All the children should move around the room behaving like the picture of the animal on their back. The object is for the children to locate their matching animal.
Sort Animal Crackers -

Animal crackers can provide excellent sorting and matching experiences for children. And the best part is once you have finished the task, everyone gets to eat the assignment.
Animal Hospital
The children can brainstorm ways to make the area look like an animal hospital. Let them make a sign and decorate the area themselves. cotton swabs empty milkbone boxes cloth bandages bandaids rubber gloves long white lab coats stethoscope scale clipboards paper pencils baskets with pillows and blankets for overnight guests dogfood dish water dish stuffed animals from home telephone thermometer plastic (toy) shots
Pet Day
Plan a Pet Day with your children. Invite them to bring in their pets -- or photos of their pets -- for others to see. Give each child a chance to talk about his or her pet and to tell how he or she helps care for it.
Pets and Owners

Have half your children pretend to be pet owners and let the other half pretend to be their pets. Have the owners do pretend activities such as feeding, walking, petting, and playing with their pets. Then let the children reverse roles.
Our Pet
Our pet has A special place. We keep it clean And neat. We feed our pet Every day. It sure likes To eat!
Love Your Pets Sung to: �Row, Row, Row Your Boat�
Love, love Love your pets, Love them Every day. Give them food And water, too, Then let them Run and play.
LANGUAGE IDEA
Using stuffed animals as props, talk with your children about the proper way to hold, pet, and play with pets.
Toasted treats
Use cookie cutters to cut toast into bone shapes for "doggy snacks" and fish shapes for "kitty snacks."

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