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Grade 4
Grade 4
Unit 5: Make a Plan
 
Mom's Best Friend
by Sally Hobart Alexander
 
Cultural Perspectives  
Dogs Around the World  
Cultural Perspectives
From the Student Web Page
Dog Breeds
Connect to this link:
http://www.petnet.com.au/dogs/dogbreedindex.html


  1. Click A-C. Then click and read Australian Cattle Dog, Basenji, and Briard.
  2. Click D-K. Then click and read Grifton Bruxellois, Irish Wolfhound and Keeshond.
  3. Click L-P. Then click and read Lhasa Apso, Newfoundland, and Pyrenean Mountain Dog.
  4. Click R-Z. Then click and read Rottweiler, St. Bernard, and Siberian Husky.
About the Site

Dog Breeds offers brief, colorful commentary on the history, unique physical features, and personal qualities of 100 dog breeds, along with photographs and some advice for would-be owners. This site is from PetNet in Australia.

What to Do

  1. Ask students to describe one of the dog breeds they read about. Ask questions such as What does it look like? From what country did it originally come? What was it first bred and trained to do?

  2. Invite students to tell which of the dogs would make good pets for their families. Which ones probably wouldn't?
From the Student Web Page
Puppy Finder
Connect to this link:
http://www.puppyfinder.com/


  1. Click Breeds. Click A.
  2. Scroll down and click Australian Terrier. Read about this dog.
  3. What is this dog known for? Would you like this dog as a pet?
  4. Click the Back arrow. Click another letter.
  5. Explore other dogs. Look for dogs with countries in their names.
About the Site

Puppy Finder is a Web site filled with a great deal of information for anyone thinking about having a dog for a pet. In addition to information about individual breeds, other links provide dog names, breeders, veterinarians, and pet care information. You may want to explore the site beforehand.

What to Do

  1. Discuss the different types of dog breeds that students have for pets.

  2. Talk about dogs that were originally bred in other countries and what their "jobs" were, i. e., what they were bred to do.

  3. Help students navigate the site. Read and clarify information where necessary.

  4. Have students report on and discuss the dogs they investigated.

  5. Discuss the responsibilities all pet owners have.
Find Out More  
Dog Guides  
Find Out More
From the Student Web Page
Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs
Connect to this link:
http://TLCservicedogs.com/


  1. Click and read Types of Assistance Dogs.
  2. In the left column, click Home.
  3. Click Say hello to Civic and Chris. See the dog Civic at work.
  4. Click the Back arrow and meet Scout, Tess, Vinnie, and Riley in the same way.
About the Site

Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs is a nonprofit organization that provides dogs to assist people with disabilities cope with daily tasks. Its site introduces several of the dogs, and details some of the tasks they are trained to do.

What to Do

  1. You may wish to have students work in pairs as they explore the Web site.

  2. Help them with navigation if necessary.

  3. Discuss with students ways trained dogs can help disabled persons.

  4. Encourage students to suggest other ways not mentioned in the Web site information.
From the Student Web Page
Guide Dog Puppies at Work
Connect to this link:
http://www.guidedogs.com/puppy-work.htm


  1. Read the first paragraph.
  2. Scroll down to see pictures of puppies and read about them.
  3. Think about some of the things these puppies need to learn.
About the Site

Guide Dog Puppies at Work presents a glimpse of different workplace environments these puppies are exposed to. This site is from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., in San Rafael, CA, and is a section on its home page.

What to Do

  1. Explain that guide dog puppies must first become socialized, or used to being with different people in different places.

  2. Help students with the text if necessary.

  3. Ask students why they think people who raise these puppies try to take them to school or work rather than just leave them at home.

  4. Ask students to name some dog breeds that are trained as dog guides.
Leveled Books  
Animals that Help People  
Leveled Books
From the Student Web Page
Extraordinary Dogs
Connect to this link:
http://www.wnet.org/extraordinarydogs/index.html


  1. Click Stories and read about Chip, the Border Collie.
  2. Click Hasty, Cracker, Twany, and Molly & Scooter and read their stories.
About the Site

Nature: Extraordinary Dogs is a PBS Online site based on a 1996-97 TV presentation. Stories features captivating "job profiles" and photographs of six dogs who have been trained to help people in a number of ways. Contest presents stories and drawings about extraordinary dogs, submitted by entrants 12 and under.

What to Do

  1. Ask students to describe ways that dogs have been trained to do useful things for people.

  2. Invite students to explore the Contest section of the site.
From the Student Web Page
Paws with a Cause
Connect to this link:
http://www.ismi.net/paws/


  1. Click and read Puppies-in-Training.
  2. Click the Back arrow. Then click Hearing Dogs.
  3. Learn about Service Dogs and Combination Dogs in the same way.
About the Site

At this Web site from PAWS with a Cause, students learn about dogs trained to assist people. The site includes information about guide dogs, hearing dogs, and dogs that aid people in other ways. There is also a page that describes how puppies are trained to become service dogs. Photographs accompany each section of text.

What to Do

  1. Have students name ways that dogs can help people. Tell them they will learn some new ways at this Web site.

  2. At the site, read the information with students.

  3. Invite students to share what they have learned. Guide them by asking questions such as What dog breeds are trained as helping dogs? What are some of the ways that the dogs help people?