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Materials:
- chart paper and marker
- camera and film
- drawing paper and pencils
- tape recorder and blank cassette
Objective: In this activity,
children will visit a pet store to expand their understanding about caring
for pets. They will also learn about their community and have the basis
for a new dramatic-play activity.
In Advance: Contact a
local pet store to arrange a class trip.
ACTIVITY
- During meeting, explain to the children that they are going to visit
and learn about pet stores. Ask children to share what they already
know about pet stores. Record their responses on chart paper. Then ask
children what they would like to know about pet stores. What do they
think they will see at the pet store? Record these responses on a separate
sheet of chart paper.
- Review the list that describes what the children would like to know
about. Ask the children to think of different types of questions to
ask the owner of the pet store or the employees and record the questions
on sheet of paper.
- Ask children to help plan the trip to the pet store. Explain that
they can use a camera, tape recorder, drawings, and other means to gather
information. During the trip, some children may want to conduct the
interview, others may want to operate the tape recorder or take photographs,
and children who like to draw can sketch different things that interest
them.
- Following the visit, provide children with drawing materials to draw
and write about their pet store visit. Invite children to share their
drawings during circle. Create another language experience chart recording
What the Class Learned From the Visit to the Pet Store.
- Provide children with the photographs and recordings and, together,
develop a display to document their pet store visit. Include their drawings,
photographs, recorded information, and language experience charts in
the display.
Remember: If a visit is not possible, children can read a
book about a pet store. You may even try contacting an online pet
store to see if they would answer the children's questions.
Curriculum Connection
Dramatic Play: Classroom Pet Store.
Ask the children to work together to create a classroom pet store in the dramatic-play area. What types of things can they use that are already in the classroom? Invite everyone to bring stuffed animals from home and provide such as boxes, empty pet food bags or containers, and plastic bowls. Encourage children to make pet toys, signs, and other props for their pet store. Children can cut out pictures of animal products from magazines or catalogs to include in their store area.
BOOKS
Arthur's Pet Business by Marc Brown
(Little, Brown & Company, 1993; $5.95)
The Classroom Pet* by Grace Maccarone
(Scholastic Inc.; $2.63)
Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
(Simon & Schuster Children's Books, 1997; $5.99)
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