A Teacher’s Guide for

Little Dog Poems

&

Little Dog and Duncan

By Kristine O’Connell George

Illustrated by June Otani

Prediction:

Do you have a pet? What is special about having one? What types of funny things does your pet do? What do you think this dog will do?

Who do you think Duncan is? Is he coming to live with Little Dog? Will Little Dog like Duncan? What makes you think this?

Little Dog : Questions to Consider:

1. What does Little Dog see in the mirror?
2. What is an enemy? Does Little Dog think the vacuum is alive?
3. What do you think supervise means from reading this poem? Can you think of someone who supervises you?
4. What might your own little dog see out your front window in the morning?
5. Why does Little Dog curl in a tight ball?
6. Does Little Dog think he can chase planes and cars? How do you know?
7. Why is Little Dog digging so much?
8. Would YOU cook liver cookies?
9. Do you like things that mean goodbye or hello better? What are things that mean hello?
10. Why does she have accidents with popcorn?

Little Dog and Duncan:  Questions to consider:

1. Have you ever spent the night at someone’s house? What was it like?
2. Why is Duncan’s bag bigger than Little Dogs?
3. What is fair?
4. Why do Little Dog and Duncan both get put out?
5. What do you think miffed means by the way it is used in the poem?
6. Why has the juniper bush grown a tail?
7. Is Little Dog sharing? Is it hard to share?
8. Little Dog is jealous when his girl pays too much attention to Duncan. Have you ever felt this way? When?
9. Do you think Duncan will come over again? Why?
10. Is Little Dog sad or happy to see Duncan go? What clues make you think so?

Projects:

Art:

Dog prints:  stamp your pet’s paw in an almost dry patch of paint and make a print of it on a clean piece of paper. You might add your own handprint and a date of your creation.

Take pictures of your favorite dogs then write a poem about what they are doing in the picture. Use as few words as you can to tell the “story.”

Music:

Sing these dog songs:

BINGO (but change it to your own pet’s name, or a dream pet’s name)

Doggie in the window

or write your own song about dogs to one of these familiar tunes:

Mary had a Little Lamb

Here’s an example:

Abbie had a little dog

little dog

little dog

Abbie had a little dog

who liked to bark at cars!

Helping Others:

Visit your local shelter just to visit the homeless dogs. Take them for a walk if you can or just shower them with some extra attention. Call ahead and see if you can bring them a special treat!

Doggie Dictionary:

Write a doggie dictionary for your pet! Describe what he does or “says” when he wants certain things. My collie, for example, always tilts his nose in the air and says “ahroooooo” when he wants a treat. When he wants to play he goes and gets my shoes! Share your dictionary with anyone who cares for your pet!