Play-Doh Pets

Student Resources Teacher Notes

 Scenario

Have you ever asked someone to buy a new toy for you?  Did you need the toy or did you just really, really want it?  A toy is fun, but it is not a need.

All living things have 4 basic needs that are important for us to know about.  For example, children need to eat dinner in order to stay healthy and grow.

Children are living.  Plants and animals are too!  A pet is an animal, so it has needs.  You are going to pretend that you are getting a new pet.  It will be your responsibility to take care of!

                                           Click here to see photos of real pets!

What do living things, like pets, need to survive?

Tasks

 First, we will listen to a story and sort pictures in order to learn about the needs and wants of people. 

Next, we will learn about living and non-living things by doing internet research, reading a book, and going on a scavenger hunt. 

Then, we will compare and contrast a real turtle with a stuffed turtle. 

Finally, we will do the experiment, Which Seed Will Grow?  

 Products

 

 
bulletKidspiration picture sort (needs and wants)
bulletT-Chart organizer
bulletPictograph of objects from scavenger hunt
bulletVenn Diagram: comparing and contrasting a real turtle with a stuffed turtle 

 Final Product

1.  You will create a pet using play-doh.

2.  You will make a diorama to show off your pet or a video documentary about your pet.  Your diorama should include everything your pet needs to survive.

Assessments

 Play-Doh Pet Diorama checklist:

            Click on the cat.

Questions

 The Big Question:
bulletWhat do living things, like pets, need to survive?

More questions:

bulletWhat is something that you WANT?
bulletWhat is something that you NEED?
bulletCan you describe a living thing?
bulletCan you describe a non-living thing?
bulletHow are living and non-living things the same?
bulletHow are living and non-living things different?

Gather and Sort

 

 

 

 1.  First, let's read a story called A Chair for my Mother, by Vera B. Williams.  We will discuss the different things that the family in the story needs and what they want.  Now that you know about wants and needs, complete the Kidspiration picture sort.

2.  Let's use the internet to research living and non-living things.  As a class, we will visit the student links.  Write down new things you learn on a T-Chart.

3.  We can learn more by reading a book about living things.  Remember to record new information on your T-Chart.

4.  Now it is time to go on a scavenger hunt!  Look at the things on the scavenger hunt list that you need to find.  When you have everything, build a real graph with the items to show how many are living and how many are non-living.  Finally, complete the Scavenger Hunt Pictograph.

5.  Let's use good describing words to compare and contrast a real turtle with a stuffed turtle.  Use the Venn Diagram.

6.  We will now do the experiment, Which Seed Will Grow?  Record what you learn about the needs of living things on your T-Chart.

Organize

 As a class, we will talk about all of the new things we have learned and recorded on your T-Chart. 

Now you are ready to build your diorama!  Be sure to choose an animal first and make your pretend pet using Play-Doh.

bulletClick here for the diorama checklist. 

TIP: If you use your imagination and pretend that the shoebox is your pet's home, you will surely include everything that it needs to survive!                                                                                                    

Conclusion

 Now that you have created a Play-Doh pet diorama, you will share it with your classmates.  Then, we will talk about what we have learned.

LIVING OR NON-LIVING: Pretend your pet is alive.  How would it be different from a non-living object?

FOUR BASIC NEEDS: What do living things, like pets, need to survive?

Last update: July, 2004
Created by Christina Michael

 

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