Dog and Cat Unit Study Ideas for Homeschool Families
Are you looking for a dynamic way to engage your students from kindergarten to high school, while learning about our beloved canine companions and feline friends? In this blog post, we'll dive into the exciting realm of unit studies centered around dogs and cats covering everything from lesson plans and curriculum materials to fun facts and field trips.
Grades K-12
For younger students, you can introduce basic concepts about dogs and cats through interactive activities and pretend play. Create mini units or make a dog lapbook focusing on topics like breeds, dog behavior, and responsible pet ownership.
For older students, consider more research-based projects, a persuasive essay on subjects like spay and neuter, dog fighting, etc., or hands-on activities such as training their cat or dog tricks like hi-five or jumping through a hoop or a new sport activity like frisbee, or dock diving (see the training headline below). Volunteering is another great idea; not only are your students helping they are acquiring valuable job skills.
Below is a compilation of subject areas, each accompanied by its own set of ideas with grade specific recommendations. Almost all the links are free and except for my products, I have no affiliation with the ideas below. Some are ones I’ve used in my homeschooling journey and others are just ideas I found when researching.
Sled Dogs
Pre-K and Elementary students - Iditarod EDU The Iditarod EDU website provides lessons and activities for teachers Pre-k to secondary. They have sled dog lessons that pertain to math, science, and social studies. One of their free resources is a downloadable Junior Trailblazer Booklet. Reading the 16-page booklet is a great way for kids to learn facts and have lots of fun. Kids who complete four activities can even get a reward from the US Forestry Service. Jr Trailblazer Booklet Free
Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade Craft - PBS has a free paper sled that your kids can make at home. Paper Sled
3rd grade -5th grade students might enjoy this online video presentation from Denali National Park Service complete with a teachers guide
5th grade, 6th grade, and middle school students can delve deeper into sled dogs, exploring their role in history and their unique adaptations. Incorporate hands-on projects like building model sleds or researching famous sled dog races like the Iditarod, which takes place annually, on the first Saturday in March. Iditarod.com
Create a model sled and have it printed on a - 3-D printer. If you don't have a 3-D printer, some libraries now have them and allow you to print from them. Sled Design Activity
Extra Credit for the whole family. Get adventurous and take a sled dog tour with a dog sledding company. Some offer year-round sledding rides even when there is no snow.
Book on Sled Dogs: 8-12-year-olds - Book review by Redeemed Reader
Police K9/ Search & Rescue Dogs
Dogs are used with several law-enforcement agencies including local police agencies, Fish and Wildlife, Search and Rescue, and more. They help law-enforcement agencies find people, drugs, computer flash drives, bombs, etc. Here are some ideas to learn more about these superhero dogs.
Watching a police dog demonstration always guarantees good times. If you gather a group of homeschoolers, you can reach out to your local police department to inquire about arranging a free K9 demo; many departments offer this exciting opportunity to see man's best friend at work. You could also search for local police K9 trials. Various agencies compete against each other at annual trials. They are often open to the public and most of the time free.
All Ages- FAQs about police dogs
War Dogs Lesson Plan - K-2 - A free teacher curriculum packet about The Dogs of Defense that were donated by their owners to help in WWII. The packet highlights a story about a dog named Chips The Hero Hound. Lesson Plan Packet
Elementary age- probably perfect for about 4th grade - Search and Rescue Dog Printable Activity Book with comprehension questions, word searches, dot-to-dots, and coloring pages.
Smell: A dog's sense of smell is extraordinarily keen, allowing them to detect scents far beyond the capabilities of humans. Here are two videos to learn more about it:
The Dog and Its Incredible Sense of Smell - God designed dogs with an incredible sense of smell by Answers in Genesis.
Basic information for kids on police dogs
Basic information on Search and Rescue
7th grade and up resource list of Search and Rescue things from equipment list to scent and search theory to SAR podcasts Cascadia Search and Rescue (Parental note: I have not listened to any of the podcast I DON’T know if they are child friendly)
Middle school - High schoolers might enjoy War Dog History from WWI, WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars.
High School - Local police canine units have volunteer groups with names such as "Friends of the ... K9 Unit". Older students might consider volunteering with them. They do fundraisers to help support the K9 current units and the retired dogs. Check with your local law enforcement agency.
Upper-level high schoolers who want to dive in extremely deep might be interested in this website dedicated to training the handlers of working dogs. It is probably best for those who have already have good foundational knowledge. This website has hours of free videos about training in the knowledge library. (please note that this website appears to be for adult Search and Rescue volunteers so I am not sure about the language, or topics that are included in all the videos.) https://www.k9sensus.org/
Book: The Dogs of History Review by Redeemed Reader
Dog & Cat Training
4th-12th grade. Do your kids like to train dogs? I have an article on ideas to incorporate dog training into your homeschooling. The article includes how to write a Jr. Dog Trainer Unit Study/Lesson Plans and a list of 10+ training activities your kids can do with their dogs. View the article here
Cat Training Unit Study
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Cat Training Unit Study 🐈
🐈 4th - 12th grade. Training your cat tricks is a lot of fun! I wrote this printable Cat Training Unit Study/Lesson Plan. It has a lesson plan, handouts, cat training video suggestions (on YouTube), journaling pages, training checklists, reading comprehension pages, and more. You can get it on Etsy or if you are using homeschool funds it is also available on Teachers Pay Teachers some charter schools will pay for TPT curriculum.
Upper Elementary - Make it a Science Unit with this Stem Agility Course Lesson Plan
Take your dog to an obedience class. Look for one that teaches positive reinforcement methods. Certified Council of Professional Dog Trainers
8th-12th grade - Learn about how dogs/cats communicate using body language. Free "Dog Speak" webinar or "Cat Communication" webinar both are hosted by the ASPCA.
Veterinarian Animal Doctors
Veterinarian offices sometimes offer school tours and some have volunteer programs for older kids and teens.
Video- So you Want to be a Veterinarian - This short video talks about the different types of vets. (Parent note: This video briefly shows a surgery)
Pre-K- 4th grade- Free coloring and activity book about being a veterinarian by the American Veterinary Medical Association
4-H has a Veterinarian Science Program. Search at your local club.
High school - STEM- virtual, interactive STEM simulations- Free video and handbook. As a geneticist in an animal hospital, students learn about genetic changes in meiosis to determine the reason why a male cat can have calico fur coloring. (Parental Note: I have not watched this lesson or used Gizmo’s STEM activities before.)
High School level - Veterinary School Admission 101 has important and some surprising information (like that you don't have to have a 4.0) about becoming a vet.
Service Dog
Elementary age - PBS videos -How to Teach Kids about Service Dogs
Elementary Age- Reagan, a young girl interviews a family with two service dogs. How Service Dogs Can Help Kids
Service Dog School Live Puppy Cam Scroll to the bottom of the page.
Service Dog Facts AKC Service Dogs 101
PreK- 3rd - PDF Files - Guide Dog at Work The lesson plan focuses on ensuring the safety of guide dogs and the individuals they assist.
Guide Dog at Work video on the importance of not distracting a service dog.
WWC Printable service dog toolkit with bookmarks, handouts, etc.
Elementary & Middle School- The Girl Scouts have a 97-page booklet they use for their “All About Guide Dogs Patch Program.” This booklet has activities such as experiences without sight (to better understand visual impairment), games, and obstacle courses that you could incorporate into your homeschooling curriculum.
High School - History of Guide Dogs Lesson Plan - AKC History of Guide Dogs
High School - Volunteer - Service Dog Puppy Raisers - For those who like to give back, you can raise a puppy for a service dog group. You take the puppy with you everywhere and teach it basic obedience. When it gets to be about 16-18 months old, it goes back to the service dog group for advanced training and is placed with someone who needs a service dog. See your local guide dog schools or service dog groups to learn more. See links below:
Book: Elementary age: Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship By Jessica Kensky. Pick it up at your local library.
Animal Shelter
This one is dear to my heart. When I was in elementary school I used to volunteer and help out at my local shelter. Animal shelters have all sorts of volunteer opportunities for kids (usually with parental supervision) such as:
Reading to the dogs
Dog Walking
Making enrichment toys for the animals
Playing with the kittens, rabbits, and other small animals
Washing and folding laundry
Fostering pets
Elementary - What is an Animal Shelter? Video
Elementary-aged - This link leads to videos featuring readings of books aloud, along with corresponding lesson plans and activities. The first book is called Buddy Unchained. This book has a happy ending but might be a bit sad for sensitive kids. It's Raining Cats and Cats is a fun tale about what could happen if you have too many kittens.
K-5 Humane education lesson plans has five 40-60 min lesson plans. Topics covered include the physical and social needs of dogs, dog safety, and bite prevention.
Two Activity books, one for for kids 6 years and under and one for kids 7-10 years with things like mazes, word scrambles, a dog treat recipe, etc.
Pretend Play Cat or Dog Adoption - Why not create a playful scenario of pet adoption? Children not only care for their stuffed companions but also enjoy the added authenticity by filling out adoption certificates, enhancing their imaginative experience and sense of ownership. Set up play stations to fashion collars, role-play trips to a pretend vet for check-ups, and enjoy grooming sessions, enhancing their creativity and role-playing skills. Make your own adoption certificates and signs or use this already-designed one.
Bite Prevention printable coloring book by the AVMA in English and Spanish
Elementary Age- Jobs: What does a Humane Law Enrichment Officer Do? Video showcasing the duties of a Humane Law Enforcement Officer.
4th-8th grade - Lesson plans and activities this unit has things like a cat breed quiz, Kitten Season videos, and crafting your own origami cat mobile (remember never leave your cat alone with string they might get tangled in it or eat it.)
Middle School & High School - If your child is looking to write a research paper or a persuasive essay, the ASPCA professional site has lots of articles on everything from animal cruelty to research on access to veterinary care.
High School - The ASPCA professional website has many free training videos and articles for animal shelter workers. These videos and articles would be a great resource for learning more about what shelter workers do as well as about caring for animals. https://www.aspcapro.org/training. & https://www.aspcapro.org/about-programs-services/aspca-learning-lab
Books: Picture book- Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog By Lisa Papp about a girl who helps out at the animal shelter. Picture book -It's Raining Cats and Cats Jeanne Prevost This one isn't about a dog in a shelter but it is about a stray dog Because of Winn-Dixie Read Aloud Revival recommends this book for 7-14-year-olds.
Dog & Cat Breeds
K-6th Cat breeds and fur patterns video
3rd grade - High School Cat Breeds- Information and photos of different breeds of cats
3rd grade- High School Dog Breeds- The ACK provides information, videos, and photos of different breeds of dogs
Add geography to a study on dog/cat breeds by looking up countries the dogs/cats came from.
Additional Ideas
Social Studies - Combine a government election lesson with animals by doing this Animal Campaign Lesson
Art - K-4th grade Inference Canine Painting Making Art
Cooking - Research recipes and make your own healthy dog/cat treats.
Poetry - Dogs in Poetry Lesson for Middle Schoolers
Reading Books:
Wet Dog! by Elise Broach is one of my family's time favorite picture books.
Hank the Cowdog series is a funny series that boys especially love. Hank is the head of Ranch Security and is always up to silly antics. Read aloud for 4-7 year olds or Read on your own 8-12 year olds.
