Learning Objectives
Students will research famous dog breeds from different decades that appeared in television or in movies. Students will compare and contrast the various characteristics of the dogs displayed in the movies or on television to their official AKC breed standard, specifically temperament and appearance. Students will present their findings to the class in the form of a presentation.
Grade Levels
6-8
National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies
Theme 2: Time, Continuity, and Change
Common Core English Language Arts Literacy Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4
Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.5
Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.8
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
Materials Needed
Access to a computer, tablet, or other personal device with internet capabilities
Compare and Contrast Chart (Six Copies per student): HERE
Microsoft PowerPoint
Lesson
Introduction and Guided Instruction
- Introduce the lesson with an example reference to the famous cartoon dog, Snoopy, from Charlie Brown.
- Have students share their memories and experiences about Snoopy from Charlie Brown and what they know about the dog.
- Discuss what dog breed Snoopy is (Beagle). Visit the Beagle breed on the AKC website HERE together as a class to review its breed standard, temperament, and appearance.
- Watch a short video clip of Snoopy on YouTube: HERE
- Together as a class, complete the Compare and Contrast Chart and answer the following questions:
How is the cartoon version of Snoopy like the Beagle Breed Standard in terms of temperament and appearance? (ex. he is friendly and merry; has a great sense of smell; has long, floppy, and low-hanging hound ears, etc.)
How is Snoopy different from the Beagle Breed Standard in terms of temperament and appearance? (color is different as he is mostly white, walks on hind legs all the time, etc.)
What does Snoopy do that is human-like? Why do you think he acts that way?
Independent Group Project
- Students will work together in pairs to research five different famous dogs in past movies or television shows (cannot use Snoopy as an example) and compare them to the breed standards, specifically appearance and temperament.
- Each group will complete one Compare and Contrast Chart for each dog they choose (should have 5 separate charts). Students can utilize videos, websites, pictures, articles, stories, books, etc. to help them complete the charts accurately. Students must provide a list of resources in MLA format and paraphrase any information that they take from each source. Also, students should reference the AKC Dog Breeds Web Page HERE to access each dog breed standard.
- Once each group has finished their charts, they will work together to create a PowerPoint presentation showcasing the information to present to the class. The PowerPoint should include the following: Title Slide, One Slide per dog breed they chose with picture and brief description of how the dog in the movie or television show is similar and/or different to the breed standard, and a timeline showcasing the different years that the movies and television shows took place.
Review and Closing
- Students will present the PowerPoints to their classmates. Have a final discussion about the importance of the breed standards and why dogs are so popular in television and movies.
References
Dog Breeds. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/.