Learning about the Alphabet: D is for Dogs

This post contains affiliate links. 

Over the course of twenty-six posts, I will introduce my own simple lessons for the letters of the alphabet. I will provide enough ideas and suggestions for a week's worth of activities.

For the letter D, we focused upon Dogs.

There are so many different breeds of dogs - anywhere from approximately 180 to over 300 depending on which organization you are consulting for registered types.  It is very easy to pick up a few books at the library and read about this amazing species. 

Does your family own a dog? Do you have a favorite breed of dog? I think my favorite is the Weimaraner. We had one for a while when I was young. She was such a beautiful and kind dog.

Did you know that a dog's nose is very similar to a human's fingerprint in that each dog's nose print is unique?

Did you know that a dog's nose has over 300 million receptors? Compare that to the human's 5 million...who do you think has a better sense of smell?

Why does your dog curl up into a ball to go to sleep? Dogs do this to protect their vital organs. They would have needed to do this when they were living in the wild to protect themselves from attacks by predators.

Coloring Sheets

The following two sites have a variety of realistic and cartoon dogs for children to color: 

Super Coloring's Dog Coloring Pages
Best Coloring Pages for Kids' Free Printable Dog Coloring Pages for Kids 

Projects

Coffee Filter Dog Craft 

Create your own dog with crayons, construction paper, glue, markers and a coffee filter. The great thing with this craft is that you could make it look like any number of cute dog breeds.

Books

Book Club: Pug Pals 

In this cute book, pugs Sunny and Rosy learn how to cooperate together to retrieve Sunny's missing bunny toy. Check out my post in which I show you how to make a Sunny or Rosy puppet and a bunny toy for them to share.  

Harry the Dirty Dog Activity for Tots 

After reading Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, your child will learn about how Harry prefers to stay dirty and help him get dirty using the printable provided. If you laminate your dog, then you can clean him up, too!

Soldier Dog 

If you have older children in your family and want them to join in the learning about dogs, check out this review by A Net In Time. Soldier Dog by Sam Angus is a story about the messenger dogs of World War I appropriate for ages 9 to 12 years old. 

Featured Shape

If you and your children are working on drawing dogs this week, try using curved triangles and ovals as your starting points.  

Activities 

Many libraries host "Read to a Dog" programs where children can read storybooks to dogs to help them gain confidence in reading aloud.

If your children are old enough, you can research about volunteering at a local animal shelter. If you cannot volunteer at an animal shelter, your family could always start a collection to supply one with food, treats, and other needed items for the dogs and cats. 

Other Topics 

D is for Door

You can decorate your door for any holiday or season by adding the appropriate crafting materials. For example, for the springtime, your child could add flowers around the outside or raindrops falling upon the door.

Ducks

You could study ducks with your child. Listening to songs like Six Little Ducks, making your own duck puppets, or reading books like The Story About Ping.

Dinosaurs

PBS Kid's Dinosaur Train 
There are videos, games, a field guide, and coloring pages and activities to print out.

Lots of great ideas when studying dinosaurs with little kids.

Dig dinosaurs out of hardened clay or ice to simulate digging up fossils.

I froze some dollar store dinosaurs in ice for my kids to dig out.

Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Chunky Puzzle 

Create a dinosaur-themed meal for your kids. 

Resources 

Kindergarten Worksheets and Games' Letter of the Week: D is for Dinosaurs 
Look! We're Learning
Tots and Me...Growing Up Together's Letter of the Week: Featuring the Letter D

I linked up with the following blog(s):

Book Club: Pug Pals

This post contains affiliate links. For more information please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Do you have children who love dogs? Then Pug Pals: Two’s a Crowd by Flora Ahn is a perfect story about two dogs for your family. It is not only great for dog lovers but also for siblings because it illustrates the need to work together and get along.

“Two Pugs. One beloved toy bunny. What could go wrong?” 

This tale is perfect for reading aloud with your children. We split the reading over several days, reading a few chapters at a time. The nature of the book allows for using funny voices which only further engaged my children.

Each illustration of Sunny and Rosy helps to tell the tale. Sunny’s annoyance with Rosy and her eventual acceptance of her younger sister is clear in the illustrations of the two pugs.

I recommend this book for families with both younger and older children because you can read it to your young children while your older children, who are ready to read chapter books independently, can enjoy the story by themselves.

Pug Facts

• Toy breed
• Weigh 14-18 lbs
• Lifespan of 13-14 years
• Considered companion dogs
• Short, smooth, and soft coat
• Fawn-colored, black or silver in color
• Distinctive corkscrew tail







We created two crafts to go along with the story.

Bunny Pal Craft 

Materials 

• Toilet paper roll
• Construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick or white glue
• Tape
• Markers

Steps 

1. Gather all your materials. I used tape to attach all the pieces, because my kids were eager to play with their bunnies, but I think glue would work better.

2. If your children are proficient with scissors, they can help you cut out the face, ears, and legs of the bunny. If not, have these items pre-cut.

3. Decorate the toiler paper roll with markers.

4. Draw the face onto your bunny.

5. Attach the pieces to your toilet paper roll (the body of the bunny).

6. Display the completed craft!

Pug Puppy Puppet

Materials 

• Brown paper bags
• Markers
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Scissors

Steps

1. Gather all your materials.

2. If your children are proficient with scissors, they can help you cut out the face, ears, snout, tongue, and nose of the pug. If not, have these items pre-cut.

3. Attach the face onto the paper bag.

4. Glue on the ears.

5. Attach the snout.

6. Glue the tongue partially underneath the snout.

7. Glue on the pug’s nose.

8. Draw eyes on the face of your pug.

9. Your Pug Puppy Puppet is ready for playtime!

10. Optional: The paper bag can be colored with markers.

Pug Puppy Rock Pet 

Inspiration for your rock pets! 

Another craft idea you can do with this unit is the painting of a pug onto a rock.

Materials

• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Sealer for the paint
• Rocks

Steps 

1. Gather your materials.
2. Sketch your design on your rock.
3. Add paint to your rock to create the pug.
4. Seal the rock to protect it from the elements before putting your rock outside.  

I linked up with the following blog(s):