Descriptions Kindergarten
The following books are included in the Kindergarten AnimalTales package.
Ginger
Charlotte Voake
Ginger tells the story of a cat whose owner gets a new kitten. Ginger is upset with the new addition to the family as familiar routines get disrupted. How will Ginger manage this new change? Students can relate to the experiences of Ginger and the kitten – both being the ‘new’ person and having someone new come into their family or community. Learning how to take the perspective of others, being welcoming to others, and troubleshooting issues if they arise are skills that students can utilize both in the classroom and outside of school.
Students will:
- identify how animals communicate their feelings through behaviour and body language
- discuss the natural behaviours of cats
- relate how animals think and feel to how people think and feel (empathy)
Hello, Horse
Vivian French
Hello, Horse follows the journey of a boy overcoming one of his fears. At the beginning of the story, the boy is unsure of Shannon, his friend Catherine’s big brown horse. The reader follows along as the boy faces his fear, spending time with Catherine and Shannon, becoming more comfortable as he learns about horses; including how to care for them and how to interact with them in a positive way. By using their own experiences of being nervous and unsure, students will explore different strategies to recognize and respond to feelings and emotions in various situations. Students will explore the importance of friendships, and how healthy relationships can impact how we feel.
Students will:
- identify feelings and emotions in different situations and discuss strategies for responding to these feelings
- discuss healthy friendships and explore what contributes to them
- relate the needs of humans to animals, and examine the needs of horses
- develop empathy by looking at multiple perspectives in the story
Tails Are Not for Pulling
Elizabeth Verdick
Tails Are Not for Pulling is a story about pets and how they communicate their feelings and needs. It also demonstrates how young people can interact with pets in a safe and respectful way. Learning that animals are sentient beings that have feelings and emotions allows students to better relate to them. Students may have experienced what it feels like to be teased, made fun of, or treated disrespectfully. By reflecting on their own experiences, students will gain an understanding of how animals may feel if they are treated in similar ways. Humane education programs that highlight animal sentience and care have been shown to improve children’s attitudes towards animals and prosocial behaviours towards their classmates.
Students will:
- describe appropriate ways to treat animals
- identify how animals communicate their feelings through behavior and body language
- differentiate between unkind vs kind ways to act towards animals
- relate the treatment of animals to how people like to be treated
The Eagle Feather
Kevin Locke
The Eagle Feather follows the journey of an eagle as he soars through the sky. In the book, Kevin Locke explains to a child that the eagle can teach us to be kind, courageous and honest. The reader is not only encouraged to embrace these qualities in themselves but also to share the eagle’s lessons with classmates, friends and family. Students will explore other lessons we can learn from a variety of animals and apply them to many aspects of their lives, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Students will:
- define and explore the meaning of kindness, courage and honesty
- identify different animals and what they can teach us
- discuss different ways to be kind and show care for others, animals and the environment
- discuss what it means to be courageous and share examples from personal experiences
