Mutt-i-grees

1.4 The Best of Both Worlds Objective: Today you will identify personal traits/characteristics that you like about yourself and others to enhance confidence and appreciation of diversity. You will explore how similar and different you are from peers and how your skills set compliments for classmates.

Think, Pair & Share What was a classmates talent or strength you remember they have? Last time, we talked about the qualities we like in ourselves and others, and how to give and receive positive feedback. Today we are going to continue to talk about our strengths and talents and how that may be similar or different from others.

We all have special strengths and talents; some of us share similar strengths while others may have different ones. For example, I am not a very good baker but an excellent cook. My sister is a wonderful baker but not a very good cook. It works well that we are good at slightly different things- together we compliment each other and literally complete the meal. Knowing what your own strengths are, and how they compliment the strengths and talents of your friends and family, can help you figure out how best to work together. Imagine if we wanted to put on a class play- what if all we had were good singers? What will happen to the scenery, who will paint? Who will make costumes? What if we tried to put a soccer team together and everyone was a good defender? Its important to appreciate diversity of our talents, this variety can help us be more productive and successful in everything we do together.

Dogs also have diverse qualities and characteristics. Some dogs are big, while others are small; some dogs are very active and need a lot of room to run around, while others may need less activity and space; and some dogs ate more relaxed and calm than others. Many animals are turned into shelters because their owners are unable to take care for them; sometimes people realize that they purchased a dog too active, too big or doesn’t fit in with their family. Can you think of some things why a family might not be able to keep a dog? Shelters make concerted efforts to match dogs and prospective owners to help ensure dogs and their owners are suited for each other. For example, shelters describe a dog’s energy level and temperament and will note whether a dogs should be placed in a home with children or other pets. Shelters also have ensure that they place a dog in an appropriate home.

Activity: Learning by Doing With partners, one student will be the adopter and the other the shelter employee. Adopter: Think about information you would want to know about a dog you are interested in adopting form the shelter. – What kind of dog are you interested in (active, small, etc)? Shelter Employee: Think about information on how you will know which dog will be the perfect pet for the adopter. – How many family members in the family?

Closing We all have special skills and talents; often these strengths compliment those of our friends and family. This diversity can actually help us work together and be successful in what we try to achieve. Dogs also benefit from being placed in homes where their characteristics and qualities complement those of their owners.