Process
1. You are in groups of 4. Each person will pick a role and fill out the worksheet with the questions for that role. You can find each worksheet by clicking on the name of the role you choose. You will each be in charge of answering two questions for each pet that you research. The roles are:
- Nutritionist: You are in charge of learning about each animal's eating habits. The two questions you will need to answer are:
What kind of food does this pet need?
How often do they need to eat?
- Fitness and Safety Technician: You are in charge of two things. The first is learning about exercise for each animal. Some animals can stay in a cage all day. Other animals need to go outside and run around. Second, you need to learn about the safety of the pet owner. These kids need to know what they should do to so they don't get hurt by their pet. The two questions you will need to answer are:
How much exercise does this animal need?
Are they dangerous in any way?
- Health Technician: Your will learn about the health and lifespan of the animals. Some animals need to go to the veterinarian regularly, to get shots that will help them stay healthy. These future pet owners need to know how often they will need to plan on making these trips. The two questions you will need to answer are:
How often will I need to take them to the vet?
How long could they live?
- Housing Technician: You are in charge of learning about the kind of home each pet will need. Some animals can live with their owners in their home, while others need a cage, aquarium, or fish bowl to live in. Some animals need to be cleaned up after, whether it's changing the water in the aquarium, or cleaning out the litterbox. The two questions you will need to answer are:
What will I need to get for them to live in?
How often will I need to clean up after them?
Here are some sites you can visit to fill out your worksheet:
Bird 1 Dog 1 Cat 1 Mouse 1 Fish 1 Snake 1
Bird 2 Dog 2 Cat 2 Mouse 2 Fish 2 Snake 2
2. Now that you've learned all about these six pets, it's time to meet the children who would like to be pet owners. Each child has written a letter to you, the Pet Counselors. They have shared a little information about themselves, and why they want a pet. As a group, read each letter. Then compare the information each child has given you, with the things you've learned about owning each animal. You will need to share your worksheets with each other, so everyone knows all about each animal. As a group, assign one animal for each child. Recommend a different animal for each person.
3. Now that you've chosen the best pet for each person, you are almost done! Each group member needs to choose one of those four kids to write a letter to. Your letter is a response to the letter they wrote to you. Each letter should include:
- the animal your group chose
- at least three reasons why you chose that animal (the reasons are from the things you learned in the web sites)
Remember that this is a letter! It should be written in a letter format. Make sure to sign it "Sincerely, The Pet Counselors".
Each person needs to write one letter.