If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff Lesson Plan

Be honest… how many “If you Give a… ” books do you have?? For a while I though that I had them all. But I was totally mistaken. It’s seems like every time I turn around, there is another book to add to the collection. In the book If You Give a Dog a Donut, we follow the adventures of a dog and the chain reaction that happens when you give him a donut! Enjoy this book with your kids, and then expand on their love for the book with these fun preschool activities like cloud dough donuts, journaling and more. They are a great way to keep the fun and adventure going!

What reading level is If You Give a Dog a Donut?

Before you start these activities to go along with the reading of If You Give a Dog a Donut, you’re probably wondering what reading level is If You Give a Dog a Donut.

The reading level for this book is:

• Guided Reading Level 1
• Lexile® Measure AD490L
• DRA level 16

I’ve provided all three reading levels for If You Give a Dog a Donut to cover the variety of reading level program you may be using with your preschoolers’ curriculum.

Why is it important to read to preschoolers?

Reading this book aloud to your preschoolers will help foster a good imagination, and expand their understanding of the world. While you might think the nonfiction book If You Give a Dog a Donut isn’t teaching your preschoolers much, beyond basic reading skills, the book helps give your preschoolers a chance to enhance their imagination, have fun and learn to read all in one.

Reading to preschoolers is important because:

• It expands vocabulary.
• It enhances creativity and imagination.
• Boosts independent reading skills.
• Improves writing skills.
• Improves memory skills when combined with a reading journal.

If You Give a Dog a Donut is a fun read for younger children. And these three simple activities will keep your preschoolers having fun and encouraging them to have a love of reading.

This book reading combined with the lesson plan trio featured here today will ensure your preschoolers engage in a solid education all the while enjoying some simple hands-on activities to combine their reading with a deeper comprehension of science.

You can use Cloud Dough Pretend Donuts Craft as a special treat for your preschoolers to enjoy while you read aloud If You Give a Dog a Donut during learning time.

With the food journaling activity featured here, you can help your preschoolers engage in a creative dialogue all the while advancing their creative writing skills.

Lastly, the What do Dogs Eat activity will help your preschoolers learn what dogs truly eat and more about hosting their food study.

If your preschoolers aren’t allergic to dogs, you could even have a featured guest, a real dog, come to be the real-life food sample guide.

Using a real dog means that you’ll want to keep those delicious donuts out of reach because a real dog shouldn’t be eating donuts. The reality is that this book helps engaged preschoolers in learning how to read, and what foods work for their furry little friend, a family dog.

Using books like If You Give a Dog a Donut to engage in journaling, food creation, and simple food studies will help your preschoolers feel more compelled to read more stories that fall under this same category.

Feel free to adjust each activity to suit your preschoolers best.

Activity 1 – Cloud Dough Pretend Donuts Craft

Make your own pretend donuts using soft and fluffy cloud dough.

Supplies:

• 3 cups of whipped cream
• 1 cup of corn starch
• 1 tablespoon of cooking oil (optional)
• small round cups
• candy sprinkles

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix the whipped cream topping and corn starch. Mix well until a soft and crumbly dough forms. The dough should mold nicely in your hands when manipulated.

2. If the dough is too crumbly and dry, add a tablespoon of oil at a time until the consistency is appropriate for shaping. If it is too sticky, add a teaspoon of corn starch at a time and mix until appropriate.

3. Once the cloud dough is just right, sprinkle some corn starch on the surface and roll your dough out. Use a cup to cut out small circles. We used the lid of a glue stick to cut out the small inside circle, creating a donut shape.

4. Sprinkle the top of your cloud dough donuts with candy sprinkles. They are now ready to be played with!

Activity 2 – If You Give a Dog Some Dog Food Journaling Activity

Now that we know what would happen if you give a dog a donut, what about if you gave a dog some dog food? Would the same hilarity ensue?

Supplies:

• pen/pencil
• notebook paper
• crayons

Directions:

1. Re-read the book If You Give a Dog a Donut. Talk about the humorous events that follow.

2. What would a dog do if you gave him dog food? Would things turn funny or stay rather boring? Discuss.

3. Using your notebook paper, write a brief story about If You Gave a Dog Some Dog Food. Try to make it humorous like author Laura Numeroff does! See if you can put your own silly spin on the story. Younger children may wish to draw an illustration instead.

4. Share your creative stories when done!

Activity 3 – What Do Dogs Eat? Simple Study Activity

Supplies:

• nonfiction dog/dog care books
• notebook paper
• markers

Directions:

1. Take the time to skim and browse through your nonfiction dog books. See if you can find information about their diet is and what foods are good for them.

2. Make a list of foods that are good for dogs. Some examples include dog food, ground turkey, carrots, and peas.

3. Look up a recipe for healthy homemade dog treats. Save it for later.

4. When time permits, make a batch of these homemade dog treats. Donate them to a local animal shelter or serve them to your own dog.

If You Give a Dog a Donut is a fun read for kids. Give it a try, and be sure to keep the fun going with these hands-on, educational book based activities!