Talk about animal shelters with the children. Explain what they are and why there is a need for them. Ask the children if any of them have ever adopted an animal from a shelter.
Set up a pretend animal shelter with a front desk, pretend application forms, collars, cages (cardboard boxes), and resource books with pictures of pets, and pet supplies (leash, brush, dish, and food).
Ask the children to choose their roles, such as volunteers, people searching for pets, or the animals themselves. Be prepared to model and explain the roles.
Guide children as needed to play their roles and let them refer to the books as needed. Provide space for "owners" to play with their pets once they have filled out an application form.
Instructions
1. Ahead of time, hide candy coins (or small treat items). Hide one for each child. 2. Cut out footprints from construction paper. Place the paper footprints so they lead to the candy. 3. Write a clue on each small slip of paper. For example, "I'm where the books are," or "Look for me in the housekeeping area." 4. Gather the children in a group and give each child a clue to follow to find the hidden treasure. Guide the children in following the steps or clues to the candy.
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