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Be Truthful Episodes & Activities:

These episodes and activities illustrate that every action, honest or not, has a consequence. The concept of having a good conscience is emphasized when the characters wrestle with making right decisions. Children can learn the value of being honest and truthful by relating their own experiences to those of the characters.

Paws
EPISODE: SPECIAL DELIVERY

CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE TRUTHFUL

SYNOPSIS: Clifford accidentally breaks a present he was supposed to deliver for Emily, then allows Cleo to convince him to try and hide the fact from Emily. Clifford learns that it's best to be honest, right from the start.

APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that it is important to be honest and truthful, even when we make regretful mistakes. There are good lessons to be learned from the characters as they work out their situation and children see the benefits of being honest and understanding with others.

CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Honest
What does it mean to be honest? Being honest is a very good thing. This means that you tell the truth and share real facts with others. An honest person is someone that you can count on being truthful with you, no matter what the circumstance. Do you know someone honest?
       
ACTIVITY: More Special Deliveries!
  Dog-gone fun ideas!:
  Ask someone if you can help make a special delivery. Show them how you have learned to be honest and responsible, just like Clifford!
  Clifford was delivering an inflatable (this means it can be filled with air) ball for Emily. If you don't have one of these to play with, find a balloon and start blowing up you own inflatable ball! It's a great indoor ball that won't break mom's special things!
  How about delivering a homemade batch of Clifford's Sugar Cookies with red icing that will give someone special a really nice surprise?
 
Clifford's Sugar Cookies with Red Icing
  Dough
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 cup sour cream
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Icing
2 lbs. powdered sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup milk
Red Food coloring

Clifford's Fun Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough and cut with your favorite cookie cutter and of course you can try a little bite of dough before cooking! Clifford would! Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Mix up ingredients for icing and do what Clifford would do...run your paw through it to make sure it tastes just right! When cookies are cool, spread on the delicious icing. Pile these tasty and colorful treats on a dish and surprise someone with this special delivery.
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EPISODE: Itchy Patch

CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA:
BE TRUTHFUL*

SYNOPSIS: : Clifford is itching and hears Emily say that she'll have to take him to the vet if it keeps up. Clifford learns the importance of trust when going into an unknown situation.

APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that our fears are sometimes unfounded and the trust of a good friend can help us get through uncertain situations. Children see this very situation when Clifford has to trust and follow Emily to do what's best for him.

CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Veterinarian
What kind of doctor is a veterinarian? A veterinarian is an animal doctor. They give medical attention to all kinds of animals. Cattle, dogs and cats, snakes, monkeys, gerbils and giraffes. . . you name it, they can doctor it! What kind of place has many different animals for a veterinarian to care for?
       
ACTIVITY: What Does A Real Veterinarian Do?
OBJECTIVE: This activity gives children an opportunity to see first hand what a veterinarian does on the job.
  Materials: Drawing paper, colors
  What to do: Ask permission to observe your local veterinarian while he/she takes care of several of his patients. Be sure to ask questions and learn all you can while you are at the animal clinic. When you return home, draw a picture of what you found most interesting about being a veterinarian. You might even give a picture to your veterinarian and see it posted in his clinic next time you visit! Be sure to date and sign your work!
  More dog-gone fun things to do!:
  Does your pet trust you? Take care of your pet by taking it to the veterinarian for a check up. Have someone take a picture of you with your pet on your visit!
  Visit your local zoo and observe how the zookeepers care for the animals. Ask them if they ever call the veterinarian to make "house calls"?
*This episode also supports Clifford's Big idea: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
     
 
EPISODE: BOO!

CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA:
BE TRUTHFUL

SYNOPSIS: It's Halloween and the whole town gets a little spooked after watching a scary "ghost" movie together. Jetta learns that it's okay to have fears and to say them out loud!

APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that it is okay and very normal to be scared of spooky things, especially around Halloween. Having confidence to express our fears can help us feel better about things that scare us and make us feel unsafe. On the lighter side, it can be really fun to pretend to be scared with our friends on Halloween. Having fun with friends can happen anytime that we choose!

CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Pretend
How do we pretend? We pretend by acting like someone or something else other than ourselves. Clifford pretended to be a lion and a ghost dog in the story. We all love to pretend and act like someone else from time to time, it's fun! Have you ever pretended to be someone or something else? How about a tree blowing in the wind, a frog hippity-hopping, bacon sizzling, or your mom when she is really upset because you didn't make your bed? Pretending can be so much fun!
       
ACTIVITY: Clifford's Lion Mask
OBJECTIVE: This activity gives children the opportunity to design and create a scary or friendly lion mask.
  Materials: Mask making supplies; paper plate, yarn, scissors, glue, colors, string, construction paper
  What to do: Clifford had fun wearing his lion mask! Now you can make your own mask. Will it be scary or friendly? Cut pieces of yarn and glue one end of each piece all the way around the paper plate. Make several rows of the lion's mane with yarn. Cut out eye and mouth wholes. Draw facial features with colorful outlines around the eyes and mouth. Use the construction paper (A triangle makes a great lion's nose, ears and scary teeth!) to add special features to your mask. Add whiskers with paper or a marker and practice your growl! Punch holes opposite each other on the edges of plate and attach the string to tie on your mask!
  More dog-gone fun things to do!:
  Make a recording of scary noises to have fun with! Creaky doors, dogs barking, laughing, and of course the famous thrilling scream!
  Have a pumpkin-decorating contest. Decorate pumpkins to look like your family or friends. It's hilariously funny!
     
 
EPISODE: DOING THE RIGHT THING

CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA:
BE TRUTHFUL

SYNOPSIS: When T-Bone "inadvertently" steals a squeak toy, he experiences a guilt- induced dream where Clifford and Cleo become the good and bad sides of his conscience. T-Bone learns that you never know what the consequences of your actions might be, so it's always best to just do the right thing.

APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that there can be unexpected consequences to making bad decisions and that doing the right thing from the start is always best.

CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Honest
What does it mean to be honest? Being honest means being truthful. An honest person shares real facts and does not tell you things that are untrue. If you are honest, others will trust you. Being an honest friend is being a good friend!
       
ACTIVITY: Borrow and Return!
OBJECTIVE: This activity gives children the opportunity to experience the responsibility of borrowing and returning.
Materials: Something borrowed from a family or friend
  What to do: Borrowing something from someone is a big responsibility! Practice becoming a responsible, honest person by showing someone how you can take care of his or her property and return it on time and in tip-top shape! You may want to read a book, enjoy a picture, or play with a toy that belongs to someone you know. Ask politely and be understanding if they say "no." If they are happy to lend you what you asked for, ask them when they need it returned and set a special time to get it back to them. When they see that you are responsible and honest, they are likely to encourage you to borrow from them again. It is a nice feeling to know people appreciate and trust you because you were responsible!
  More dog-gone fun things to do!:
  Trade toys with a friend!
  Tell why it is important to be honest and never steal.
     
 
EPISODE: COME BACK, MAC

CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA:
BE TRUTHFUL

SYNOPSIS: Mac runs away when he tears one of Jetta's favorite sweaters. Clifford and friends seek him out and convince him to return. Mac learns that he's more important to Jetta than her sweater and that facing up to your deeds is the wise thing to do.

APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that it is always best to be truthful even when we make mistakes or do things to hurt other people. Running away from our challenges only makes us feel worse. Children can see the benefits of being truthful by observing how the characters deal with Mac running away when he accidentally tears Jetta's favorite sweater.

CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Good deed
What is a good deed? It is the act of doing something helpful or nice for someone. Doing a good deed for someone can make a positive difference in their life and give you a wonderful feeling too! Can you think of a time that someone did a good deed for you?
       
ACTIVITY: Good Deeds Poster
OBJECTIVE: This activity gives children an opportunity to recognize pictures of people or animals doing good deeds for others. Cutting and gluing pictures reinforces fine motor skills.
Materials: Magazines, books, and poster board.
  What to do: You are an expert on what it means to do a good deed! Find as many pictures as you can, cut them out, glue them to your Good Deeds poster board. Tell why you think each person or animal is doing a good deed! Did you find any animals doing good deeds?
  More dog-gone fun things to do!:
  Ask a friend or neighbor what good deed you could do for them?
  Think about these good deeds to do: Baking cookies for someone ill, sweeping someone's porch, taking out the trash, feeding a pet, or drawing a special picture to make someone smile. These would be good deeds that you could do for someone else!
     
 
EPISODE: THE DOG WHO CRIED WOOF!

CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA:
BE TRUTHFUL

SYNOPSIS: Cleo plays tricks on her dog friends all day. She finds herself in a tough spot and realizes that nobody believes her when she really does need their help. She learns that it is not nice to play tricks.

APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that if we are not truthful and make a habit of playing tricks on others, they just may not believe us when we need them the most!

CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Truth
How do we tell the truth? We tell the truth by being honest and sharing what is real and true. Being truthful means that you are genuine, reliable, realistic and sincere. It is good to always tell the truth!
     
 
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