Woof! Woof!: This lesson's focus is to share with children the value of helping others through fun reading and art activities.

Teaching with Clifford’s Big Idea: Help Others
Children love to help out and lend a hand! When children are given opportunities to share their knowledge and skills to help others, it leads them to become more self-confident and aware of their own unique abilities.

Teach: What's A Dog to Do?
Objective: The following activity nurtures essential:

• language and literacy skills
• critical thinking and problem solving skills

Share illustrations from Clifford and the Big Storm by Norman Bridwell (Scholastic). Create interest in the story by first talking about storms and hurricanes. Make predictions about what is happening in the pictures. After reading the story, discuss challenges that Clifford faced during the storm and what he did to help the puppies and the boat reach safety. Lead children into discussion about what a hero is and if they feel Clifford is a hero for saving the day!

Practice: Gallery of Heroes!
Objective: The following activity nurtures essential:

• social and emotional skills
• comprehension skills
• fine motor skills

Explain to children that a hero is someone known for having courage. We usually think of a hero as being famous. Truth is anyone can be a hero...even a pet! Help children identify a hero in their own lives. Have each child draw a picture of their hero on a paper plate. Assist them in writing a short message stating why that person is their hero. Trim plates with rickrack and buttons. Have a sharing session where children can share their hero with classmates. Combine plates to create a gallery of heroes.

Extend: Learning the value of helping others builds character and self-esteem!

• Encourage every child to perform an extra chore at home. Reward the entire class with a special treat like a Clifford coloring page, or red Clifford cookies, for making this extra effort to help at home in this special way.
• Invite a local hero to share experiences with classroom

Clifford’s Library: These books support Clifford’s Big Ideas and reinforce valuable early literacy skills:

• Clifford's Good Deeds by Norman Bridwell (Scholastic)
• The Stormy Day Rescue: Clifford the Big Red Dog (Big Red Reader Series) Kimberly Weinberger, et al
• Clifford's Best Friend: A Story about Emily Elizabeth (Clifford the Big Red Dog) by Norman Bridwell (Scholastic)