Space Dog

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Spacedog’s lonely mission is nearly over, and it’s nearly time for him to go home. But one perilous rescue attempt later, and he finds himself with an Astrocat aboard his ship. But everyone knows Spacedogs and Astrocats are sworn enemies… aren’t they? And then they encounter a Moustronaut in peril, in this intergalactic romp by awardwinner Mini Grey.

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

Write a prequel to the story that explains why Space Dog and Astrocat are sworn enemies.
Create character profiles for the main characters in the story (Space Dog, Astrocat and the Moustronaut).
Look at the map on the inside front cover and create your own stories that take place in the locations shown.
The story takes place in the year 3043. Make a list of similarities / differences between life today and what life might be like then.
Create a news report about an adventure that Space Dog, Astrocat or Moustronaut have.
Imagine that you are Space Dog. Explain how you feel about Astrocat and Moustronaut. Can you explain why you feel this way?
Investigate the use of different types of punctuation in the story. Can you find question marks / exclamation marks (and more) and explain why they have been used in each sentence?
Are there any unfamiliar words in the story (e.g. siphoned)? Can you find out what they mean? Could you use them in a sentence of your own?
Can you find any examples of onomatopoeia in the story (e.g. glug, whoosh, nngg)?
Retell the story from the point of view of Space Dog.
Create a set of instructions to teach people how to play Dogopoly.
The Home Planet shines ‘like a beautiful marble in space’. Can you think of other similes to describe planets and other objects in space?
The layout of the story uses features that you might find in comic strips (with captions, speech bubbles, thought bubbles etc). Could you create your own comic strip based on these characters?
There is a great deal of speech in this story. Can you turn it into a play script and perform it for an audience?
Create a sequel to the story, in which the team travel into the Unknown Zone.

Maths

This story takes place in 3043. How many years into the future is this? How old might you be if you are still alive then?
Space Dog and Astrocat have to set the coordinates to travel through space. Can you create a space map on a coordinate grid and create some problems for others to answer? Use our coordinate grid templates to help you.

Science

Create a report that shows everything that you know about space.
Space Dog’s supply cupboard is full of Space Chunks and Moon Rations. Can you plan a healthy meal for him when he returns home?

Computing

Create a stop-motion animation that portrays a scene from this story.
Create a trailer for the book using video editing software.
Design a poster using publishing software to promote the book to other children.

Design Technology

Create a model of Space Dog’s rocket or design a new one for him. You could also create a new vehicle for Astrocat or Moustronaut. Can you try to make them fly? Watch this video and try to create your own flying machine:

Design new space outfits for the characters in the story.
Design a new tool bag for Space Dog, in which he can keep important equipment to save the world.
Design a new hat for the hat competition that Space Dog judges.
Design a new dog-themed board game that Space Dog can play.

Art

Create a storyboard about a new adventure for Space Dog.
Draw the scene that Space Dog can see out of the window of his rocket.

Music

Compose a theme tune for a new cartoon about Space Dog.

Geography

Look at the Spacemap on the inside front cover of the book. Can you create your own space map, showing real or fictional places?

History

Make a timeline that shows the main events in the history of space exploration.
Find out about the animals that have travelled to space.

PSHE

Space Dog and Astrocat learn that working together makes things easier. Can you think of any situations when this has happened to you?