Take Me Home

Ages: 5-11
Contributor:
Sam Collins

Watch this short animated film about a rescue dog hoping for a new owner, and try out our teaching ideas.

Which of the ideas below will you try with your children?

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

Stop the film at 0:10. Collect vocabulary to describe the setting.
Write a letter or email from the female character to a friend describing what happened.
Compare and contrast the beagle and the poodle.
Stop the film at various points, for example, 0:23, 0:41 and 2:01. What are the characters thinking?
Discuss similarities and differences with dogs in other films and stories, for example, Spy Dog and Bolt.
Make a story map for the film.
Watch the video Mouse for Sale, which deals with a similar theme. Compare the way the two stories have been told.
Write the prequel. How did the dog end up in the dogs’ home?
Write a sequel about their first day together.

How many ways could you arrange 6 cages in a grid? What about 12 cages? Or 24 cages?
Which numbers of cages cannot be arranged into a square or rectangular grid? Why can’t they?
Make a list of things the female character will need for her new dog and work out how much it will cost.

Stop the film at 0:16. What has the dog got to make sure he is healthy and safe (e.g. food / drink, shelter)? What else does he need?
Stop the film at 0:19. Look at a dog’s pawprint and compare it with the tracks of other animals.
Why do different breeds of dogs look so different? Find out about beagles and poodles.

Stop the film at 0:32. Why does the door handle point down? (So that dogs can’t open it!) Design a door handle with a specific purpose.

Stop the film at 0:07 and look at the elements of the title design (pawprint, dog silhouette, colour palette etc). Design your own title for the film.

Listen to the soundtrack at 0:41, when the female character enters. How does the music change? Why does it change? Does it change at other points in the film?

Discuss why animals end up being rescued and what they need.
Stop the film at 1:33. Why has the beagle ripped up his bed and covered himself in fluff? Is it a good idea?
Why does the female character change her mind about the poodle?