Puppy Dog Ears Craft & Songs to Sing in the Preschool Classroom
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Music really enhances creative movement that is important in early childhood development. The use of props helps the children engage in pretend and imaginary play. If they wear a mask, hat, or pin on a tail, this helps children feel the part of the character they wish to portray. Since children enjoy dogs and puppies, help them to make props that will enhance the songs they sing. Below are instructions on how to make puppy dog ears with your preschool students.

Materials:

  • Headband strip made from poster board or heavy paper (one per child)
  • Template to trace floppy or stand-up ears
  • Construction paper
  • Enhancements such as felt, fake fur, yarn
  • School glue
  • Stapler
  • Tape
  • Safety scissors
  • Crayons or markers for adding details

Procedure:

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  1. Create a headband from poster board or heavy paper to fit around the child’s head, leaving extra space for stapling.
  2. Decide with the children whether their puppy dog will have floppy or stand-up ears.
  3. Help the children to trace around the ear template onto construction paper.
  4. Together cut the puppy dog ears out. Each child will need two ears.
  5. Glue on enhancements if you wish or provide markers to add details like spots. You may want to provide dog stickers for the children to decorate the headband itself. Anything that sticks flat will work!
  6. Staple the ears to the headband on either side at ear locations. Cover the staple with tape to avoid scratches or pulled hair.
  7. Fit the headband to the child’s head and staple shut. Cover the stapled area again with tape for protection.

Puppy Dog Songs to Sing

Here are a few traditional and piggyback songs to sing with your class. The children will enjoy wearing their puppy dog ears as props.

Six Little Dogs (Tune: “Six Little Ducks”)

Six little dogs that I once knew,

Fat ones, skinny ones, spotted ones too.

But the one little dog with the curly brown fur,

He led the others with a grrr, grrr, grrr,

Grrr, Grrr, Grrr

He led the others with a grrr, grrr, grrr!

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This Little Dog of Mine (Tune: “This Little Light of Mine”)

This little dog of mine, I’m going to feed him right,

This little dog of mine, I’m going to feed him right,

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This little dog of mine, I’m going to feed him right,

Feed him right, feed him right, feed him right.

Continue with other verses:

This little dog of mine, I’m going to take him for a run…

This little dog of mine, I’m going to take him to the vet…

This little dog of mine, I’m going to give him a bath…

This little dog of mine, I’m going to give him lots of love…

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The Dog Song (Tune: “The More We Get Together”)

If I could be a doggie,

A doggie, a doggie,

If I could be a doggie, what kind would I be?

A Collie, A Poodle, A Bulldog, A Dalmatian,

If I could be a doggie, I would be a _______. (child names type of dog)

Think about singing other traditional songs such as “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?” or “BINGO.” Some children will be thrilled to prance around the floor to the song, “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by Baha Men.

Enjoy the fun times that creative movement and dog songs will bring to your students. Music class will become a “howling” success!

References

  • The Dog Song (adapted by Tania Cowling) original author unknown
  • This Little Dog of Mine - author unknown
  • Six Little Dogs (adapted) author unknown
  • Photos by the author - Tania Cowling

This post is part of the series: Preschool Dog Theme Activities

Dogs and puppies are favorites of children and a popular theme for preschool classes. Included in this series are articles that take dogs across the curriculum, including art, music, games, and language arts.

  1. Make Puppy Dog Ears With Your Preschool Class
  2. Old Mother Hubbard: Nursery Rhyme Craft for Prek
  3. Dog Paper Plates: Three Creative Art Projects for the Preschool Classroom