Core Skills Analysis
Physical Education
- The student learned about coordination and balance by navigating the dog agility course.
- The activity enhanced motor skills through running, jumping, and quick directional changes required in agility exercises.
- It introduced problem-solving skills as the student figured out the best path and methods to maneuver through the obstacles effectively.
- The student gained awareness of spatial relationship and timing, key to successfully completing an agility course.
Animal Care and Behavior
- The student experienced understanding and collaborating with a dog to complete tasks, fostering empathy and responsibility.
- They learned about the way animals respond to commands, cues, and encouragement during physical activities.
- The activity supported developing patience and communication skills, as working with animals requires clear, calm instructions and timing.
- It gave insight into the importance of exercise and mental stimulation for dogs’ wellbeing.
Tips
To deepen the student's understanding and enjoyment of dog agility, encourage creating a small homemade agility course using household items to experiment with different obstacles. Involve lessons on dog behavior by watching training videos or visiting a local agility class to observe real-time interactions. Incorporate journaling about the dog’s responses and progress in agility tasks to foster reflection on animal communication and training methods. Also, explore topics related to animal welfare and the importance of exercise to build a rounded perspective of pet care and responsible ownership.
Book Recommendations
- Agility Right from the Start by Jesse R. Michaels: A practical guide that introduces dog agility training techniques suitable for children and beginners.
- Good Dog: The Story of Bogey by Alvin E. Roth: A heartwarming story of a dog's journey which helps kids connect emotionally with animals and understand their traits and needs.
- The Dog Whisperer by Cesar Millan: An engaging introduction to dog behavior and communication, offering insight into working effectively with dogs.
Learning Standards
- Physical Education (UK National Curriculum): Develop agility, balance, coordination, and proprioception through various physical activities (KS2 PE Program of Study).
- Science (Animals, including humans): Understand the basic needs of animals for health and survival including exercise and care (KS2 Science Program of Study).
- Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE): Developing responsibility and empathy through caring for animals and working cooperatively (KS2 PSHE Program of Study).
Try This Next
- Design a worksheet to map out an agility course and label the obstacles, explaining the skills needed for each challenge.
- Create a quiz with questions about dog behavior cues and basic agility training commands.
- Draw a series of comic strips showing a dog and handler working together to complete an agility course.