GAME 2: LOST PUPPY
GOALS: What Children Will Learn.
Practicing: (a) How to use a library and books; (b) Naming alphabet letters; (c) Words: title, library, librarian, library card, borrow; (d) Writing one’s name (or initials); (e) Good manners.
TIP: Some children might not know letters or how to write their names yet. That’s OK. Use this game to help them start to learn.
BEFORE YOU PLAY THE GAME

WHAT YOU NEED:
From the Materials: Alphabet Letters, Puppy Mask and Library Cards, Pretend Books: Puppy is Found, Elephant Adventure, Zebra Stripes
From Your Home or School: Table and crayons or pencils
SET-UP THE GAME:
• Help children practice meanings of: title, library, librarian, borrow.
• Cut out the Puppy Mask, and paste it on a paper plate or cardboard.
• Cut out Library Cards, one for each child.
• Set up a 'library,' a table with the pretend books Puppy Is Found (cover and pages), Elephant Adventure and Zebra Stripes.
• Decide which child will play the Lost Puppy and wear the Puppy Mask. Ask that child to whisper to you a secret name for the Lost Puppy’s owner. You play the Librarian. If only one child is playing, you also play the Lost Puppy.
Puppy Mask

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYING THE GAME

(1) Tell the Story. A happy puppy lives with a child who loves him. One day the puppy is chasing his ball. He gets lost. He is very sad. He needs our help. To help the lost puppy we need to read the book Puppy is Found. It will tell us what to do. But where can we get this book? At the library!
(2) What is a Library? Help children tell you: What a library is. (Special place where we borrow books.) What a librarian does. (Person who works in the library.)
(3) Drive Cars to Library to get Puppy Is Found book. Say Letter ‘P’ (for Puppy) to start Magic Story Car engines. Sing the ABC Song while children drive to the library.
(4) Children Enter Pretend Library. Librarian (you) says: “May I help you? Ask child to say: “Yes, please, we need to get the book Puppy Is Found.” Librarian shows children the three pretend books. Help children pick book with a title that begins with the letter ‘P’ - Puppy Is Found.
(5) Borrow the Book with a Library Card. Children write their names (or initials) on Library Cards. Librarian says: ”You may borrow the book and return it in one week.” Ask children to say, “Thank you.” Children leave the library.
(6) Children Drive Home with Puppy Is Found book.
(7) Read Puppy Is Found Book to Children. It says we need to know the name of the puppy’s owner, so we can drive the puppy home. Let’s guess the first letter of the owner’s name.
(8) Guess the First Letter and Name of Puppy’s Owner. Children point to letters on the Letters Page to guess the first letter of the name of the puppy’s owner. Puppy barks happy or sad sounds to tell children if each letter they guess is right or wrong. After children guess correct first letter, say names starting with that letter. Say the secret name. Puppy barks happily.
(9) Drive the Happy Puppy Home now that we know where he lives.
Play the game again. Use a different secret name for puppy's owner.
TIP: After playing the game take children to a library. Help them get
their own library cards and choose books to borrow and read with you.
Summaries of Games • Links to Materials