• Shopping Cart Shopping Cart
    0Shopping Cart
MWDTSA
  • Home
  • About
  • Donations
  • Volunteer
  • E-Store
  • EOW
  • Blog
  • Sponsors
  • Contact
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to X
Blog
K9 Military History

Military working dog lesson plan for 3rd and 4th graders

Four elementary school students collaborate on researching a military working dog as part of a 3rd- and 4th-grade lesson plan.

Looking for a military-related lesson plan to spice up social studies?

MWDTSA volunteer Wendy Sotos is studying to become a Certified Humane Education Specialist. As part of her coursework, she has developed a lesson plan about military working dogs for 3rd and 4th graders. It’s free, and any interested teacher or home-school parent can download it below.

Lesson plan overview

The curriculum entails reading, writing, group work, a creative project, and public speaking focused on the meanings of “hero” and “memorial.” Students will hone critical thinking skills as they learn about the roles of dogs in the military. It’s also a creative way to observe National K9 Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, or Veteran’s Day.

 

Click image above to download full curriculum.

 

About the author

A freelance writer and published author, Wendy loves animals. Over the years, she’s served with Labrador Life Line and Nikela (which saves African wildlife, including rhinos). MWDTSA is excited to share her passion for dogs and education.

When asked what led her to create this lesson plan, Wendy replied, “I have always loved learning about war dogs from history. Their contributions have been underplayed, if acknowledged at all. A way to remedy this is to teach future generations of children about the sacrifices of these heroic animals. I want to help kids learn about these dogs who fought for our country. I hope to create appreciation for military working dogs and their human counterparts who protect our freedom.”

As you utilize Wendy’s curriculum, please share your experiences and stories in the Comments section below. What insights did you and your students gain via the activities in this lesson plan? We welcome your suggestions for enhancing the curriculum.

Wendy’s next project is a service learning plan for 5th and 6th grade students, focused on military working dog teams. Stay tuned!

For information on how you can support these intrepid teams, visit https://www.mwdtsa.org/support-military-working-dog-teams/ or write to president@mwdtsa.org.

Photo credit: iStock by Getty Images/Wavebreakmedia

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share by Mail
https://www.mwdtsa.org/wp-content/uploads/mwdtsa-kenneltalkblog-sotos-photo-20190930-scaled.jpg 1707 2560 MWDTSA https://www.mwdtsa.org/wp-content/uploads/MWDTSA-Combine-Logo-and-Text-1-300x169.png MWDTSA2020-01-09 00:30:002020-02-01 20:53:19Military working dog lesson plan for 3rd and 4th graders
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for something specific?

Search Search

Recent Posts

  • To emphasize the need to prevent dog heat stroke, this graphic demonstrates how quickly a car heats up inside at various outside temperatures.
    Prevent dog heatstrokeJune 14, 2026 - 6:26 pm

    Military working dog handlers will tell you their greatest K9 first aid priority is to prevent dog heatstroke. As we transition into summer, MWDTSA is honored to share the following safety information from Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, reprinted with permission of the author. by Kristen Browning-Blas Never leave a dog […]

  • This is a 2019 photo of Military Working Dogs National Monument at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. A bronze sculpture of a handler stands with his gun ready. Arrayed before him are bronze sculptures of four military working dogs representing the four main breeds used by the military. MWDTSA provided a memorial wreath, displayed on the monument. MWDTSA is providing a wreath for Memorial Day 2020, as well.
    Memorial Day 2025May 26, 2025 - 1:05 am

    On this Memorial Day Weekend 2025, the Military Working Dog Team Support Association is grateful to all U.S. military working dog handlers and K9s, past and present, who work tirelessly to protect our troops and our freedom. These teams often serve in front of the front lines, checking for hidden dangers such as improvised explosive […]

  • This framed photo shows Homer Finley at Front Royal, Virginia with an unnamed Saint Bernard.
    Remembering WWII Marine handler Homer FinleySeptember 7, 2020 - 11:04 pm

    My heart dropped when I received word recently that Homer Finley had died. As the last surviving member of the 1st Marine War Dog Platoon, he was a living link to the earliest days of our nation’s military working dog program. At the time he served, he was part of an experimental, unproven initiative. “Many […]

Table of Contents

  • Home
  • About
  • Donations
  • Volunteer
  • E-Store
  • EOW
  • Blog
  • Sponsors
  • Contact

For Educators

Periodically, we post content specifically for teachers. Check out this lesson plan for 3rd and 4th grade.

 

Privacy Policy

For Researchers

If you are seeking information on a specific topic, type your search words below. If you can’t find what you are looking for, email info@mwdtsa.org.

Search Search
© 2026 Military Working Dog Team Support Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About
  • Kennel Talk Archive
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Contact
Link to: Ken Besecker and Dixie Whitman share MWDTSA’s history Link to: Ken Besecker and Dixie Whitman share MWDTSA’s history Ken Besecker and Dixie Whitman share MWDTSA’s history Link to: Petco Foundation awards $5,000 grant to MWDTSA Link to: Petco Foundation awards $5,000 grant to MWDTSA This photo shows a retired military working dog who attended a Petco Foundation Helping Heroes fundraising event.Petco Foundation awards $5,000 grant to MWDTSA
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top