Eucalyptus Dog Day

Third Grade students at Eucalyptus were recently treated to a dog training exhibition presented by school board member Luciano Aguilar.  The exhibition was a perfect culminating activity to the third grade Imagine It! unit called Animals and Their Habitats.  Within the learning unit, students read a story by Nan Parsons Rossitter, called Rugby and Rosie, about a family's beloved Labrador retriever, who finds himself unhappy with the new house guest Rosie, a puppy brought home to be trained as a guide dog.  The dogs soon become friends, until Rosie has to leave the house to do the important work for which she is trained; to be a guide dog.  Students made a deep connection with the story and Mr. Aguilar talked to them about taking care of pets and how to train dogs.  The exhibition ended by Mr. Aguilar leading his dog through a series of tricks, commands and stunts, while excited students and staff cheered him on.  At the end, students were allowed to ask questions and pet the dog.  It was an amazing learning experience for everyone involved.