Author and illustrator Eric Hill, the creator of the Spot the Dog children's books which have sold more than 60 million copies, dies aged 86.
Spot the dog author and illustrator Eric Hill, whose stories of a mischievous puppy delighted millions of children, has died at 86
It seemed nicely appropriate that we wear at Story Time at Ruby's Sure Start Centre yesterday - World Book Day. We spent the afternoon reading and doing various activities around 'Spot the Dog'. I can't take any artistic credit for this because the staff came up with this craft for us, but I thought the little dog we made was so cute, I'd share it with you. Of course, in true Ruby style she didn't want to paint her dog yellow with spots and decided she'd rather paint it 'chocolate' colour like our dog. She proudly presented it to our dog when we got home as her 'new baby puppy'. If you want to have a go with your kids, I've drawn out the template for you below which you should be able to enlarge and print out. You will need to cut out the parts onto either coloured card, or white card which you can paint (we did sponge painting). Pierce or punch holes where shown, and assemble with the pairs of legs either side of the body, attached with split pin paper clips/brads for a 'jointed' dog you can take for a walk! We painted ours assembled, but I think if we make another, we'll paint first - when he moves his legs you can see his white bits!!! Finally, draw the features on the face, and we added a googly eye when we got home. Cute huh?
Last week, Hurricane Sandy hit. Fortunately, I did not sustain any damage, but did lose power for a few hours. (If you missed my post on how you TPT sellers can help teachers who lost more than just power, click here). Between that and Halloween, I never had the chance to post my book of the week last week. I apologize to those of you who look forward to this. But, this I'm back with this week's book - "Where's Spot " by Eric Hill. This is a traditional lift-the-flap book that's great for targeting so many speech/language elements! Basic premise: Spot didn't eat his dinner so his mother searches for him, but finds many other animals hiding around the house. I think it's most appropriate for preschool, but the kindergarteners I have worked with in the past loved the book as well. Some objectives I target with this book: Vocabulary (animal names) Prepositions (in the box, under the bed) Answering Yes/No questions ("Is he under the bed?") Answering WH questions ("Who was under the bed?" Where was the monkey hiding?") Asking questions (I drag out the title to "Where is Spot?" and ask it on each page. Then each page asks "Is he ___?"). Concepts (big/little, in/out, under/over, behind/in front) /s/ and /s/ blends: Spot, snake, s-s-s (snake sound), Sally (Spot's mom) /b/: box, basket, book, blanket, baby, bag, bear Here's how I use Spot in therapy: (PS, this book works well to inclusion groups and small pull-out groups). First, I gather my materials: The book! (I'm on my 3rd copy of this book - I've been using it since the late 1990's!). Spot picture (I drew this little Spot dog back in grad school - also late 90's. Somehow he lasted even though I didn't laminate him until a year or two ago!) Spot doll - I found the plush on Amazon a year or two ago and added him to my collection! Things for Spot to hide in/on/under/behind (I use a basket, a large book, a baby blanket, a box, a bag, and myself) At the start of the session, I tell the students that I have brought a special friend. I usually have Spot hiding in the basket and I give the kids clues to see if they can guess who it is: He's an animal. He might live in your house. He likes to play with a ball. He can bark. By now (usually), they've figured out that he's a dog. So, I bring him out and tell the kids that his name is Spot. Then we all practice saying his name with a good /s/ sound. Next I tell them that Spot is a little tired, but that, as soon as we're done with his story, he's going to come back and play a game with us. When I show them the dog (either plush or paper version), I highlight the fact that Spot has ONE spot, I show them the dog on the cover of the book and we count the spots. There are THREE spots on the dog on the cover because that is NOT Spot, but his mother Sally. This is important, especially for my younger kiddos because, as soon as I open the book and say "Where is Spot?," they say "He's right there!" while pointing at the mom! I read through the story. Again, I repeat "Where is Spot?" on each page and encourage the kids to do the same. After I'm done with the story, I ask WH questions ("Where was the lion hiding?" "Who was in the piano?"). Now we bring out Spot. I lay out my materials in front of me (I'm usually doing this lesson on the floor, so I can have a decent amount of space). I tell the children that Spot's favorite game is Hide & Seek! So, I have them close their eyes and I hide Spot in different places (in the book, under the book, behind the book, in the box, under the box, etc.). We work on guessing where he is using appropriate prepositions (e.g., "He's under the blanket" or "I think he's in the box"). Usually the last time around, I hide Spot behind my back to see if they can figure out where he is. :) At the end of the game, I tell them that Spot needs another nap, but he'll come back and play with them again on another day (I have a bunch of Spot books, but the two I use consistently are "Where's Spot?" and "Spot Goes to the Farm"). They LOVE this story and the little game! Plush vs. Paper *I've been using the Spot drawing for years and the kids have never had a problem with it. I purchased the plush thinking they would be more engaged. What I found was that the kids had a MUCH easier time finding him. Because of this, they enjoyed the game less. I think that if you are working with significantly delayed children, the plush would be the way to go. However, if your children are cognitively on target, but lacking in language skills, I'd use the cut-out! Also, I've found some other Spot resources on-line. Here are a few: Fun With Spot (Spot's official website) Teacher's Love (printable Spot Worksheets) Kids-n-fun (Spot coloring pages. Great place to find a printable to make your own "flat" Spot!) And finally, here's a YouTube video which shows an animated version of the book: You can find "Where's Spot?" and the Spot plush on Amazon: Have you used "Where's Spot?" or other Spot books in therapy? What's your favorite Spot book & activity?
CHILDREN'S favourite Spot the Dog turns 30 this year – and you can help him celebrate.
Sniff out the top dog logo design ideas! Get inspired with our fun, creative references to give your brand a paw-sitively unforgettable identity.
Lemon Dalmatians are a unique and beautiful breed of classic Dalmatian. These dogs are known for their bright, beautiful coats with lemon-colored spots. They make an excellent companion pet for those interested in a smaller, more playful type… Continue reading Lemon Dalmatian: Everything You Need to Know
Who else is in love with Spot the Dog from the Where's Spot Series? Great books for working on a range of language and speech targets.
I don’t think this particular topic needs any introduction at this point. Just go and indulge. You know you want to.
Click here to download a Spot the Difference Printable that's fun for both kids and adults. Can you spot 10 differences between the 2 pictures?
THIS mind-boggling optical illusion can test if you have 20/20 vision. The tricky brainteaser challenges you to spot the dog in the living room in under ten seconds. The colourful picture shows a m…
All about hot spots in dogs - causes, symptoms and treatment.
Can your kids find 10 differences between the 2 pictures? This PDF contains this fun spot the difference activity in color and in black and white, along with the answer key.
Can you spot the sleeping sheep in the field? The latest Where's Wally style puzzle challenges you to find the woolly creature taking a nap, and there's a hidden sheep dog to find too.
Free printable Happy Dog Pop It coloring page to download in PDF or to print online and color! Make your world more colorful, relieve stress, relax and enjoy the fun of this Happy Dog Pop It coloring sheet now!
This pumpkin dog treat recipe is festive for fall with pumpkin shaped cookie cutters. Your dog will love these flavorful pumpkin dog treats!
Hot spots appear fast and can quickly spread out of control. These home remedies for hot spots on dogs help you get to the root of the problem.
If you are looking for a dog friendly vacation, join us as we show you things to do and places to stay in dog friendly Provincetown, MA.
It never fails that I come across something eye-catching each time I scroll through Pinterest. You too? One recent morning it was the winso...
Your favourite pet-friendly corner of the world wide web. Come join fellow pet lovers in the Shed Happens community today.
Red, moist, irritated, and sometimes oozy ... hot spots on dogs are common and painful. Luckily they can be managed naturally at home ...