Be Responsible Episodes & Activities:
These episodes and activities illustrate how the characters learn about being responsible from daily life experiences. Children can connect these character situations with their own real life experiences. Encouraging the child to retell the events of the story, make predictions, and interpret characters' feelings allows you to informally assess the child's comprehension and conceptual understanding.
 
EPISODE: TUMMY TROUBLE
CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE RESPONSIBLE
SYNOPSIS: The dogs convince themselves that it is okay to keep
eating treats as long as you've done something "special" to deserve
them. All three learn that too much of a good thing can be bad.
APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that it is wise
to use good judgement and consider the consequences of excessiveness.
By learning the idea of moderation, children can make better decisions
for themselves and others.
CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Excess
What is excess? It simply means too, too, too much! Clifford ate too
many Doggie Doodles and this was in excess. Watch out for those yummy
things that might turn out to be like Clifford's Doggie Doodles! Ouch,
what a tummy ache! |
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ACTIVITY:
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Too
Much For Me! |
| OBJECTIVE: |
This
activity gives children the opportunity to practice moderation by
sharing and being generous with their favorite treat. |
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Materials: |
Favorite
treat and friends to share it with! (Caregiver, this could be candy,
homemade recipe or anything that just creates the excitement of "yumminess"!) |
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What
to do: |
Can
you make a good decision on how much you and your friends can safely
eat without getting sick? Sure you can! Divide the treats evenly then
discuss what the consequences of eating it all up might be. Get an
opinion from your caregiver, adjust your amount if necessary then
enjoy! (Caregiver, supervise the decisions made and intervene only
if necessary. A quick discussion about the episode story will help
reinforce possible consequences.) |
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More
dog-gone fun things to do!: |
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Find
things around you that are in excess! This might be too many toys
on the floor, too much trash in the dumpster, too many weeds in the
yard. |
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Do
a good deed and fix something that you see in excess! Pick up, clean
up and be responsible! Watch out! Now you may get too many hugs
for a job well done!
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EPISODE:
CLIFFORD AND THE BEANSTALK
CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE RESPONSIBLE
SYNOPSIS: Emily works hard to prepare for her audition for
the lead in the school play but loses the role to Jetta. Jetta, however,
worries more about what she'll wear than learning her lines and Emily
has to step in and do the role at the last minute. Jetta learns the
hard way that hard work and preparation are the things that make you
successful.
APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that being successful
comes from good work ethic and preparation. Learning the value of
working hard despite discouragement will most often pay off! It surely
did for Emily!
CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Discipline
Is discipline a good thing? Most certainly, yes! Discipline is the
act of being focussed and sure about why you are working your very
hardest to achieve a goal. When you are disciplined, there is nothing
that can keep you from putting forth your best effort to do something.
What are you disciplined about? Maybe it's practicing your alphabet
and numbers or learning how to ride a bike. What ever it is, it is
good that you are disciplined because this means you will probably
be very successful! |
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| ACTIVITY: |
Grow
Plant Grow! |
| OBJECTIVE: |
This
activity gives children the opportunity to take on a task that requires
them to be responsible and disciplined by independently planting and
cultivating a seed. |
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Materials: |
Small
container, soil, seed. |
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What
to do: |
Have
you ever been responsible for growing a tiny seed into a beautiful
plant? This is your chance! Go to your local nursery and discover
what you would like to grow at home. The nursery attendant can help
you make this decision and help you gather up any supplies that you
need. Plant your seed and be very responsible to take care watering
and feeding your plant (Yes, plants need food too, plant food that
is!). Before long, you will see the fruits of your labor and discipline.
Your new plant might be a nice gift for someone. Be careful, before
long your room could look like a jungle! |
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More
dog-gone fun things to do!: |
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Cut
out pictures from newspapers and magazines of "hard workers"! Glue
them on a piece of poster board and have someone help you write what
they are doing under each picture. |
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EPISODE:
BUNNY IN A HAYSTACK
CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE RESPONSIBLE
SYNOPSIS: Emily "baby-sits" for the class bunny and Clifford
learns what a big responsibility it is to take care of a pet!
APPLICATION: This episode teaches children that taking care
of a pet can be a very big and tiring responsibility.
CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Promise
What is a promise? It is something that we tell someone we will do
without fail. If we keep our promise, then others trust us and know
they can count on us. Can you think of a promise that someone has
asked you to keep? Well, how did you do? |
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ACTIVITY:
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Funny
Bunny! |
| OBJECTIVE: |
This
activity gives children the opportunity to create their own image
of a bunny by paint stamping. Fine motor skills, shapes and perception
are reinforced in this activity.. |
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Materials: |
Printable bunny pattern, sponge, paper or surface for painting, water-based
paint, household items of choice. |
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What
to do: |
Let's
make a funny bunny! Cut sponges with bunny pattern. Begin by dipping
the sponges one at a time in the paint and then imprinting them on
paper. Which shape do you think should be the head? How about the
body, feet, hands, and finally the big ears? You can add eyes, nose,
whiskers with things from around the house like; buttons, noodles,
spaghetti, yarn, material, etc. Your bunny will be original and very
funny! |
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More
dog-gone fun things to do!: |
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Baby
sit someone's pet while they are out of town! Be sure you have permission
from home! |
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List
the responsibilities of taking care of a pet. Visit your local pet
store and discover which pets are the easiest and most difficult
to care for. You may be surprised!
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EPISODE:
LEAF OF ABSENCE
CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE RESPONSIBLE
SYNOPSIS: Clifford promises to make sure nothing happens to
T-Bone's carefully gathered pile of leaves, and in the process learns
the importance and difficulty of keeping a promise.
APPLICATION: This episode teaches children the importance
of being responsible and reliable especially when someone has entrusted
you to take care of something. Children can relate to Clifford's actions
and decisions to do what is right with their own lives and learn why
it is important to keep a promise and be responsible.
CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Promise
Clifford made a promise to T-Bone! A promise is your word that you
will do something for someone else. A promise is not something you
can touch, but your word or your actions. You might promise to make
your bed every morning, feed a friend's pet or eat all your veggies
at dinner! Whatever you promise, try your very best to keep your word
because sometimes it is not so easy! |
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ACTIVITY:
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Leaf
People! |
| OBJECTIVE: |
This
activity gives children the opportunity to create their own variety
of "Leaf People" by collecting, sorting, gluing, and decorating individuals
leaves. |
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Materials: |
Real
leaves (new, old, any size or shape), glue, poster board, marker |
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What
to do: |
This
is such a fun activity! Collect leaves from outside. These are going
to be the bodies of your Leaf People. Glue them on your poster board
then decide whom each leaf is going to be. Your leaves might represent
your family or friends. You could even have a leaf for Clifford! Use
your marker to draw the head, arms, and legs around each leaf. Draw
big and don't forget shoes, wild hair, purses, or hats! Write the
name of each Leaf Person under your finished design. Be sure to date
and sign your work of art. What leafy fun! |
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More
dog-gone fun things to do!: |
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Help your family or a neighbor work in the yard. |
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Begin
a leaf collection by placing leaves in a special folder or book.
Write where you found the leaf, the kind of tree if came from (if
you can find out), and the date you found it. This will be a special
collection for you to look at later in life!
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EPISODE:
SCREAMING FOR ICE CREAM
CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE RESPONSIBLE
SYNOPSIS: Charley and Emily Elizabeth find themselves up to
their eyeballs in ice cream when Charley takes it upon himself to
serve ice cream while his father is away at a doctor's appointment.
APPLICATION: This episode teaches children the value of asking
an adult for help. Learning that it is okay to depend on adults for
guidance and help will make our experiences much easier, especially
when there is an emergency!
CLIFFORD'S NEW WORD: Advice
Have you ever needed someone's advice? Probably so! Another person's
advice to you might be their words of wisdom or caring thoughts. They
are honestly trying to help you make good choices about something.
Taking good advice can keep you safe or out of trouble. Bad advice
can cause you to do something that you shouldn't. Be careful whom
you take your advice from! |
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ACTIVITY:
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Ice
Cream Michaelangelo! |
| OBJECTIVE: |
This
activity gives children the opportunity to create fun ice cream treats
in a time limit, then gobble them up! |
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Materials: |
Your
favorite ice cream flavors, cones, cookies, nuts, small fruit pieces,
candy, syrups |
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What
to do: |
Be
the Michaelangelo (world-class famous sculptor!) of ice cream! Set
a time of 1 minute and begin the race to create your ice cream work
of art. Faces, animals, structures, whatever you desire! When the
time is up. Take a quick look at each creation and then. . . gobble!
Watch out for brain freeze! |
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More
dog-gone fun things to do!: |
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Try
something new and find someone that can give you advice in doing it.
Maybe it is learning how to cook, building something, or reading a
book with new words you've never seen before. |
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EPISODE:
WHO ME, JEALOUS?
CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE RESPONSIBLE*
SYNOPSIS: Mrs. Diller is taking care of Susie, her sisterπs
adorable little puppy, for the weekend. To Cleo it appears that Mrs.
Diller likes the cute little puppy better than she likes Cleo! So
Cleo determines to "out-cute" the puppy and win back Mrs. Dillerπs
affection. But she soon learns that Mrs. Diller thinks Cleo is perfect
just the way she is. |
| *This
episode also supports Clifford's Big Idea: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF |
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EPISODE:
THE KIBBLE CROOK
CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEA: BE RESPONSIBLE*
SYNOPSIS: T-Bone canπt resist sneaking a biteãwell, okay the
whole bowlãof Cleoπs new dog food. When Cleo gets upset, T-Bone blames
it on another dog and sends our fearless friends on a wild goose chase.
But T-Bone ultimately confesses that there is no other dog, and he
learns that he must take responsibility for his own mistakes |
| *This
episode also supports Clifford's Big Idea: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF |
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