The focus for my thematic unit is household pets. I have always loved animals and have seven cats of my own. Many families own at least one household pet, if not more, with the most common household pets being cats and dogs. Students who have pets or desire to have a pet can relate to this thematic unit on a personal level. Students, especially young students, tend to love animals and get excited whenever they are in the presence of a kitten or puppy. Through this unit, I can incorporate a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction texts, touch on an array of subjects, and provide my students with a handful of authentic tasks to complete. I can tie science into this thematic unit, for example, by having students read nonfiction informational texts that focus on dogs, cats, etc. In order to authentically embrace this thematic unit, students can visit a local pet shop or adopt a classroom pet. To exercise their writing and artistic skills, students can either write about their own pets or a pet they would love to own or sculpt, draw, or paint their pets or a pet they wish they owned.