Post on 28-Jul-2020
Teaching Activities written by
JENNIFER WIRTHWEINSchool District of Washington, Washington, Mo.
Companion Teaching Activities to the Newspaper Serialized Story
Serial Story by Carolyn Mueller, www.carolynelizabethmueller.comIllustrations by Christopher Grant, www.timidlion.comDesign by Beth Sharpe, www.bethsharpe.com
Produced by the Missouri Press Foundation, www.mopress.com. ©2017
January2017DearEducator,NewspapersacrossthecountrywrotestoriesaboutJimtheWonderDoginthe1930s,andnowyournewspaperissharinghisincrediblestorywithanewgenerationofnewspaperreadersthroughtheReadingAcrossMissouriproject.Thankyouforchoosingtoembarkonthisreadingjourneywithyourstudents!Ourgoalistohavechildrenreadingandlearninginsidetheircommunitynewspaper.Missourinewspaperswillpublish“JimtheWonderDog”inprintandelectroniceditionsthroughoutthewinterandspringof2017.Ifyouaren’tsureifyournewspaperhasplanstopublishthestory,contactthepublisheroreditor.ThestoryisavailabletoallMissourinewspapersatnocost.Thenewspaperisavaluableeducationalresourcefortheclassroom–notonlyinreinforcingskillsacrossthecurriculum,butalsoforconnectingyoungreaderstotheircommunity.Thequestionsinthisguidearedesignedtoassistyouinmeetinglearningobjectivesintheclassroom.Thestandardsarewrittentohelpyoungreadersunderstandthepurposeoftheactivities.WehopeyourstudentsenjoytheirlookbackatMissouri’sownWonderDog!HappyReading!
DawnKitchellMissouriPressFoundation&Association
ChapterOne
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterOne.
Smattering
Canine
Bond
Companion
Spry
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. Whoisthenarrator?Whatishispurposeoftellingthisparticularstory?
2. WhatisaLlewellinSetter?
3. InwhatspecificwaysareLlewellinSettersuseful?
4. BuddescribesJimas“special”and“exceptional.”Findtextevidencetosupportthisclaim.
5. Whatisthesettingofthischapter?
Research:
BudcomesfromMarshall,Missouri.Gotowww.marshall-mo.comandcheckoutthevideotourbook.HowwouldyoudescribeMarshall?WhydoesBudenjoylivinginMarshall?
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanusetextevidencetosupportaclaim.Icanlocatethedefinitionofunknownwords.
ChapterTwo
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterTwo.
Coincidence
Recounted
Skeptically
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. HowdidJim’sowner,Sam,learnthatJimhadspecialtalents?
2. Budsays,“Wealsoherdsheep.”Herdisahomophone.Ahomophoneisawordthatsoundsthesame,buthasadifferentmeaning(andoftenadifferentspelling).Inthiscase,“heard”and“herd”arehomophones.Whatotherhomophonescanyouname?
3. Sam’swifethoughthehad“losthismarbles.”Whatdoesthatmean?
4. Jimtrottedtothetree.TrotteddescribesexactlyhowJimmoved.Chooseadifferentverbfor“trotted.”Howdoesitchangethesentence?
5. Makeapredictionforchapterthree.
Research:
Therearemanydifferenttypesofbirddogs.Chooseadifferentbirddogtoresearch.CreateaVenndiagramtocompareandcontrastwithLlewellinSetters.WriteaparagraphexplainingyourVenndiagram.
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanevaluatewordchoice.Icanlocatethedefinitionofunknownwords.
ChapterThree
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterThree.
Fateful
Humble
Purebred
Loll
Ungainly
Descendants
Jest
Runt
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. Whydidn’tpeoplebelieveJimwouldbeasuccessfulbirddog?
2. HowdidMr.TaylortrytopersuadeSamtobuyJim?
3. WhydoyouthinkMr.TaylorsentJimtoSamasagift?
4. WhatwasuniqueaboutJim’seyes?
5. Thechapterendswiththesentence,“Heknewwhathewasmadeof.”Whatdoesthatmean?
Research:
Readaboutcompetitors,suchasEugene’sGhostandCandyKidatwww.birddogfoundation.com/field_trial_hall_of_fame.htm
Canyoufindtheyeartheirnameswerelisted?
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanevaluatefigurativelanguage.Icanlocatethedefinitionofunknownwords.
ChapterFour
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterFour.
Flawless
Coveys
Instinct
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. WhyareLlewellinSettersnaturalhunters?
2. Howdothesettersidentifytheyhavefoundgame?
3. WhydidSamthinkJimcouldunderstandplainEnglish?
4. WhydidSam’swifewanthimtokeepstoriesofJim’stalentstohimself?
5. HowdoyouthinkpeopleintownwillreacttoJim?Why?
Research:
ReadaboutKoko’sbook,“Koko’sKitten”byFrancinePattersonatScholastic:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/kokos-kitten#cart/cleanup
Wouldyouenjoyreadingthisbook?Whyorwhynot?
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanmakeinferences.Icanlocatethedefinitionofunknownwords.
ChapterFive
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. WhydidpeopledoubtSamwhenhesaidJimwasspecial?
2. WhatchallengesdidJimcompletetoprovehisintelligence?
3. HowdidpeopletrytotrickJim?
4. WhydidpeoplebelievethatJimcouldtrulyunderstandthem?
5. IfyoucouldchallengeJimtheWonderDog,whatwouldyouaskhimtodo?Why?
WritingConnection:
ImagineyouareattheRuffHotelwitnessingoneofJim’sperformances.Whatdoyousee?Whatdoyouhear?Howdoestheaudiencereact?Howdoyoureact?Write1-3paragraphsdescribingyourexperience.
Research:
Visitthefollowingwebsitetoreadabouttheintelligenceofdogs.Thereareeventestsyoucantryathomewithyourowndog.
www.cbsnews.com/news/how-smart-is-your-dog
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanwriteforaspecificpurposeandaudience.Icanmaketext-to-selfconnections.
ChapterSix
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterSix.
Abnormal
Consecutive
Profit
RootWords:
Spectaclesandspectatorarebothusedinthischapter.Whatisthemeaningofeachword?Whatrootworddotheyshareincommon?Whatdoestherootwordmean?
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. WhattaskswereJimaskedtocompleteontheroad?
2. WhydidJimtakeSamtotheUniversityofMissouri?
3. WhatdidthevetsandscientistssayaboutJim?
4. HowwereJim’sskillslikemagic?Givespecificexamples.
5. WhatdoesitmeanbythephrasethatSamnevertriedtoprofitfromJim?
Research:
GroundhogDayisanotheroccasionwhereanimalsareusedtopredictthefuture.ResearchthehistoryofGroundhogDay.Createatimelinetodisplaytheinformation.
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanmakeinferences.Icanlocatethedefinitionofunknownwords.
ChapterSeven
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterSeven.
Devised
Undermine
Legendary
Romp
Rheumatism
Replicated
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. WhywasJiminvitedtotheMissouriGeneralAssembly?
2. WhydidSamwantJimtofatherpups?
3. HowwouldyoudescribeJimasafathertohispuppies?Howdidhetreatthem?
4. HowdidJimchangeasheaged?Givespecificexamples.
5. “TotheVanArsdales,Jim’sdeathfeltlikelosingamemberofthefamily.”Whatdoesthismean?WhydidtheycompareJimtoafamilymember?
Research:
JimcouldunderstandandcommunicateinMorseCode.GotothefollowingwebsitetolearnmoreaboutMorseCode:https://www.morsecode.io/CreateamessageinMorseCodeforafriend.
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanmakeinferences.Icanlocatethedefinitionofunknownwords.
ChapterEight
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterEight.
Legend
Privilege
Commemorate
Pondered
Peculiar
Surpassed
Replicate
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. HowisJim’smemoryhonored?WhydoyouthinkpeoplechosetorememberJiminthisway?
2. WhyisJimconsideredamystery?
3. HowdidJimchangeSam?Givespecificexamples.
4. HowisBud,thenarrator,likehisfather?Inwhatwaysaretheydifferent?
5. Whatlifelessonsdodogsteachus?
Research:
GotothefollowingwebsitetoreadmoreaboutJimtheWonderDogandhismemorialgardenandgravesite.Besuretoclickonthelink“forkids!”
www.jimthewonderdog.org
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanmakeinferences.Icanlocatethedefinitionofunknownwords.Icandeterminetheme.
EnrichmentActivities
LlewellinSetters
ResearchLlewellinSettersandcreateabrochurewiththeinformationyoulearned.
WriteaparagraphtopersuadesomeonetobuyaLlewellinSetter.
CreateaPowerPointpresentationtodisplaypicturesofLlewellinSetters.
CreateatimelineoffamousLlewellinSettersthroughhistory.
JimtheWonderDog
RewriteachapterofJimtheWonderDogfromJim’spointofview.
ResearchJim’sstoryonline.Heismentionedonwebsites,inblogsandinvideos.Find5-10newfactsaboutJim.
ChooseaninterestingpartofJim’slifeandcreateanewsarticleabouttheevent.
WritealettertoyourparentstopersuadethemtotakeyoutoseeJimtheWonderDogmemorial.
AmazingAnimals
Visitthefollowingwebsitetolearnaboutamazinganimalsinhistory:http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/saved/photos/amazing-animals-in-history-pictures/
CreateyourownTop10listofAmazingAnimalsinHistory.
Whattypeofanimalisthemostintelligent?Writeaparagraphwithyourclaim,supportingdetails,andaconclusionsentence.
LearningStandards:Icanwriteforaspecificpurposeandaudience.Icanmaketext-to-worldconnections.Icanmaketext-to-selfconnections.Icanfindmainideaandsupportingdetails.
Author’sReadingNotes
CarolynMueller,theauthorof“JimtheWonderDog,”sharesherfavoritebooksaboutanimalintelligenceandafewwebsitesyoumightbeinterestedininvestigating.
• “AnimalWise:HowWeKnowAnimalsThinkandFeel,”byVirginiaMorrell
• “InsidetheAnimalMind:AGroundbreakingExplorationofAnimalIntelligence,”byGeorgePage
• “AreWeSmartEnoughtoKnowHowSmartAnimalsAre?”byFransdeWaal
• “InsideofaDog:WhatDogsSee,Smell,andKnow,”byAlexandraHorowitz
Otherreadingsuggestions:
• “AlextheParrot:NoOrdinaryBird,”byStephanieSpinner
• “MindingAnimals:Awareness,EmotionsandHeart,”byMarcBekoff,JaneGoodall
Hereareafewwebsites:
• http://alexfoundation.org/about/dr-irene-pepperberg/
• http://www.museumofthedog.org/(ThismuseumhasanexhibitonJimtheWonderDog)
• http://www.koko.org/
FromNationalGeographic:
• http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/03/animal-minds/virginia-morell-text