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