KSRA Common Core Literacy Lessons
Dozer’s Run
Book Title: Dozer’s Run: A True Story of a Dog and His Race
Author: Debbie Levy with Rosana Panza
Illustrator: David Opie
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Year of Publication: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-58536-896-9
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 6-8
Lexile Level: 400L
Awards:
2016 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award (Keystone State Reading Association, PA)
2016 Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award (Kansas Reading Association)
2015 Storytelling World Resource Awards Honor Book
2014 USA Best Book Awards Finalist, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
Book Summary: Dozer, a three year old Goldendoodle, is outside one morning with his best
friend Chica enjoying the aromatic smells when a runner goes by. Then another runner passes
them, and another, and another. Seeking adventure, Dozer joins the pack and unbeknown to him
participates in the Maryland Half Marathon, a fund raising event for the University of Maryland
Greenebaum Cancer Center. After reuniting with his very worried family, people started to
hear about Dozer and his run. Contributions poured in from all over the US, Canada, and Great
Britain supporting him. Dozer raised $25,000, twice that of any other runner!
Cross Curricular Connections Topics: pets, animals, marathon running, cancer
Focus: Character and Figurative Language
PACCS
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.7
Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to
what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood,
emphasize aspects of a character or setting).
Activating Strategy
Define personification as the way an author and illustrator allows a
nonperson character to express human emotions. (Use a familiar
book to demonstrate this idea. The Giving Tree would be a book of
choice.
Vocabulary
Character
Personification
Curiosity
Exploring p. 3
Investigate p. 17
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Teaching Strategies
To have students identify how the author and illustrator work
together to personify Dozer’s curiosity.
Teacher led discussion: Read the first two pages. Show how the
author and illustrator worked together to identify the different
smells around the yard.
Then the teacher reads the second two pages. The children work in
partners to identify how the author and illustrator advance the story.
Ask the children to identify personification by finding examples on
the next page. Continue to the end of the race to show how the
illustrator shows Dozer’s feelings.
Have students write a letter to Dozer thanking him for his
participation in the run and for raising so much money for the
Greenebaum Cancer Center.
Summarizing Strategies
(Assessments)
Focus: Vocabulary: Unknown Words
PACCS:
Activating Strategy:
CC.1.3.K.F
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
“Sometimes when we listen to a story we hear words we don’t know.” Share a previous
experience with unknown words.
“Listen as I read aloud the first page of Dozer’s Run and think about any words you don’t
know.”
(The first read aloud would have been at an earlier time, just for enjoyment.)
Key Vocabulary:
(from story)
Teaching Strategies:
Page 1
delicious
Page 27 aroma
scent
Page 2 fragrance
Page 29 vapor
Page 3 exploring
Page 4 raccoon
whiff
hollow
Students gather in large group.
Teacher reads aloud page 1.
Teacher stops at the end of the second sentence and pretends to not know the meaning
of the word delicious. Teacher uses the think aloud strategy to share with students how to
determine the possible meaning of “delicious.” (Teacher can relate delicious to foods.
Then ask students for synonyms for “delicious” such as good or tasty.)
Teacher reads aloud the rest of page 1 and asks students to share any words they may
not know. Encourage the students to use the think aloud strategy to try and determine
the words’ meanings. Continue with pages 2, and 3.
Summarizing
Strategies
Teacher reads aloud page 4 and asks students to share any unknown words. Have
students work with partners to think aloud the meanings of the unknown words. Students
can act out their interpretation or draw an illustration.
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Focus: Vocabulary: Sensory/Feeling Words and Phrases
PACCS:
Activating Strategy:
CC.1.3.1.F
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the
senses.
When authors write stories they use words and phrases that make us laugh or cry or make
us feel angry or scared or any other emotions. The authors also use words to help us use
our senses to see, hear, and feel what is happening in the story. Authors Debbie Levy and
Rosana Panza have many examples of this in their story Dozer’s Run.
“Listen as I read aloud the first sentence.”
“Damp and drizzly are two words that help us use our senses to feel that the morning was
wet for Dozer and Chica. Let’s find other words and phrases that show feelings or use our
senses.”
(The first read aloud would have been at an earlier time, just for enjoyment.)
Key Vocabulary:
(words/phrases from story)
Teaching Strategies:
Page 1 damp
drizzly
delicious smalls
scent of squirrel
Page 2 fragrance of fox
Page 4 whiff of wet wood
Page 5 reek
Page 7 tangy
Page 12 swishy
Students gather in large group.
Ask students to listen for words or phrases that show feelings or uses their senses while you
read aloud the rest of page 1. Stop and ask students to share any words or phrases they
heard that showed feelings or used their senses. Suggestions are listed above in key
vocabulary section.
Return to the examples of “damp” and “drizzly” and ask students to share other words the
authors could have used. (wet, rainy) Discuss with students the difference between using
50 cent words compared to 5 cent words. “Damp” and “drizzly” are 50 cent words that
provide a better description of the weather that morning.
(https://www.naeyc.org/yc/files/yc/file/201211/YCCollins.pdf )
Begin a chart to post in the room with words and phrases the authors use to show feelings
and use of senses. If desired, begin a second chart with 50 cent words the authors use.
Summarizing
Strategies
Have students listen to the rest of the story listening for words and phrases that show
feelings and/or use senses. With a partner they can share their findings and add to the
charts.
Focus: Word Meaning
PACCS:
CC.1.2.2.F
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in grade-level text
including multiple-meaning words.
3
Activating Strategy:
Key Vocabulary:
Teaching Strategies:
Summarizing
Strategies
Wonder Words: Use this activity if you want to have students learn about words prior to
reading. The Wonder Words sheet is located in Appendix A. Provide a dictionary,
thesaurus, and crayons or markers to each group. Assign students numbers 1-4. Student 1
defines the word using the dictionary. Student 2 thinks of words with similar meanings.
Student 3 uses the word in a sentence. Student 4 creates a way to demonstrate the
word’s meaning either by drawing a picture or acting out an interpretation. All students
support each other providing ideas and suggestions.
Action words from the story:
Page 6 dashed
Page 11 outsprint
Page 18 scampered
Page 23 sprinted
Page 25 limped
Pairs of students are given a large, blank sheet, and a sheet with words from Dozier’s Run.
Cut and sort the words into categories, place the words on the blank sheet and write a
category above a group of words. Give the students 5 minutes to sort. On the teacher’s
signal, the pairs of students rotate to another desk. The teacher may want to do this three
times. The pairs of students return to their original desks and change their categories or
keep them the same. The students share the different ways other pairs categorized the
words.
Compare the actions of Dozer to the actions of another animal, such as a squirrel, fox, or
toad.
Resources
Author Debbie Levy’s website: http://debbielevybooks.com/books/dozers-run-a-true-story-ofa-dog-and-his-race/
Remarks from fellow runners: http://medcenterblog.org/2011/05/running-with-dozer-fellowmaryland-half-marathon-runners-share-their-thoughts/
News release from University of Maryland Medical Center: www.umgcc.org/news/marathondog.htm
Dozer crossing the finish line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcwf4iCU2as
Dozer’s Facebook page: go to www.facebook.com and search for Dozer The Dog's Fan Page
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOBxCjxUFfs
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APPENDIX A
WONDER WORDS
Team Members:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
The Word:
Definition:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Similar Words:
Page 1
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WONDER WORDS
A Great Sentence:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
A Great Picture or Plan for Acting Out:
Page 2
Adapted from original created by Joyce Horoschak
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