Companion Teaching Activities to
the Newspaper Serialized Story
Teaching Activities written by
JENNIFER WIRTHWEIN
School District of Washington, Washington, Mo.
Serial Story by Carolyn Mueller, www.carolynelizabethmueller.com
Illustrations by Christopher Grant, www.timidlion.com
Design by Beth Sharpe, www.bethsharpe.com
Produced by the Missouri Press Foundation, www.mopress.com. ©2017
January2017
DearEducator,
NewspapersacrossthecountrywrotestoriesaboutJimtheWonderDoginthe1930s,andnow
yournewspaperissharinghisincrediblestorywithanewgenerationofnewspaperreaders
throughtheReadingAcrossMissouriproject.
Thankyouforchoosingtoembarkonthisreadingjourneywithyourstudents!Ourgoalisto
havechildrenreadingandlearninginsidetheircommunitynewspaper.
Missourinewspaperswillpublish“JimtheWonderDog”inprintandelectroniceditions
throughoutthewinterandspringof2017.Ifyouaren’tsureifyournewspaperhasplansto
publishthestory,contactthepublisheroreditor.ThestoryisavailabletoallMissouri
newspapersatnocost.
Thenewspaperisavaluableeducationalresourcefortheclassroom–notonlyinreinforcing
skillsacrossthecurriculum,butalsoforconnectingyoungreaderstotheircommunity.
Thequestionsinthisguidearedesignedtoassistyouinmeetinglearningobjectivesinthe
classroom.Thestandardsarewrittentohelpyoungreadersunderstandthepurposeofthe
activities.
WehopeyourstudentsenjoytheirlookbackatMissouri’sownWonderDog!
HappyReading!
DawnKitchell
MissouriPressFoundation&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.Ican
locatethedefinitionofunknownwords.
ChapterTwo
Vocabulary:
Directions:UseadictionarytofindthemeaningofthesewordsfromChapterTwo.
Coincidence
Recounted
Skeptically
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. HowdidJim’sowner,Sam,learnthatJimhadspecialtalents?
2. Budsays,“Wealsoherdsheep.”Herdisahomophone.Ahomophoneisawordthatsoundsthe
same,buthasadifferentmeaning(andoftenadifferentspelling).Inthiscase,“heard”and
“herd”arehomophones.Whatotherhomophonescanyouname?
3. Sam’swifethoughthehad“losthismarbles.”Whatdoesthatmean?
4. Jimtrottedtothetree.TrotteddescribesexactlyhowJimmoved.Chooseadifferentverbfor
“trotted.”Howdoesitchangethesentence?
5. Makeapredictionforchapterthree.
Research:
Therearemanydifferenttypesofbirddogs.Chooseadifferentbirddogtoresearch.CreateaVenn
diagramtocompareandcontrastwithLlewellinSetters.WriteaparagraphexplainingyourVenn
diagram.
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanevaluatewordchoice.Icanlocatethe
definitionofunknownwords.
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’sGhostandCandyKidat
www.birddogfoundation.com/field_trial_hall_of_fame.htm
Canyoufindtheyeartheirnameswerelisted?
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanevaluatefigurativelanguage.Icanlocate
thedefinitionofunknownwords.
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.Icanlocatethe
definitionofunknownwords.
ChapterFive
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. WhydidpeopledoubtSamwhenhesaidJimwasspecial?
2. WhatchallengesdidJimcompletetoprovehisintelligence?
3. HowdidpeopletrytotrickJim?
4. WhydidpeoplebelievethatJimcouldtrulyunderstandthem?
5. IfyoucouldchallengeJimtheWonderDog,whatwouldyouaskhimtodo?Why?
WritingConnection:
ImagineyouareattheRuffHotelwitnessingoneofJim’sperformances.Whatdoyousee?Whatdoyou
hear?Howdoestheaudiencereact?Howdoyoureact?Write1-3paragraphsdescribingyour
experience.
Research:
Visitthefollowingwebsitetoreadabouttheintelligenceofdogs.Thereareeventestsyoucantryat
homewithyourowndog.
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?Whatroot
worddotheyshareincommon?Whatdoestherootwordmean?
ComprehensionQuestions:
1. WhattaskswereJimaskedtocompleteontheroad?
2. WhydidJimtakeSamtotheUniversityofMissouri?
3. WhatdidthevetsandscientistssayaboutJim?
4. HowwereJim’sskillslikemagic?Givespecificexamples.
5. WhatdoesitmeanbythephrasethatSamnevertriedtoprofitfromJim?
Research:
GroundhogDayisanotheroccasionwhereanimalsareusedtopredictthefuture.Researchthehistory
ofGroundhogDay.Createatimelinetodisplaytheinformation.
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanmakeinferences.Icanlocatethe
definitionofunknownwords.
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.”Whatdoesthis
mean?WhydidtheycompareJimtoafamilymember?
Research:
JimcouldunderstandandcommunicateinMorseCode.Gotothefollowingwebsitetolearnmoreabout
MorseCode:https://www.morsecode.io/CreateamessageinMorseCodeforafriend.
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanmakeinferences.Icanlocatethe
definitionofunknownwords.
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:
GotothefollowingwebsitetoreadmoreaboutJimtheWonderDogandhismemorialgardenandgrave
site.Besuretoclickonthelink“forkids!”
www.jimthewonderdog.org
LearningStandards:Icancomprehendhistoricalfiction.Icanmakeinferences.Icanlocatethe
definitionofunknownwords.Icandeterminetheme.
EnrichmentActivities
LlewellinSetters
ResearchLlewellinSettersandcreateabrochurewiththeinformationyoulearned.
WriteaparagraphtopersuadesomeonetobuyaLlewellinSetter.
CreateaPowerPointpresentationtodisplaypicturesofLlewellinSetters.
CreateatimelineoffamousLlewellinSettersthroughhistory.
JimtheWonderDog
RewriteachapterofJimtheWonderDogfromJim’spointofview.
ResearchJim’sstoryonline.Heismentionedonwebsites,inblogsandinvideos.Find5-10newfacts
aboutJim.
ChooseaninterestingpartofJim’slifeandcreateanewsarticleabouttheevent.
WritealettertoyourparentstopersuadethemtotakeyoutoseeJimtheWonderDogmemorial.
AmazingAnimals
Visitthefollowingwebsitetolearnaboutamazinganimalsinhistory:http://www.animalplanet.com/tvshows/saved/photos/amazing-animals-in-history-pictures/
CreateyourownTop10listofAmazingAnimalsinHistory.
Whattypeofanimalisthemostintelligent?Writeaparagraphwithyourclaim,supportingdetails,anda
conclusionsentence.
LearningStandards:Icanwriteforaspecificpurposeandaudience.Icanmaketext-to-world
connections.Icanmaketext-to-selfconnections.Icanfindmainideaandsupportingdetails.
Author’sReadingNotes
CarolynMueller,theauthorof“JimtheWonderDog,”sharesherfavoritebooksaboutanimal
intelligenceandafewwebsitesyoumightbeinterestedininvestigating.
•
“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