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Wild animals, like wolves, try to eat sheep. Dogs chase them away.
Bye-bye wolves.
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Dogs With Jobs
Find out about dogs that work. Then turn the page for a true story about lifeguard dogs.
From the September 2022 Issue
Lexiles: 270L
Guided Reading Level: H
Vocabulary: wheelchair, firehouse, firefighter, lifeguard
Topic:
Social Studies,
Common Core Standards
TEKS Standards
1. Dogs can watch sheep.
2. Dogs can help people.
VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Some people need help moving. Dogs can help them. This dog pulls a kid in a wheelchair.
3. Dogs can make us smile.
GEORGE SHELLEY/GETTY IMAGES
What does a firehouse dog do? It makes the firehouse a happy place. It is a friend to the firefighters.
4. Dogs can save people.
SCUOLA ITALIANA CANI SALVATAGGIO
Some dogs are great swimmers. They can be lifeguards. How do they save people? Turn the page to find out.
video
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video
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Activities
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Skills Activities
More About the Article
English Language Arts Focus
Information from nonfiction text
Finding facts
Social Studies Focus
Types of jobs
Community helpers
Vocabulary: Compound Words
wheelchair, firehouse, firefighter, lifeguard
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS
Small Group/Partner Read
- Pair this article with the issue’s Big Read-Aloud, “Dogs to the Rescue.” Read the article in small groups to build knowledge, vocabulary, and nonfiction reading skills. Children can read the article again later with a partner.
Word Work
- “Dogs With Jobs” features several compound words: two words glued together. Use the bold vocabulary in this article during a separate lesson on these words.
Writing Block
- Kick off your nonfiction writing unit by helping children understand and find facts. This can be a first step toward researching to write nonfiction pieces later in the year.
1. BEFORE READING
Show a Video (10 minutes)
- Enrich your reading and watch real footage of working dogs with the anchor video “Dogs With Jobs”
Introduce Word Parts/Compound Words (15-20 minutes)
- This article features compound words: wheelchair, firehouse, firefighter, and lifeguard. Guide children to see that these words are made up of two words glued together. What do each of the smaller words mean? (Those words help us figure out the meaning of the big word.)
- Have children work together to come up with a definition for each word. You can play the online vocabulary slideshow to compare their definitions.
Preview the Article and Set a Purpose for Reading (3-5 minutes)
- Let students do a picture walk before reading. Can they predict what the article will be about? What do the pictures tell them?
- Tell students that you will read together to discover facts about working dogs. A fact is a statement that we know is true.
2. READ THE ARTICLE (15-30 minutes)
- The numbers and colored text will help guide students through the pages. After reading the headline and opening text, start at number 1.
- Have children discuss a fact about each working dog (e.g., dogs guard sheep, dogs can save people).
- When you are finished reading, children can turn and talk to a partner about their favorite fact or a new fact they didn’t know before.
3. AFTER READING
ELA Focus: Key Details (15 minutes)
- Point out our character Nosey at the end of the article. Tell children that they will help her make a fact file. Hand out the skills sheet Nosey’s Fact File.
ELA Focus: Key Details (15 minutes)
- This version of Nosey’s Fact File will allow you to offer the same content at a lower skill level.
Text-to-Speech