Lesson Plan - We Work With Puppies

Watch a Video: Lending a Paw
Discuss: What are some different jobs that dogs have performed throughout history? Which do you think are most interesting?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• episode
• retrieve

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them think about why treats are important tools for dog trainers to have on hand.

1. Angela Koons says that teaching puppies tricks is “not always easy.” What details in the text support that idea?
The article says that each episode of the show has a different dog, and that sometimes the trainers had just two weeks to teach the dog at least five tricks. 
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2. According to the article, what is a cue?
A cue is a special word or hand movement that an animal trainer uses to tell a dog how it should behave.
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3. What steps do the trainers follow to teach a dog to sit?
First they hold a treat just above the dog’s nose to encourage it to sit naturally. They also give a cue. Then, when the dog sits, they give it a reward. Later, the trainers add more time between the cue and the reward.
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FEATURED SKILL: Read With a Partner

Use the skill builder “Be a Reading Buddy” to facilitate having students read the article in pairs.