The History of Dogs/How America Went Dog Crazy

Social studies: world history, U.S. history 

Science: animals, evolution

Putting ideas together, summarizing, key details, text features, drawing conclusions, cause and effect, main idea

Preview Text Features/ Set a Purpose for Reading (10 minutes)

• Have students look at both articles. Direct them to the labels on page 10 that say “Paired Texts” and “One topic, two texts.” Ask volunteers to read aloud the title and subtitle of both articles. Then ask students to identify the topic of both texts (the history of dogs and their relationship to humans).
• Point out the photos and captions in both articles. Call on volunteers to describe each photograph and to read the captions on pages 12 and 13.
  
• Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 10 and the Think and Write box on page 13. As students read the articles, remind them to look for details that describe how dogs and their relationship with humans have changed over thousands of years.
  

Preview Vocabulary (15 minutes, activity sheet online)

• We have highlighted in bold seven words that may be challenging and defined them on the page. Preview these words by projecting or distributing our vocabulary activity and completing it as a class. You may also play our Vocabulary Slideshow, where images and audio help students with comprehension and fluency. 
• Highlighted words: ancestor, fierce, aggressive, predators, herders, veterinarian, autism
  

Reading and Unpacking the Text

• First read: Students should read each article one time for general comprehension.
• Second read: Distribute the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions. Preview them together. Ask students to read the articles again and answer the questions as a class or in small groups.Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes, activity sheet online)
  

Close Reading Questions (30 minutes, activity sheet online)

• Read the first section of “The History of Dogs.” What is the connection between dogs and the gray wolf? (main idea) The gray wolf is the ancestor of all dogs.
• How did wolves and humans first learn to work together? (summarizing) Less-aggressive wolves crept into human campsites to get food scraps. Because they protected humans, they were allowed to stay there. Over time, a new breed of calmer, gentler wolves developed.
• Read “Hunters, Napkins” How did wolves change into dogs over many centuries? (key details) Their bodies became smaller and their ears got floppier. They became friendlier and wanted to please humans. How do the photos on page 10 and 11 help you understand this change? (text features) The photos show some of the physical differences described in the text between the gray wolf and different kinds of dogs.
  
• Why is the subhead for this section “Hunters, Napkins”? (key details) This section includes information about the different ways that dogs have worked for humans. Some became hunters, but dogs also helped people in strange ways. For example, people wiped their dirty hands on dogs after eating because they didn’t have napkins.
  
• Read the section “From Workers to Pets” in the second article. Why didn’t Americans take their sick dogs to veterinarians? (key details) Most veterinarians didn’t treat dogs until the late 1800s because dogs were considered workers, not pets. Back then, most owners did not spend money on their dogs’ medical care.
  
• Why did Americans’ feelings about dogs begin to change in the late 1800s? (cause and effect) More Americans could afford to feed and care for pets. Companies made soap for dogs that kept them clean and killed fleas. Companies started selling dog food, which made it easier to feed dogs. Veterinarians opened offices to treat dogs and other pets.
  

Critical-Thinking Question (10 minutes, activity sheet online)

• According to “How America Went Dog Crazy,” how has the relationship between dogs and humans changed over the years? (putting ideas together) “How America Went Dog Crazy” explains how working dogs in America became household pets in the late 19th century and later helped people in important ways. Originally, dogs protected farm animals or helped hunters. Then, in the late 1800s, began to be treated like pets. This strengthened the bond between dogs and their owners. Over time, dogs learned to help older people as well as adults and kids who have physical or emotional needs.