Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog’s Tale By Laurie Myers Illustrated by Michael Dooling Visit the Author

Summary You have probably never heard the story of Lewis and Clark’s journey told from the point of view of a dog. But Seaman is no ordinary dog. He tells his version of Lewis and Clark’s famous journey from his first meeting with the explorers to the moment when he was almost traded to the Native Americans.

Study Skills Genre: Historical Fantasy Comprehension Skill: Author’s Purpose Comprehension Strategy: Answer Questions Comprehension Review Skill: Cause and Effect Vocabulary: Word Endings

Question of the Week TE 40m What did Lewis and Clark learn on their journey?

Genre: Historical Fantasy Historical Fantasy is based on real events in history, but it is a story that could never really happen-in this case, because a dog can’t write. As you read look for the facts on which this story is based. Click on Genre to learn more about different genres and Realistic Fiction.

Comprehension Skill TE 40/65a Author’s Purpose is the author’s reason or reasons for writing this story. Authors don’t usually tell you this. You have to figure the reasons out. It might be to inform or teach, to entertain, to express their feelings, and to persuade or convince you.

Practice Author’s Purpose Let’s read p. 54 and decide the author’s purpose for including the last paragraph on that page. to inform because the paragraph gives information about Newfoundland dogs

Comprehension Strategy – Answer Questions Good readers know where to look for the answers to questions. They know sometimes the answer to a question is in one place or in several places. They know sometimes they may have to use what they know to answer a question.

Comprehension Skill Review – Cause and Effect TE 49 An effect is something that happens. A cause explains why it happens. Writing may include clue words such as because, in order to, so, and as a result to link causes and effects. If these words are missing, readers need to think about cause-and-effect relationships on their own. Practice Book p.16

Vocabulary Strategy for Endings TE 42-43 Sometime when you are reading you may come across a word you don’t know. Look at the end of the word. Does it have –ed or –ing? The ending –ed is added to a verb to make it past tense. The ending –ing is added to a verb to make it tell about present or ongoing actions. The The ending may help you figure out the meaning of the word.

Let’s Practice Word Endings TE65c verb with ending base word verb with new ending crossing blinked

Vocabulary- Say It! docks migrating scan scent wharf yearned

platforms built on the shore or out from the shore; wharves; piers docks platforms built on the shore or out from the shore; wharves; piers

going from one region to another with the change in seasons migrating going from one region to another with the change in seasons

to glance at; look over hastily scan to glance at; look over hastily

scent a smell

wharf platform built on the shore or out from the shore beside which ships can load or unload

felt a longing or desire yearned felt a longing or desire

I can see the pioneers with all their goods, waiting on the wharf.

I can see the pioneers with all their goods, waiting on the wharf.

The pioneers load their belongings onto flatboats tied to the docks.

The pioneers load their belongings onto flatboats tied to the docks.

As they traveled, pioneers would scan the country for food and Indians.

As they traveled, pioneers would scan the country for food and Indians.

Pioneers saw endless herds and flocks of animals migrating.

Pioneers saw endless herds and flocks of animals migrating.

Comprehension Review Skill Author’s Purpose is the author’s reason or reasons for writing this story. Authors don’t usually tell you this. You have to figure the reasons out. It might be to inform or teach, to entertain, to express their feelings, and to persuade or convince you.

Day 2 - Question of the Day – Pg. 44-53 Why do you think the author chose to write this story from a dog’s point of view?

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 46-47 The author tells this story from Seaman’s point of view. Why do you think she does this? If you were Captain Lewis, would you choose Seaman to go with you on this trip?

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 48-49 At the bottom of p. 48, the author shows an excerpt from one of Captain Lewis’s journals. What is a likely reason the author includes part of Captain Lewis’s journal in the story? Why does Seaman choose to ride in the back of the boat?

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 50-51 Name the base words and meanings for hiring, hunting, and scanned on p. 50. On p. 51, what is the author trying to tell you about Seaman when she writes, “It is impossible to describe the urge I felt. It was as strong as anything I had ever known. I had to get those squirrels.”

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 50-51 The last paragraph on p. 51 describes Seaman’s thoughts as the men guess why the squirrels are crossing the river. What do Seaman’s thoughts tell you about him?

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 52-53 The author writes on p. 53, paragraph 7, that “… the look of pride on Lewis’s face was better than all the men’s praise added together.” Why is the author telling you this? How has Seaman’s life changed since Captain Lewis first stepped on the wharf in 1803?

Day 3 - Question of the Day – Pg. 53-65 How would you describe the bond between Lewis and Seaman?

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 54-55 Identify the base words and meanings for listened, staring, and realized on p. 54, paragraph 5. Is it reasonable for the Indians to think that Seaman is a bear? Why or why not?

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 56-57 Why do the Indians call Seaman a “bear-dog”? What is the significance of Lewis refusing to trade Seaman for the beaver pelts? Do you own something that is so valuable that you wouldn’t trade it for anything? What could the author’s purpose be for using dialogue as well as Lewis’s journal entry in this section of the story?

Lewis & Clark & Me p. 58-59 What does the map on p. 58-59 show? Why do you think the author put numbers on certain spots on the map? How is this map of the United States similar to a U.S. map today? How is it different?

Day 4 - Question of the Day - Review What viewpoint, or attitude, do you think the author has about York and Sacagawea and their contributions to the expedition?

Review Questions How is Seaman different from other dogs? What can you tell most about the Indians Lewis and Clark met in this story? Why do you think the author tells what the Indians called horses?

Journal Entry TE 65g-h A journal entry describes your thoughts and experiences during the day and in your life. It is part of a journal, recording daily events over a period of weeks, months, or years.

Writing Assignment Write a journal entry about a day in your life. Focus on 2 or 3 important or interesting events. Don’t try to say everything. Reflect on how you felt. Writing a journal is like talking to yourself.

Spelling Words Long a and i sleigh freight dismay frighten highway trait raisin tight thigh slight

Spelling Words Long a and i grain bait braid spray height detail eight weigh right sigh

CHALLENGE eighteen mayonnaise campaign daylight twilight

Weekly Fluency Check - Pauses TE 65a Good readers pause in certain places as they read to make the reading easy for listeners to follow. Periods, dashes, and commas provide clues for pauses.

Research/Study Skill – Skim and Scan TE 65l To scan is to move one’s eyes down the page, seeking specific words and phrases. Scanning is used to find out if a resource will answer a reader’s questions. Once a reader has scanned a document, he or she might go back and skim it.

Research/Study Skill – Skim and Scan TE 65l To skim a document is to read the first and last paragraphs as well as other headings and other organizers as you move down the page. Skimming is used to quickly identify the main idea. You might also read the first sentence of each paragraph.

Literary Device – Imagery/Sensory Words TE Pg. 65b Imagery, or sensory words, are words or phrases that help the reader experience the way things look, smell, taste, sound, or feel. Imagery can make characters and settings seem real by appealing to the reader’s senses. Imagery may help set the mood or dramatize the action. Look at p.46, paragraphs 4 and 5, and describe how the words appeal to your senses.

Fun Stuff Lewis and Clark Internet Game Web Quest Journal Entries Coloring Book More about Lewis and Clark Kids Activities About Sacagawea