Can a Dog Run a Town? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will examine what a mayor does by reading about an animal mayor.

 

Social Studies Focus:

government

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, persuasive writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a map

 

Vocabulary:

mayor, election, votes, communities

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, RF.2.3, L.2.1, W.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level: 

K

 

Lexile Level: 

500L

Download TEKS Standards
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Provide students with some background on government.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “What Is Government?” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • Imagine you met the mayor of your town. What is one thing you would ask him or her?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are mayor, election, votes, and communities.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. What do children think of having a dog as a mayor?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about why some towns elect animal mayors.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words mayor, election, and communities..

Editor’s Pick: Write a Letter (15 min.)

  • The Dear Mayor skill sheet helps kids write a letter to your town’s mayor with just-right scaffolding. It’s never too early to make your voice heard!

ELA Focus: Persuasive Writing (15 min.)

  • The Vote for Me! skill sheet provides a template for kids to create their own campaign poster!

ELA Focus: Sight Words (15 min.)

  • With the Color by Sight Word skill sheet, kids color a mystery picture using a sight word key. As each section is filled in, a cute picture appears!

 Here's a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on "official" animals:

  • “The History of Groundhog Day,” February 2019. This issue tells how Groundhog Day came to be. Read it for another funny story about animals and government.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 550L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 470L