The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog: Part 1
Information About This Unit
Description of Learning Unit:
The head of security at the the ranch is a dog, and there's just been a murder. Learn more as you read the exciting adventures of "Hank the Cowdog" (Chapters 1 through 4) in this unit. Hands-on activities will include looking at the killer's tracks, creating a wanted poster, giving Hank a uniform and badge, and comparing Hank and Drover. Writing assignments include writing about how you would track the killer, writing about a day when you went swimming, and writing about finding a bottle with a note inside at the beach. Your child will also learn how to identify topic sentences. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach language arts.
List of Objectives:
- Read "Hank the Cowdog" (Chapters 1 through 4).
- Write about tracking a killer, a day when you went swimming, and a note you find in a bottle.
- Learn how to identify topic sentences.
- Learn this week's spelling/vocabulary words: inflamed, temper, muttered, wrathful, enraged, immense, vast, petite, miniature, hitched, snitched, and massive.
List of Materials and Supplies Needed for This Pathway:
- A printer and basic printing supplies
- Card stock
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Card stock or posterboard
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Paper
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- A printer and basic printing supplies
- A pencil
- Lunch sacks
- Groups of items (things you write with, pictures of clothes you wear, pictures of places you eat, etc.)
Identifying the Topic Sentence:
- Paper
- A pencil
- Strips of paper
- Green crayon
- Paper
- A pencil or pen
- A computer
- A printer and basic printing supplies
- White construction paper
- White crayon
- Tempera paint or watercolors
- Paper
- Crayons or markers
- A computer
- A printer and basic printing supplies
- Children’s magazine
- A pen or marker
Writing Assignments:
- Writing Journal
- A printer and basic printing supplies
- A pencil
- Lined paper (use your own or use the Handwriting Paper resource)
Printables:
- A printer and basic printing supplies
- A pencil
Links to Related Pathways (if any):
Language Arts Year 3, Week 23: The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog: Part 2
Language Arts Year 3, Week 24: The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog: Part 3
Links to Free Learning Material
Literature Activities:
| Read "Hank the Cowdog" | (no rating) |
Read "Hank the Cowdog" by John R. Erickson.
| Compare Hank and Drover | (no rating) |
Compare Hank and Drover using a Venn diagram.
| Tracking a Killer | (no rating) |
Hank thought a porcupine's tracks were raccoon tracks. Compare the two types of tracks and see what you think.
| Wanted | (no rating) |
Create a wanted poster for the creature that killed the hen.
| Hank's Career | (no rating) |
Draw a picture of Hank dressed in a uniform and carrying a badge.
Language Arts Concepts:
| Vocabulary Word List | (no rating) |
Help your child learn this week's vocabulary words by writing them down on paper.
| Typing Fun | (no rating) |
In this activity, your child will use a computer or typewriter to write the spelling/vocabulary words for this week.
| Spelling Magic | (no rating) |
Have your child perform a little magic to write his or her vocabulary words.
| Train of Words | (no rating) |
In this activity, your child will make a train of vocabulary words.
| Spreadsheet Words | (no rating) |
Have your child use the computer to create a spreadsheet of vocabulary words.
| Magazine Words | (no rating) |
Have your child search for this week's vocabulary words in a magazine.
| Topic Sentences | (no rating) |
Learn that a topic sentence tells what the paragraph is about. It is the main idea in a paragraph.
| The Main Idea | (no rating) |
Learn more about main ideas.
| Identifying the Topic Sentence | (no rating) |
Learn how to identify topic sentences.
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Writer's Workshop:
| Head of Security | (no rating) |
Write several paragraphs imagining that you are the head of security at the ranch. Describe what you would do to track down the killer.
| Swimming | (no rating) |
Write a paragraph about a time when you went swimming.
| Note in a Bottle | (no rating) |
Imagine finding a note in a bottle at the beach. Write about finding it. What did the note say and what did you do?
Learning Tools (worksheets, drills, printables, online games, tests, etc.):
| Find the Missing Letters | (no rating) |
Some of the letters are missing from the vocabulary words. Can you find them?
| Finding Topic Sentences | (no rating) |
Cut out the topic sentences and match them to the correct sentence.
| Topic Sentences | (no rating) |
Underline the topic sentences in paragraphs.
| Find the Main Idea | (no rating) |
Find the main idea for paragraphs in this online quiz.
| Identify the Main Idea | (no rating) |
Take this quiz and see whether you can identify the main idea.
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Free Online Video:.png)
Free Online Audio:
Free E-Books (and classics available in most libraries):