Table of Contents

Chapter 1..2
Chapter 2..3
Chapter 3..4
Chapter 4..5
Chapter 5..6
Chapter 6..7
Chapter 7..8
Chapter 8..9
Chapter 9.10
Chapter 1011
Chapter 11.12
Chapter 12....13
Appendix Beginning14
Appendix i: Frayer Model.15
Appendix ii: Bell Ringer....16
Appendix iii: Exit Slip...17
Appendix iv: Semantic Map...18
Appendix v: Vocabulary Cluster...19
Appendix vi: Facebook Post...20
Appendix vii: Do I know you?...................21
Appendix viii: Cloze Procedure.22
Appendix ix: Cross-Word Puzzle....23
Appendix x RAFT24
Appendix xi: Secret Password...25
Appendix xii: Entrance Slip.26
1

Chapter 1
Vocabulary

Humongous
Butyl
Purebred
Temper shepherd
Velvety

Discussion Questions
1. Why did Williams mom let him get a dog? (Remember)
2. Why do you think William did not want to finish the fish pond? (Understanding)
Activity
Frayer Model
Materials:

Paper
Colored Pencils or Markers

Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Review the vocabulary target words.

Each student needs to pick a word that they are struggling with the most.
Give each student a piece of paper.
Tell them to fold the paper in half hamburger style and then in half again in
hamburger style.
Have students fold down the corner that is completely surrounded by folds.
When students open the paper there should be four boxes with a diamond in the
middle.
When the paper is laid landscape style the top right should be for the definition,
the top left for characteristics, the bottom right for examples, and the bottom left
for Non-Examples.
The middle diamond will be left blank, it is where the vocabulary word will go
eventually, but leave it blank so that other students can look at the model and
guess the word.

Chapter 2
Vocabulary

Acquainted
Dignity
Fierce
Compass
Slither

Discussion Questions
1. Make a map of the hike that William and Riley take? (Apply)
2. Why was William so afraid when Riley approached the little dog? (Understand)
Activity
Bell Ringer
Materials:

Template of a clock with lines in it for students to write in

Directions:
1. Give each student a clock sheet.
2. Have them write one sentence on why they think with time, William is coping
better with the loss of his Grandpa.

Chapter 3
Vocabulary

Fortunate
Eavesdrop
Tremendous
Elegant
Mimic

Discussion Questions
1. What are the differences between Williams relationship with his mom and
Williams relationship with his dad? (Analyze)
2. Why would thinking about his dad make William mad? (Evaluate)
Activity
Exit Slip
Materials:

Worksheet
Scissors to cute the paper into smaller slip

Directions:
The purpose of this exit slip is to make sure that students understand the
problems between William and his father. This chapter is referenced throughout
the rest of the book.
1. In the last five minutes of class give each student an exit slip asking students to
write down a reason why William is so angry with his dad.
2. Before moving on to the next subject collect the exit slip from each student.
3. Review what the students wrote down to ensure that students know that William
is angry at his dad for
a. Leaving him and his mom
b. Never being around anymore
c. Fighting with his mom

Chapter 4
Vocabulary

Enraptured
Stately
Trot
Hurdle
Whirlwind

Discussion Questions
1. How did Riley react to Sultan compared to how he reacted to the little dog in
chapter 2? (Analyze)
2. Why do you think Riley chased Sultan? (Evaluate)
Activity
Semantic Map
Materials:

Semantic Map Template

6 dog bone cut outs
Markers

Directions:
1. Make a semantic map template to hand out to the students. The template should
have a dog in the middle with the chapter title. Around the dog make an oval
with six dog bones that are large enough for students to write in. Number the
bones to make sure the map path is clear.
2. Tell students to find the six most important elements in the chapter and to write
them in chronological order on the semantic map.
3. After everyone has completed the map go over the activity by writing the events
on six large dog bones that can be taped to the board or wall.

Chapter 5
Vocabulary

Jockey
Vicious
Rupture
Tendon
Tranquilizer

Discussion Questions
1. Why was Grace so angry at Riley for chasing Sultan with he was not her horse?
(Understand)
2. On Page 27, Peachie says, You can have twenty, thirty horses in your lifetime,
but theres always one thats special. Like your first love.
What does Peachie mean when says this? (Hint: Think of all the toys you have
had in your life, is there one that stands out to you that is special?) (Apply)
Activity
Vocabulary Cluster
Materials:

Worksheet
Vocabulary Cluster template
dictionary

Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Give each student a vocabulary cluster with six synonyms.

Provide a sentence for additional help.
Tell students to fill in the middle circle with the correct vocabulary word.
When students have finished tell them to make their own vocabulary cluster by
picking the word they are struggling with the most.

Chapter 6
Vocabulary

Stereo
Frantic
Obedience
Frantic
Lawsuit

Discussion Questions
1. When William was upset he went to his Grandpas room to calm down and be
alone. Describe a place that you go when you are upset? Why do you go there?
Why does William go to his Grandpas room? (Apply)
2. William talks to Riley throughout chapter 6 like he is a person. If you were
William what would you talk to Riley about? What would you say to him about
Dad or Sultan? (Create)
Activity
Facebook Post
Materials:

Computers
2 Facebook accounts

William is really upset in this chapter. Many people write on Facebook when they are
upset. It is a way of helping people release their feelings.
1. Create a Facebook page for William.
2. Post a message from William explaining that he is upset.
3. Have each child write a comment under the post using the class Facebook
account. The comment should be advice to make William feel better.
4. Have students write their names in the comment so that you know who posted
what.
5. After all students have posted make sure that the posts are appropriate.
6. Share the words of advice to the class.

Chapter 7
Vocabulary

Aristocratic
Suffocate
Mutter
Humane
Livestock

Discussion Questions
1. Was it right that Peachie filed a complaint with animal control? Why or Why not?
(Evaluate)
2. When animal control picked up Riley what did they say was going to happen to
him? (Remember)
Activity
Do I know you?
Materials:

Google docs account

Directions:
1. Make and online survey about how well you understand the vocabulary words.
(The easiest way is to make a form on google docs)
2. Make each vocabulary word its own question and make the answers multiple
choice with choices of:
a. I have never seen you.
b. I have seen you or heard you used, but I dont know what you mean.
c. I know what you mean, but I dont think I could use you with confidence.
d. When I see or hear you, I know what you mean, and I can explain you in
my own words.
e. other

Chapter 8
Vocabulary

Appeal
Inspiration
Pasture
Paramedics
Legal

Discussion Questions
1. What would you say to Peachie as an apology and then as a way to try to save
your dog? (Create)
2. Since Peachie will not take back her complaint, what do you think William will do
next to try to save Riley? Why do you think he will do that? (Evaluate)
Activity
Cloze Procedure
Materials:

Computer program to make the card

Directions:
1. Make an apology card to Peachie from William.
2. In the body potion of the card delete the vocabulary target words from the
chapter.
3. Have students use the context clues in the letter to fill in the blanks in the card.

Chapter 9
Vocabulary

Sarcastic
Circumstance
Squinch
Sandalwood
Precious

Discussion Questions
1. Why did Williams mom call Stephen for advice about how to save Riley?
(Understand)
2. Is it right for Williams mom not to let Riley come back and live with them again
even if they do save Riley? (Evaluate)

Activity
Cross-Word Puzzle
Materials

http://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net
Printed out cross-word puzzle

Directions
1. Using the website in the material sections make a cross-word puzzle.
2. The clues should include definitions of vocabulary words and sentences with
blanks where the vocabulary words would be filled in. Some clues can be about
important characters as well.

10

Chapter 10
Vocabulary

Mourn
Sorrow
Vague
Commissioner
Rummage

Discussion Questions
1. Grace and William think of ways to save Riley. Make a list of your own of ways
that you would try to save Riley or your own pet? (Apply)
2. On page 70 William thinks that they will but the words DOES THIS DOG
DESERVE TO DIE? on a big billboard to gain peoples attention. If you had a
picture of Riley on a billboard what would you write on it to gain attention?
(Apply)
Activity
RAFT
R-William
A-People who are trying to save an animal
F-Trifold
T-How to save a dogs life
Materials:

Construction Paper
Markers
OR

Computer program that makes trifolds

Directions:
1. Have students make a trifold of different ways that they would save Riley if they
were William.
2. Students can use the ideas that William and Grace say in this chapter or they can
use their own ideas.

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3. After everyone is done have students share their trifold and then hang them
around the room.

Chapter 11
Vocabulary

Ecstatic
Inevitable
Stupendous
Guffaw
Whimper

Discussion Questions
1. What happened to Ellis cast? (Remember)
2. On page 83 the last lines say There are two sides to everything. And the one
youre on isnt necessarily right. In your own words explain what this means?
(Understand)
Activity
Secret Password
Materials:

http://www.qrstuff.com/
Di-cuts to glue the codes on
Glue
Scissors
Device that will scan the code

Directions:
1. Use a free QR website to make a QR code for each of the vocabulary words.
2. Divide class into five teams,one team member to go up to the game table (A table
at the front of the room where everyone can sit when it is their turn).
3. The person on team one will start the game, but after the first turn the team with
the highest points will start.
4. The teacher will pick a word for the students at the table to play with.
5. The words are hidden in QR codes, so the students will need to scan the code to
see the word.(The QR codes have been cut and glued to di-cuts)
6. One at a time the students will give a synonym to their team members. Each
team only gets one guess.

12

7. If the first team does not guess correctly the next team goes and so on until a
team gets the vocabulary word correct.
8. The game is over when all of the vocabulary words have been played. The team
with the most points is the winner.

Chapter 12
Vocabulary

Condemn
Biding
Smuggle
Parole
Spare

Discussion Questions
1. Do you think Ellis Porter wants Riley to be put to sleep because he wants revenge
for his cat or because he is a bully? (Analyze)
2. Why did Grace and William mail some of flyers instead of hanging all of them?
(Understand)

Activity
Entrance Slip
Materials:

Paper
Markers

Directions:
1. Make a flyer template, which a picture of a dog in the middle and lines
underneath.
2. Give each student a sheet of paper.
3. Have students write no more than four sentences that would go on a flyer on why
Riley needs to be saved.
4. If students have extra time they may color in their flyer.

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14

Appendix

Appendix i
Chapter 1
Frayer Model

Appendix ii
Chapter 2
Bellringer

Appendix iii
Chapter 3
Exit Slip

Appendix iv
Chapter 4
Semantic Map

Appendix v
Chapter 5
Vocabulary Cluster

Appendix vi
Chapter 6
Facebook Post

Appendix vii
Chapter 7
Do I know you?

Appendix viii
Chapter 8
Cloze Procedure

Appendix iv
Chapter 9
Cross-Word Puzzle

Appendix x
Chapter 10
RAFT

Appendix xi
Chapter 11
Secret Password

Appendix xii
Chapter 12
Entrance Slip