TEACHERS:  The following lesson guides and Webtrips are appropriate for students in grades 4 through 8 and are Standards aligned.

Download entire lesson guide:  Dogs Don't Tell Jokes

Louis Sachar Author Biography

Lesson Guide Table of Contents

• LESSON 1: ACTIVE and PASSIVE VOICE:   California Contend Standard:  Writing Conventions 1.0:  1.1  Sentence Structure:  place modifiers properly, and use the active voice.

Chapters 1 – 4 of Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes                                           

• LESSON 2:  INFINITIVES and PARTICIPLES:   CA 7^th ELA Content Standard:  1.0: Writing Conventions – 1.2 Grammar:  identify and use infinitives and participles and make clear references between pronouns and antecedents.

Chapters 5 – 10 of Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes                                           pages 7-10 

• LESSON 3:  PARTS OF SPEECH:  CA 7^th ELA Content Standard:  1.0: Writing Conventions – 1.3 Grammar:  identify all parts of speech and structure of sentences.

Chapters 11- 15 of Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes                                           pages 11-16 

• LESSON 4:  LITERARY RESPONSE: CA 7^th ELA Content Standard:  3.0: Literary Response and Analysis:  3.2 Narrative Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text:  identify events that advance the plot, and determine how each event explains past or present action(s) or foreshadows future action(s).

Chapters 16 – 20                                                                                page 17-20 

• LESSON 5:  CHARACTER TERMS:  CA 7^th ELA Content Standard:  3.0: Literary Response and Analysis:  3.3 Narrative Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text:  analyze characterization as delineated through a character’s thoughts, words, speech patterns and actions; the narrator’s descriptions; and the thoughts, words and actions of other characters.

Chapters 21 – 25                                                                                pages 21- 23

• LESSON 6:  CA 7^th ELA Content Standard:  3.0: Literary Response and Analysis:  3.2 Narrative Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text:  identify events that advance the plot, and determine how each event explains past or present action(s) or foreshadows future action(s).

Chapters 21 – 25                                                                                pages 24

•  LESSON 7:  CA 7^th ELA Content Standard:  3.0: Literary Response and Analysis:  3.2 Narrative Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text:  identify events that advance the plot, and determine how each event explains past or present action(s) or foreshadows future action(s).

Chapters 21 – 25                                                                                pages 24

Standards: Reading:  1.0 Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development   Students use their knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words.  Vocabulary and Concept Development -- 1.1 Identify idioms, analogies, metaphors, and similes in prose and poetry.

2.0 Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)  -- Students deliver well-organized formal presentations employing traditional rhetorical strategies (e.g., narration, exposition, persuasion, description). Student speaking demonstrates a command of standard American English and the organizational and delivery strategies outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 1.0.

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