Breeds of Dogs: Research Activity

Subject: Language Arts

Topic: Compare and Contrast

Grades: 4 – 5

Objective: Make comparisons and find similarities and differences between different dog breeds.

National Standards: Common Core English Language Arts Standards

 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text  Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text  Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.  Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.  Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.  Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.  Effectively researching to gain information, prioritizing the most relevant pieces of information, comparing and contrasting the information, writing a paragraph to explain the information Materials:

 names of different breeds written on slips of paper  computers for research (one computer per pair of students)  AKC website (links to breed pages are below)  a T-Graph to make comparisons (samples can be found here)  paper (or notebook)

Time needed: This lesson will most likely take two 45 minute sessions, depending on the needs of the students.

Learning Activities and Strategies:

1. Teacher preparation: write the names of the following breeds of dogs on slips of paper:

St. Bernard, Boxer, Great Dane, Dalmatian, German Shepard Dog, Collie, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, American Foxhound, Beagle, Basset Hound, Dachshund, Greyhound, Whippet, Poodle, Pug, Bichon Frise, Maltese, Pomeranian, Doberman Pinscher, Chihuahua, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Siberian Husky, Pembroke Welsh Corgi

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2. Arrange students in pairs. 3. Each pair of students should randomly pick out two slips of paper. 4. Students should research their dogs, and use their T-chart to record their findings. (If students are not familiar with T-charts, some instructions/examples may need to be given.) Information to look for may include: origin of the breed, its evolution, physical characteristics, qualities of the breed, what the breed is most known for, and other attributes. 5. Students will take the information from the T-chart, compare and contrast their findings, and write a paragraph describing their findings.

Extension Activity:

The class may want to put their findings together to create a class book on the similarities and differences between different breeds of dogs.

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