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Nonfiction,

Dogs to the Rescue!

Fourteen swimmers were struggling in the water. Who would save them?

By Janice Behrens
From the September 2022 Issue
Lexiles: 500L, 10L
Guided Reading Level: J, G
Featured Skill: Main Idea, Key Details,
Vocabulary: floats, swept, signal, massive, train, fetch, joy, brave
Topic: Social Studies,
Common Core Standards
  • RI.1.1 Key details RI.1.4 Vocabulary RI.1.5 Text features RI.1.7 Use visuals SL.1.1 Discuss grade-1 texts SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details L.1.4.a Use sentence-level context as a clue to a word’s meaning
TEKS Standards
  • English Language Arts
    (6) Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student is expected to: (B) generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information with adult assistance.
  • Social Studies
    (9) Economics. The student understands the value of work. The student is expected to: (A) describe the tools of various jobs and the characteristics of a job well performed; and (B) describe how various jobs contribute to the production of goods and services.

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Think and Read

As you read, think about the brave things the dogs do.

It was a hot day at the beach. Families splashed in the water and played on floats. Lifeguards kept watch.

One lifeguard, Michele, (mee-KEH-leh) noticed a strong wind. But he didn’t know the sea was about to become dangerous. Suddenly, huge waves rolled in. Swimmers were swept far out into the sea. 

A mom on the beach saw her kids struggling in the water. She rushed to the lifeguards for help.

PAUSE AND THINK:  Why did the swimmers need help?

SCUOLA ITALIANA CANI SALVATAGGIO 

lifeguard dogs on the beach

Rescue Dogs

Luckily, the lifeguards at this beach are part of a special team. They work with amazing rescue dogs. The dogs, Eros, Mira, and Mya, help swimmers in trouble. That’s right! These dogs can save your life.

Michele the lifeguard blew his whistle three times. His dog, Mya, knew this was the signal for action. She sprang up and followed Michele as he raced into the water. 

PAUSE AND THINK:  What makes the lifeguard team special?

REUTERS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

The dogs follow their owners! They run into the water.

Go, Dogs, Go!

By now, 14 people were struggling in the water. Eight of them were kids from ages 6 to 12.

Michele and Mya swam into the massive waves. 

“The waves looked like walls to me,” Michele says. “Just imagine what they looked like to the dog.”

But that didn’t stop Mya and her puppy pals.

PAUSE AND THINK:  Do you think Mya is brave? Why?

REUTERS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

The dogs pull people through the water.

Learning to Save Lives

To become lifeguards, Mya and the other pups went to a special school for rescue dogs.

What’s it like to train at the school? It’s all fun and games! 

The dogs start by playing games like fetch. Later they train in the water. The pups wear doggie life jackets with handles. They learn to pull people as they hold on. 

PAUSE AND THINK:  What do the dogs do at the school?

PILENGA/SHUTTERSTOCK

Some dogs learn to jump from helicopters!

Ready to Rescue

It takes a year before the dogs try the toughest jobs. Mya learned to leap off a speeding boat with Michele! Was that scary?

For Mya, it was just another fun game. All her training worked. Good dog, Mya! 

PAUSE AND THINK:  Was Mya scared to jump off the boat? Why not?

SCUOLA ITALIANA CANI SALVATAGGIO 

Thank you, lifeguard dogs!

Saved by the Pups

Now Mya and the other pups were lifeguard dogs on the beach. And they were about to make the biggest rescue in lifeguard-dog history.

Eros and Mira swam to people on floats. The dogs held ropes in their teeth and pulled the floats to shore.

Michele tied three swimmers to Mya’s life jacket. She pulled them through the wind and waves. 

The dogs kept going. It took 20 minutes to rescue all 14 people. 

PAUSE AND THINK: How did the dogs save the people?

Happy Heroes

When all the swimmers were safe, Mya was happy!  

“My dog was bursting with joy,” Michele says. “She was spinning around and barking.” 

The rescued swimmers thanked the dogs. The children hugged them.

Did Maya know she had been brave? Maybe not. But she did know that all the people on the beach loved her.

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Skills Activities

More About the Article

Social-emotional Learning Focus

Courage, teamwork, helping others

Social Studies Focus

Community helpers, safety

Vocabulary

floats, swept, signal, massive, train, fetch, joy, brave

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

The essential question of this issue is How Can We Be Brave? The articles below connect to this theme.

  • Big Read-Aloud: “Dogs to the Rescue,” p. 10
  • Word Play: “Three Ways to Say Brave,” p. 16
  • Mini Graphic: “Sticky Situation: Who Will I Play With?,” p. 17
  • Fiction: “My Name is Zahara,” p. 26
  • Poetry: “Brave Night,” p. 32

Through the above genres, students will discuss:

  • What do the people (and animals!) in these stories do that is brave?
  • When have you been brave?
  • What happens when we are brave?

IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS

Read-Aloud

  • Nonfiction read-alouds give children access to more complex written text that is on their listening level. Use it to develop children’s comprehension, knowledge, vocabulary, and understanding of nonfiction text.

Small Group/Partner Read

Background Builder

  • Pair your read-aloud with “BackgroundBuilder: Dogs With Jobs” (p. 8). This is a lower-level nonfiction article that gives children background knowledge before they encounter the Big Read-Aloud. It features simple headings for children to practice reading. Use it during small-group reading time. Then children can read it again with a partner.

Technology time

Video Read-Aloud

  • Kids can hear the article read aloud and see the imagery come to life. This online resource models fluent reading. The footage helps solidify comprehension—and kids will be fascinated!

1. BEFORE READING

Show Video (10 minutes)

  • Tell your students they are going to watch a video about bravery (this video also goes with other stories in this issue of Storyworks 1). As they watch, ask, “What are brave things the people are doing in this video?”
  • After watching, ask the question again. Write students’ ideas on chart paper. Ask children to turn and talk to a partner about a time when they were brave.

Preview Vocabulary (3-5 minutes)

  • Play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue features rich vocabulary including: floats, swept, signal, massive, train, fetch, job, and brave.

Preview the First Pages and Set a Purpose for Reading (5-10 minutes)

  • Now tell students they are going to read a true story. Tell them it is about some brave lifeguard dogs! The dogs have to swim through big waves in rough water. Will they be able to help save 14 people at one time?
  • Open your magazines to “Dogs to the Rescue.” Children will be excited by the photos! Let them take a picture walk. They can predict what might happen in the story. Do they think the dogs will be brave and save people? Can they find a picture that shows that?
  • You can also review some of the nonfiction text features in the story so children can follow along. Point out the headline, map, subheadings, and photo captions.

2. READ ALOUD (15-30 minutes)

  • Read each article section, modeling expressive, fluent reading. Check comprehension as you read together with the Pause and Think questions.
  • The sidebar at the end of the article gives children a chance to practice reading. Children can circle or point to the words yes or no to answer each question.

3. AFTER READING: FOCUS ON SKILLS

ELA Focus: Key details (10 minutes)

  • The Reading Checkpoint printable provides an opportunity to assess students’ understanding of key concepts from the article.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (10 minutes)

  • Use the Your New Words printable to deepen students’ comprehension of the article’s vocabulary words.

Make and Take ELA: Key Details (20 minutes)

  • Get directions and a puppy template for a fun make and take. The Totally Pawsome craft activity engages children’s writing skills.

Make and Take ELA Focus: Key Details (20 minutes)

  • You can provide the same Totally Pawsome activity in a lower skill level.

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