Book-Based Skill Builders

Decisions, Decisions
based on Pick of the Litter
by Bill Wallace
Grades: 3–6

View and print the student activity sheet (PDF)

About the Book
This is a story about Tom Danfield who spends the summer learning about his grandfather�s business of raising bird dogs used in hunting. His parents ask him to work in the business to help out his grandparents because his grandfather is recovering from triple-bypass heart surgery. While there, he falls in love with a blue-eyed puppy that he names Tad, but realizes he and Tad may not be together for very long. Tom�s grandfather has promised the owner of the male dog who fathered the puppies in Tad�s litter, would get to pick out which puppy he wants. Tom is crushed, thinks about taking the puppy and hiding it, but in the end does the honorable thing and lets the man see what a wonderful and special dog Tad is. Tom finds out that making the right choice is the best decision in more ways than one.

Set the Stage
Get students ready to read with some of these discussion starters:

• Show the cover of the book and ask students to tell you what the title means.
• Ask students to make predictions about the story. Record their predictions on a chart or large surface so the class can reflect and add more after reading each chapter.
• Discuss having pets with students and ask how many have a dog or another type of pet. Allow a few to share some details with the class.

Review
After reading the book, discuss the following:

• Why did Tom end up doing the right thing and telling Mr. Owens what a good dog Tad was? Would you have done the same thing? Why or why not?
• How do you think Angie was good for Tom? How did she help him even though she lived far away?
• What was the important lesson that Grandpa taught Tom?
• Do you think Mrs. Nash is a fair teacher? Explain your answer.
• How do you think Tom felt when his grandfather gave him the wooden shotgun? Why?

Student Activity
Students strengthen their decision making skills by choosing the right decision for each situation.

Related Activities
To extend students� enjoyment of the book, try these:

• Working Dogs: Use books or the Internet to learn about which breeds are considered the best for �helping� dogs. Allow the students to choose one and research that type of dog. They should include size, how they help, training that would be required, grooming needs, etc. They can come up with a creative way to present their findings.
• Getting to Know Animals: Organize a food and supply drive to support your local animal shelter. Gather the supplies and take a field trip to deliver them. Arrange for someone who works there to show the class the facility and discuss adoption procedures. Or arrange for someone to come to your classroom for a presentation on animals, their care and an owner�s responsibilities to that pet. The ideas that should be discussed are that pets take time, work, energy and love to be healthy. No one should have any pets if they cannot provide a healthy, loving home for the animal. Of course to include briefly the fact that animals should be spayed or neutered, is definitely essential.
• Do the Right Thing: Tom�s teacher, Mrs. Nash told Tom that he should do what�s right and honest all the time, not just when someone is watching. Ask the students if they have ever had a situation where they knew they had to be honest and do the right thing but really didn�t want to. Talk about what if Tom didn�t do the right thing and what that would look like. Ask how Tom would feel about Tad if he had lied and hid the dog. Allow students to brainstorm how they know whether or not something is the right thing to do. Record their answers. Ask the students to keep a journal for a week and record the situations when they had to choose between right and wrong. It may be as simple as choosing to ignore a request from a parent to take out the trash or unload the dishwasher, or something with more serious consequences as going somewhere without a parent�s permission. The following week ask them to write a reflection about each decision on whether they made the correct choice and why. If they made a bad choice, what they could have done differently.
• Friendly Letters: Mrs. Nash told the class before they left for summer break that they needed to practice their writing skills to help them in the next school year. Tom asked Angie if she wouldn�t mind writing letters back and forth instead of using e-mail. Find examples of friendly letters and discuss the parts. Make sure the students understand examples of whom they could write this type of letter to and whom they wouldn�t. Ask your students to write a friendly letter to someone. Show them how to address the envelope and mail them.
• Guns and Safety: Tom�s grandfather raised dogs for bird hunting. Hunting is a sport that some people enjoy. Some types of hunting involve using a gun. Guns can be helpful if you know how to use one safely. Unfortunately, guns can also be deadly if used improperly. Even though some parents may not own a gun, their children may visit other�s houses that do. Knowing what to do if a child comes across a gun in his or her own home or when visiting someone else could save a life. Also included should be what to do if someone brings a gun to school. Contact a local police agency to inquire about having someone talk to your students about gun safety. Children could draw pictures and /or write about what they learn.

(PDF)
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