After reading the Terry Gardner Four Directions tale called “Dog Learns to Dance,” involve your students in responding to the following comprehension questions either in oral or written form or both.
Click “Dog Learns to Dance” to read a copy of the target story.
Seventeen Story Comprehension Questions
1. Who did Dog escape from?
Students Respond: Jake and Bobby Joe
2. Where did Dog escape to?
Students Respond: Master Forest
3. Which animal characters helped Dog to feel better?
Students Respond: Eagle, Horse, Deer, Turtle, and Ant
4. Which of those animal characters watches over Master Forest as its guardian?
Students Respond: Ellen Eagle
5. What was Dog’s main goal?
Students Respond: Dog wants to stop being scared. He would also like to be able to deal with his past negative memories.
6. Why did Eagle say that Dog could not just forget about his past negative memories?
Students Respond: Eagle said that he must face his memories, He must also come to peace about them and realize they were a part of who he is now. .
7. What gift did Ant offer to Dog?
Students Respond: The gift of more strength and courage
8. What gift did Deer offer to Dog?
Students Respond: The gift of gentleness
9. What gift did Turtle offer to Dog?
Students Respond: The gift of Patience
10. Who did Horse carry on his back?
Students Respond: Dog, Ant, and Turtle
11. What bad memory did Dog have associated with Jake?
Students Respond: Jake chased Dog with a stick.
12. What bad memory did Dog have associated with Bobby Joe?
Students Respond: Bobby Joe tried to push a puppy under the water in a river.
13. What did Dog realize and declare as he faced his memories?
Students Respond:
* That he was making it.
* That he was strong.
* That he was great.
* That he was no longer that scared, weak puppy. Instead, he was a very strong dog now.
14. Why do you think Dog was able to forgive Jake and Bobby Joe?
Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers.
15. What gifts did Horse bring to Dog?
Students Respond: Dog said that Horse showed him how to fly. Horse brought him power, freedom, and eagerness to live his life freely.
16. What gift did Eagle bring to Dog?
Students Respond: Dog said that Eagle brought his life to him.
17. How did the story end?
Students Respond: Dog has made a few friends and knows he will make more. He has made Master Forest his home. Eagle welcomes him to his new life.
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OTHER STORIES BY TERRY GARDNER
Four Coyote tales:
1. Coyote meets his master
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
2. Courage to fear
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
3. Coyote travels inside
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
4. Coyote becomes mindful
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
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Story featuring Bear:
1. Bear becomes bearable
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
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Seven stories from the East:
1. Dog learns to dance
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
2. Teeter-Totter Eagle reviews her past
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
3. Beaver Busy
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
4. Coyote and Fawn learn about growth within
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
5. Argument between the Deer and Rabbits
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
6. Wolf purpose versus Deer purpose
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
7. Flying Eights
A. Read-aloud story
B. Story comprehension questions
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