Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary

 

by Jean Craighead George

illustrated by Lucia Washburn

 

Intended Grade Level: 3rd and 4th

 

Website created by Megan Gallmeyer and Josh Gallmeyer

 

 

 

 

Summary of Book:

    Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary by Jean Craighead George lovingly tells the story of three wolf pups--from the moment they open their eyes to the time they lead the hunt. Lyrical passages in her wolf pup diary describe how the pups tumble and play and when they first learn to howl and talk wolf talk. Readers are reminded of the changes in nature that are happening in the lower 48 states as they "look to the north" to watch the wolf pups grow. Jean George's words and Lucia Washburn's breathtaking paintings give the reader a rare glimpse of one of nature's noblest creatures: the wolf.

 

About the Author:

    Jean Craighead  George was born in a family of naturalists. Her father, mother, brothers, aunts and uncles  were students of nature. On weekends they camped in the woods near their Washington, D.C.  home, climbed trees to study owls, gathered edible plants and made fish hooks from twigs.  Her first pet was a turkey vulture. In third grade she began writing and hasn't stopped  yet. She has written over 100 books.  To find out more about the author, go to her official website.

 

 

 

Complete the following activities, in order they are listed, to help explore and expand the book, Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary. 

 

Print off the grading rubric before starting the activities. 

 

Pre-reading Activities:

 

Activity 1

    Visit this Gray Wolf website to find background information on wolves.  Write down five facts about wolves that you found interesting.  After everyone has found three facts, get into groups of three or four to share what you found. 

 

Activity 2

    Complete the vocabulary worksheet to learn new words before reading the story. 

 

During Reading Activities:

 

Activity 3

    While reading the book, complete the timeline of a wolf pup.

 

Activity 4

    As a class, create a list of the seasons discussed in the book as you come to them.  Use the pictures as well as the text to help you describe the characteristics of each season.     

 

 

Post Reading Activities:

 

Activity 5

    Make a food chain for three of the following animals from the book.

Activity 6

    Visit the Wolf Identification website and look at the physical characteristics of a wolf and a coyote.  Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting characteristics.  Using your Venn Diagram, write a letter to your local zoo telling them about the information you found. 

 

   

 

Other Fun Websites to explore:

 

Howling sound taken from www.findsounds.com