Story Clues Teacher Guide Day 1 Kindergarten Read Aloud
Focus: Active Listening & Picture Clues
Harry the Dirty Dog: Story Clues
Author: Gene Zion • Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham • Time: 15–20 Minutes
Active Listening Focus
Tell students: "Today, keep your eyes on Harry's coat! Watch what happens to his white fur and black spots as he goes on his big adventure."
Before Reading: 3-Min Picture Walk
• Cover Clues: "Look at this dog on the cover. Does he look shiny and clean, or messy and spotty? What tool is in the picture?"• Character Check: Point out Harry's collar and friendly eyes. "Harry is a white dog with black spots... but he has a big secret about bath time!"• Prediction: "Why might a dog bury a bath brush in the garden?"
Quick Words to Flag
Buried: Hidden deep under dirt.
Clever: Very smart and tricky.
Coal Chute: A steep slide used to move black rock fuel.
Interactive Stopping Points
Stop 1: Hearing the Water
Prompt: "Look at Harry's ears. What does he hear? Why is he carrying the brush in his mouth?"
Stop 2: The Street & Railroad
Prompt: "Look closely at the pictures! What color is getting onto Harry? What happened to his bright white fur?"
Stop 3: Down the Coal Chute
Prompt: "Oh no! Harry slid down! What does the book say? He changed from a white dog with black spots to..." (Have kids shout: *A black dog with white spots!*)
After Reading Partner Chat
Turn & Talk: "Why didn't Harry's family recognize him when he ran into the backyard?" Listen for students naming picture evidence: He was too black and covered in soot!
Next Activity: Hand out the Picture Detective Worksheet for students to hunt down the 3 dirtiest spots!
Day 1 of 4
Picture Detective Worksheet Harry the Dirty Dog • Day 1
Name: Date:
Picture Detective Worksheet
Listen to the clues and search the story pictures!
1
Where did Harry get dirty? Circle the 3 story places!
Street Roadwork Fixing the street
Railroad Tracks Smoky engines
Coal Chute Sliding down
Outer Space Flying in a rocket
2
Picture Detective Draw: Harry on the run!
Draw Harry holding the scrubbing brush in his mouth and sneaking into the yard.
Draw Harry, his spots, and the big scrub brush: Student Drawing Area
Where did Harry hide the brush? Harry hid it in the
Listening Detective Badge: "I listened for clues and saw Harry turn black with white spots!"
Teacher Check:
Muddy Words Cards Day 2 Kindergarten Vocabulary
4 Action Words
Muddy Words Cards
Cut out or display these vocabulary anchor cards. Practice the words with kinesthetic body gestures!
1
BURIED
Meaning:
Put something deep in the ground under dirt.
Kid Action Gesture:
Dig your hands like dog paws in the dirt and whisper: "Dig, dig, hide!"
Story Clue: Harry buried the bath brush in the garden so no one could find it!
2
CLEVER
Meaning:
Very smart, tricky, and quick at thinking of ideas.
Kid Action Gesture:
Tap your temple with your index finger, wink, and say: "Aha! So clever!"
Story Clue: Harry did his most clever tricks like dancing and backflips!
3
CHUTE
Meaning:
A smooth, steep slide used to drop heavy things fast.
Kid Action Gesture:
Slide both hands downward through the air and say: "WHOOSH down the chute!"
Story Clue: Harry slid down the coal chute and turned all black!
4
SCRUB
Meaning:
To rub hard with water and soap to clean something.
Kid Action Gesture:
Rub hands together vigorously like washing soapy paws: "Scrub, scrub, squeaky clean!"
Story Clue: The family began to scrub Harry, and the dirt washed right off!
Teaching Routine: Call out a word → students perform the gesture and explain what Harry did!
Day 2 Anchor
Word Clues Worksheet Harry the Dirty Dog • Day 2
Name: Date:
Word Clues Worksheet
Say each word out loud, do your hand motion, and match the picture clues!
1
Match the Muddy Word to its picture clue!
BURIED
CHUTE
SCRUB
Soapy tub & bubbles
Brush hidden in dirt
Steep coal slide
2
Clever Detective: Circle the picture of Harry being CLEVER!
Dancing & doing backflips Tricks to get noticed!
Taking a quiet nap Sleeping on a rug
3
Draw an Action Word: Show Harry in action!
Draw Harry burying the brush, sliding the chute, or scrubbing: Work Area
I drew Harry when he was:
Great Job! You are a Muddy Word Master! Kindergarten English Language Arts
Spotty Sequence Activity Harry the Dirty Dog • Day 3
Name: Date:
Spotty Sequence Activity
Cut out the story tiles at the bottom. Glue them in order from 1 to 4!
1 FIRST Glue tile 1 here
[ Paste Box 1 ]
2 NEXT Glue tile 2 here
[ Paste Box 2 ]
3 THEN Glue tile 3 here
[ Paste Box 3 ]
4 LAST Glue tile 4 here
[ Paste Box 4 ]
Cut carefully along this line
Story Tiles to Cut Out (Scrambled):
The Coal Chute
Harry slides down the chute and turns completely black with white spots!
Soapy Bath Time
Harry gets a warm soapy bath. His family cries: "It IS Harry!"
Burying the Brush
Harry hates baths! He buries his bath brush in the yard and runs away.
Tricks at Home
Harry does clever tricks, but the family thinks he is a strange stray dog.
Retell Partner Prompt: Touch each box (1, 2, 3, 4) and tell your partner the story in your own words! Day 3 Retell
Retell Routine Teacher Guide Day 3 Kindergarten Oral Language
Focus: Narrative Sequencing & Retelling
Retell Routine Teacher Guide
Scaffolding Beginning, Middle, and End with Picture Clues • Time: 15–20 Minutes
Whole-Group Retell Chant (2 Min)
Teach with claps or knee-taps before releasing students to cut and paste:
"Harry hears the tub... bury that brush! "
"Down the coal chute... black as a coal! "
"Flip and a dance... nobody knows! "
"Soap in the tub... Harry's back home! "
4-Step Sequencing Routine
Step 1: Scramble & Inspect:
Have students cut out all 4 story tiles and lay them flat. Ask: "Which picture shows Harry before he even leaves home?"
Step 2: Look for Coat Color:
Prompt: "Look at Harry's fur in the pictures. Where is he white with black spots? Where is he black with white spots?"
Step 3: Dry-Fit First:
Students place tiles on boxes 1, 2, 3, and 4 WITHOUT glue. Teacher or peer checks order before gluing!
Step 4: Partner Retell:
Students touch each glued box and tell their shoulder partner the whole story.
Picture Clue Detective Prompts
Why can't Tile B be first?
"Can Harry be dirty before he runs away to the railroad and the coal chute? What had to happen first?"
How did Harry solve his big problem?
"The family didn't know him! What clever idea did Harry have to prove who he was?"
Differentiated Sentence Stems
Emerging Speakers:
"First, Harry hid. Next, Harry got dirty. Then, Harry danced. Last, bath time!"
Expanding Speakers:
"First, Harry didn't want a bath so he buried his brush. Next, he slid down the chute and turned black..."
Formative Assessment: Circulate during Step 3 to check if students place Tile 1 and Tile 4 correctly.
Day 3 of 4
Bath Transformation Sheet Harry the Dirty Dog • Day 4 Culminating Task
Name: Date:
Bath Transformation Sheet
How did Harry change? Use picture clues from the story to color both sides!
1. BEFORE THE BATH "A black dog with white spots"
Color Harry black with soot & mud! Leave white spots:
Harry is super dirty from the coal chute!
2. AFTER THE BATH "A white dog with black spots"
Color Harry's black spots! Draw soapy bubbles:
Harry is clean, shiny, and recognized!
3
Picture Detective Evidence
How did the family finally know the dog was really Harry?
The bath brush A collar name tag
Finish the sentence about Harry at the end:
Harry felt because he was clean and home with his family.
Word Bank ideas: happy • loved • safe • sleepy
Super Reader Certificate: Completed 4-Day Read Aloud Unit! Gene Zion Classic Study
Dirty Dog Observation Checklist Assessment Kindergarten Read Aloud
Teacher Observational Tracker
Dirty Dog Observation Checklist
Track active listening, picture clue use, vocabulary gestures, and narrative sequencing across Days 1–4.
Core Kindergarten Learning Benchmarks
1. Active Listening
Tracks story events; attends to details in text without frequent redirection.
2. Picture Clues
Uses illustrations to explain how Harry gets dirty and why family didn't recognize him.
3. Tier 2 Vocabulary
Accurately pairs words (buried, clever, chute, scrub) with physical action gestures.
4. Story Retelling
Sequences 4 narrative milestones in chronological order (First, Next, Then, Last).
Class Roster Progress Grid Coding: ✓ Proficient • P In Progress • − Needs Support
Student Name
Day 1: Clues
Day 2: Vocab
Day 3: Retell
Day 4: Craft
Kindergarten Instructional Adjustments
Targeted Picture Support:
For students needing support with retelling, prompt with book open to the coal chute page: "Is Harry white or black right here? What happened before?"
Oral Extension Challenge:
Ask: "Harry dreamed happily with the brush under his cushion. Do you think he will take a bath next time, or bury the brush again? Why?"
Unit: Harry the Dirty Dog (4-Day Interactive Read Aloud) Kindergarten ELA Observational Record
