Dog of Discovery Reflections

What did you like best about reading Dog of Discovery? “What I liked best about Dog of Discovery was how the book was always filled with adventure, nature, and danger. All of this made the book more exciting!” “I loved it when we read the Afterword part. It was interesting and kind of sad to hear what the Corps of Discovery’s lives were like after the journey.” “I liked how the author used real journal responses from the expedition and the spelling and grammar was wrong.” Describe one new thing you learned about the Lewis and Clark Expedition while reading this book. “One thing I learned was that Charbonneau was married to Sacagawea.” “There was a dog that went on the expedition and so did a newborn baby.” “One new thing I learned was that Meriwether Lewis had a Newfoundland dog named Seaman.” “New Indian names that I did not know about.” “What I learned was that Sacagawea had a baby that was named Pomp. It would be hard also because you have to translate Indian languages.” Describe your favorite part of Dog of Discovery. “I liked when the expedition finally got to St. Louis. They were exhausted. They probably slept all day. It was a surprise to see that the explorers were alive.” “My favorite part was when Cruzatte shot Lewis and he started yelling like mad, and later Cruzatte said he could have sworn that he had shot an elk.” “My favorite part was when Lewis got shot in the bottom. That one guy that could not see with his eye thought that Lewis was a deer.” “My favorite part was when Lewis invited a man with a blind eye (and was near-sighted) to go hunting with him.” “My favorite part is when you get to know what they did after the expedition.”

If you were a part of the expedition, what would have been the worst part of your journey? Why? “Bugs. I hate bugs and there were so many. Also, all of the Indians attacking.” “The worst part would have been the mosquitoes. I would have been so annoyed by the second day that I wouldn’t know what to do!” “Paddling up river because you would have to be very strong and you keep paddling and paddling.” “The worst part for me would probably be meeting Indians because I would speak a different language and some Indians can be violent.” “The worst part would have been being away from my family for such a long period of time.” “The worst part of the expedition would have been changing from all meat diet (which I prefer) to an all roots and berries diet.” “The worst part for me would be the Columbia River rapids because I could get killed.” “The worst part of the expedition for me would be having to eat all of the gross meats like deer, elk, horse, bison, and DOG!” “If I were a part of the expedition the worst part of it would be the gnats!” “The mosquitoes because I don’t like getting bit by mosquitoes, and it would be very annoying.” Do you think I should use this book next year in class? Why or why not? “YES! You should use this book next year because it is filled with a lot of information and it’s pretty funny!” “Yes because I think it would give the fourth graders next year more information about the Lewis and Clark expedition.” “Yes because that’s a great book. The class next year would get facts and laughs out of it.”