Mac’s Big Wish 
by 
Oregon Author Peter Vanderwall and Oregon Illustrator Janis Lillian
Nominated by the Oregon State Literacy Association for the 
Patricia Gallagher Children’s Choice Picture Book Award

Grade 5 Extension Activity
Reference to Oregon English Language Arts and Literacy Standards, Grade 5. 

Classroom Organization:
Students individually read Mac’s Big Wish. In small groups, discuss the story. Discussion ideas: Who are the characters in Mac’s Big Wish? 
Do the pictures of the characters express emotion? Identify three or more characters and the emotions expressed? Why is it important to rescue pets? Give examples of how Mac the Therapy Dog made friends.

Standards Addressed:
5.RL.7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text.
5.W.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. 
5.W.1b Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details. 

Literary Vocabulary:
Analyze - Here is a fun and memorable jingle for students to remember how to analyze: An-a-lyze, break it down, down, down. Then explain what you found, found, found!

Opinion - An opinion is the way you think or feel about something. 

Writing Prompts: Emotions are the way that you feel about the things that are happening to you. Many of the pictures in Mac’s Big Wish express a character’s emotion: envy, pleasure, sadness, loneliness, happiness.
(a)	Analyze the pictures in Mac’s Big Wish. How do the pictures enhance the meaning that you read in the text? 
(Two or more paragraphs. Use citations from the text.)

(b) 	Write your opinion of therapy dogs. Use the text and pictures in 
Mac’s Big Wish to support your opinion.
(Two or more paragraphs. Use citations from the text.)