Lesson Plan - Which Pet Should You Choose? 

Watch a Video: A History of Pets
Discuss: How are dogs, cats, and fish different from the other animals mentioned in the video?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• influence
• consequences

Set a Purpose for Reading
Point out the “As You Read” question. Have students consider whether wild animals make good pets.

1. What does the author mean by the term “animal influencers”?
Animal influencers are animals that people have posted about on social media. They have a large following and can influence the way people think.
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2. Terry Messmer says that when a person keeps a wild animal as a pet, “there are consequences for the animal and for the human.” What consequences does the article describe?
Consequences for the animal can be not having the right food or enough space. Consequences for the human may include danger from diseases or from the animal’s behavior.
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3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Buyer Beware”? 
The sidebar’s purpose is to give advice. Raccoon owner Sarah Thyme offers points people should think about when deciding whether to get a wild animal as a pet.
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FEATURED SKILL: Integrating Information
Use the skill builder “Watch and Read” to have students compare the article and video.
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