Sport: Ship Dog on the Great Lakes Educational Materials
Grades 3-5
Multiple Class Periods
Teach maritime history in your classroom with these activities built to accompany the book Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes by Pamela Cameron.
Objectives
Enduring Understanding
Traveling on the Great Lakes can be dangerous, but over time sailors developed measures like buoys and lighthouses to help people sail safely. The author of Sport researched lighthouse tenders, the Hyacinth, and the story of the real Sport the dog to write her book. Historical fiction is a type of fiction that combines facts and made-up details to create a story that helps us understand what life was like in the past.
Essential Questions
- What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction?
- What can we learn from stories about the past?
- What kinds of technology can people use to make water travel more safe?
- What types of jobs are animals capable of?
Students will:
- Analyze a primary source
- Develop an understanding of water travel on the Great Lakes
- Compare an example of historical fiction to a related primary source
Activity
Education materials for use with the book "Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes"
This guide is intended for use with Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes. It contains activities, discussion questions, and extensions for using Sport with your students. Please feel free to modify any part of it for use in your classroom.
Download Activity PacketSport: Ship Dog on the Great Lakes
In this beautifully illustrated children's book based on historical documents and photographs, readers share in Sport's adventures while discovering the various ways lighthouse tender ships helped keep the lake safe for others.
Helpful diagrams, a map, and a historical note supplement this engaging story for young readers.
WisHistory Education
History matters! The Wisconsin Historical Society provides field trips, learning opportunities, civics education programs, teacher professional development and more.
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Sport: Ship Dog on the Great Lakes Educational Materials
Education materials designed to supplement the Wisconsin Historical Society press book Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes
Last Updated: September 9, 2026
