Before we got the book, we had fun visualizing what the pictures in the book would look like. You may want to do this also. Our pictures are a little more modern, but the idea is the same. When we first did this we only had the abbreviated story.

Our class enjoyed reading the book and figuring out where each picture would be inserted. We then checked our placement with those of the author. Your class can do the same by printing out the text only copy and the medium pictures.

Text only

Pictures for sequencing

We found a map and colored in each state as we heard from a school that Owney had arrived. We colored the state using the paint can in Graphic Converter. Choosing the color was the hard part. Sometimes when we voted on the color there were ties.

We put stars on a wall map of the United States and put the post cards we received around the map.

Early in the project we checked on a mapping website and found out how far it was to some of the states. Then we compared that with how long it takes us to go to Portland, Maine. We used this information to help us tell how many hours it would take for Owney to travel.

Comparing how many states have the same bird, tree or flower as their state symbol was also a lot of fun for us. Many states have similar flags also.

It would be fun for second graders to know all the ways Owney the Railroad Car dog travels today.  Probably truck, then jet plane.  Maybe he rides in some kind of cart before being loaded into the truck and the plane.  In a transportation study it might be fun to write about his adventures as he travels between destinations. 
Suggested by Ann Paul

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