• Have a discussion about what students know or have heard about cowboys. Ask students what they think cowboys do. What kind of people are they? What do they look like? What were their lives like?
• Hand out Worksheet 1 and small sticky notes to each student; each student should receive enough to write each vocabulary word on a sticky note. If sticky notes are not available, students may write the vocabulary words directly on the worksheet in erasable pencil.
• Instruct students to write the vocabulary words on the sticky notes. Ask students to read the sentences on the worksheet. Have them place the sticky-note words on the blanks where they believe each word fits. Tell students that after they read, they will revise their placement of the words.

Preview the Book

• Give students their copies of the book. Have them look at the covers and read the title. Ask what they think they might find out about the "real lives" of the cowboys.
• Have students preview the table of contents. Elicit further ideas of what students think they will read about. 

Set the Purpose
Tell students that you would like them to try to read the book without using the glossary. If they wish, they can use their vocabulary worksheet to help them understand the words. Ask students to try to guess unfamiliar words using the double context of the book and the worksheet.