Episode 1 – Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest: Ranch Security Begins 

Students are introduced to the Hank the Cowdog podcast through a mystery set on the ranch. Acting as “Ranch Security Deputies,” students analyze story plot, identify character traits, explore vocabulary, and investigate animal tracks. Activities build listening comprehension, inference skills, and foundational literary analysis while incorporating science concepts related to animal behavior. Through hands-on worksheets and detective-style case files, students engage deeply with the story while organizing clues, examining suspects, and dismissing red herrings.