Grade: Grade 3 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Sarah Ortner Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes Keywords/Tags: Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structure, Reading with a Purpose, The Turtle and The Rabbit, Story with Morals, Third Grade, Lesson Plan Lesson Description: This lesson is designed to make children think critically about newly introduced vocabulary, while also practicing their reading comprehension. The lesson of, "The Turtle and The Rabbit," is very important as it teaches children that sometimes it is better to slow down and think about what they are working on, rather than rushing to be the first one done. By the end of this lesson, students should be able to identify key words and phrases used in the story, and relate the importance of these aspects to the story as a whole. They should also be able to determine the motives for both the Rabbit and the Turtle's behaviors, and explain why the Turtle was able to beat the Rabbit despite his disadvantage from the beginning.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3: Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.2: Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b: Provide reasons that support the opinion.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1d: Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.
The Turtle and the Rabbit
The Rabbit was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten,” said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me. I am the best.”
The Turtle said quietly, "I accept your challenge. I am tired of your bragging. I am confident that I can beat you.”
“That is a good joke," said the Rabbit; "I could dance around you all the way. You will never be able to speed past me. You will not get the victory."
“Keep your boasting till you've beaten me,” answered the Turtle. "Shall we race? I know that I can defeat you.”
So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Rabbit darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, believing that the Turtle could never catch him, lay down by the wayside to have a nap. The Turtle never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course.
When the Rabbit awoke from his nap, he saw the Turtle just near the winning-post. The Rabbit ran as fast as he could, but it was too late. He saw the Turtle had reached the goal. He was very surprised. He had never lost a race before.
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity
(20 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: Course | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q1
In the story, "The Turtle and the Rabbit" the author says, "So a course was fixed and a start was made," What does the word "course" mean in this sentence?
A. Path *
B. Class
C. Heavy
D. Joke
Which sentence uses the word "course" correctly?
A. The apple was course.
B. The boy completed the obstacle course. *
C. The girl was tired and course.
D. He bought a course at the grocery store.
Word/Phrase: Boasting | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q2
In the story, "The Turtle and the Rabbit," the Turtle says to the Rabbit, "Keep your boasting till you've beaten me." What does the word "boasting" mean in this sentence?
A. Trophy
B. Bragging *
C. Attitude
D. Water
Which one of these sentences uses the word "boasting" correctly?
A. The boy was boasting to his classmates that he lost the contest.
B. The girl was boasting after she called out the wrong answer in class.
C. The girl was boasting to her classmates that she got an *
D. The boy was boasting after he fell on the playground.
Word/Phrase: Pace | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q3
In the story, "The Turtle and the Rabbit," the author says, "The Turtle never for a moment stopped, but he went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course." What does the word "pace" mean in this sentence?
A. Speed *
B. Friend
C. Look
D. Fall
Which of the following sentences uses the word "pace" correctly?
A. The boy dropped his pace on the floor.
B. The girl's pace was far away.
C. The pace was delicious.
D. The dog kept his pace as he chased the squirrel. *
Word/Phrase: Wayside | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q4
In the story, the author says, "The Rabbit darted out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, believing that the Turtle could never catch him, lay down by the wayside to have a nap." What does the word "wayside" mean in this sentence?
A. At the store
B. In a restaurant
C. The edge of the path *
D. At home
Which sentence uses the word "wayside" correctly?
A. The man ate his lunch on the wayside of the restaurant.
B. The dog stopped for a rest on the wayside during his walk. *
C. The boy drank his wayside before the race.
D. The girl handed out the wayside for her teacher.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4a,
Task 2: Discussion Activity
(40 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
Topic Title
Replies
How did the Turtle...
How did the Turtle surprise the Rabbit by beating him in the race?
Sent on: Oct 3, 2018 by: Sarah Ortner
0
Why does the Rabbit... Why does the Rabbit think that he will beat the Turtle in the race?
Sent on: Oct 3, 2018 by: Sarah Ortner
0
Who did you think...
Before you finished the story, did you think that the Rabbit was going to beat the Turtle in the race?
Sent on: Oct 3, 2018 by: Sarah Ortner
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(40 points)
Instructions: I want you to explain what you have learned from, "The Turtle and the Rabbit." Do you think that it is better to be fast and confident like the Rabbit, steady and careful like the Turtle, or a little bit of both? Write a strong paragraph (5-8 sentances) on what you have learned from this story.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1d,
