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A Lesson on How the Firefly Got Its Light Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
Grade: Grade 3
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Jennifer Varelas
Lesson Length: 1 hour
Keywords/Tags: Grade 3, lesson plan
Lesson Description: Folktale lesson plan
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.7: Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.9: Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series).
  • 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.RI.3.7: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a: Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b: Provide reasons that support the opinion.
 
     
     
 
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.

How the Firefly Got Its Light

This is a story based on an old folktale. 

This is a story about long ago.  There was a little fly.  It wanted to be special.  The fly was sad.  It did not feel special.  It looked at the bee and thought it was great.  “Look at how big it is.  Hear it buzz.”  It looked at the butterfly and said, “See how pretty. Look at the colors.  Look at the big wings.  I am just like all the other flies.” 

The fly stayed awake one night.  It was worried.  It was sad.  All the other flies were sleeping.  A moth was awake.  So was a mouse.  They did not notice the fly.  It was too small.  It was hard to see in the dark. 

The fly saw the stars.  They were shining.  “I want to shine like that. That would be special.” 

The moon heard the fly.  The moon said, “Little fly.  You can help me.  If you do, I will help you.  I will make you shine.” 

“How can I help?”   

The moon said, “You can be my friend.  I am lonely at night.  I come out when it is dark.  Most animals are asleep.  If you stay awake every night I will help you shine.  Then you can be my friend.”  

“Yes, yes,” the fly said.  So the moon helped it.  The moon told the fly the secret.  The moon told the fly how to shine.   

The next night, the fly stayed awake.  It used the secret.  It was shining.  On, off, it made its body light.  It looked like magic. 

“Look,” said the mouse. “Look at that fly.  How special.”  The mouse said, I’d like to shine, too.”  His mother said, “NO!  That would be dangerous.  You know we need to be able to hide.” 

The fly was very glad.  The fly told the moon, “I will always be your friend.  When you come out at night, I will be here.  I will shine my light to welcome you.”  Then the fly went to sleep.  “Finally.  Now I have what I need.” 
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (40 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: Folktale | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q1 This story is introduced as a "folktale" in the beginning. What does "folktale" mean?
A. A news story
B. Stories passed down from generation to generation *
C. A non-fiction story
D. A specific time place
Which one of the sentence below uses the word "folktale" correctly?
A. His grandmother was born in the folktale era
B. The moon landing is a folktale
C. Goldilocks and the Three Bears is one of her favorite folktales *
D. A folktale article wrote about todays weather report.
Word/Phrase: Dangerous | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 “Look,” said the mouse. “Look at that fly. How special.” The mouse said, I’d like to shine, too.” His mother said, “NO! That would be dangerous. You know we need to be able to hide.” What does the word "dangerous" mean in this sentence?
A. Unsafe *
B. Funny
C. Silly
D. Sad
Which one of the sentence below uses the word "dangerous" correctly?
A. The little boy made a dangerous face to his mother
B. I felt very dangerous when I recieved a bad grade on my test
C. Mountain climbing alone can be very dangerous *
D. The girl sneezed so loud, her classmates giggles at how dangerous it was
Word/Phrase: Shine | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 The fly saw the stars. They were shining. “I want to shine like that. That would be special.” What does the word "Shine" mean in this sentence?
A. Dark
B. Faded
C. Colorful
D. Glow *
Which one of the sentence below uses the word "shine" correctly?
A. Grandmothers new diamond earrings shined so brightly *
B. The dog had wrestled in the mud, mom's face was so shine, she was angry
C. The boy had a shine on his dirty clothes
D. I couldn't belive that mom had a shine when she was younger
Word/Phrase: Finally | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 The fly was very glad. The fly told the moon, “I will always be your friend. When you come out at night, I will be here. I will shine my light to welcome you.” Then the fly went to sleep. “Finally. Now I have what I need.” What does the word "Finally" mean in this sentence?
A. Angry
B. Weird
C. Lovable
D. At last *
Which one of the sentence below uses the word "finally" correctly?
A. She finally pulled her last baby tooth out *
B. The red finally slipped under the chair
C. She felt her finally cheeks glow red
D. I laughed at the finally dogs
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (20 points)
Instructions:  Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and two peer responses for each topic.
  Topic Title Replies
Message Special
In the story, the word "special" was used often. Why do you think the fly wanted to be special?
Sent on: Oct 8, 2018 by: Jennifer Varelas		 0
Message Compare and Contrast
Compare and contrast how the fly felt in the begining of the story to how he felt at the end. 
Sent on: Oct 8, 2018 by: Jennifer Varelas		 0
Message Explain why
“Look,” said the mouse. “Look at that fly.  How special.”  The mouse said, I’d like to shine, too.”  His mother said, “NO!  That would be dangerous.  You know we need to be able to hide.” 

Explain why the mother mouse said no and why the mice have to hide.


Sent on: Oct 8, 2018 by: Jennifer Varelas		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.9,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (40 points)
Instructions:  In the story, the moon had told the fly the secret on how to shine. In three paragraphs, explain what you think the secret may have been. Use examples from the text to support your opinion.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b,
 
     

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