Grade: Grade 5 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Rebecca Lovallo Lesson Length: 2 hours Keywords/Tags: Http://lessonfarm.com Lesson Description: This lesson is designed to allow students to make inferences from the text, learn new vocabulary and understand how the author’s bias may persuade you feel about certain characters in a story.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3: Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.6: Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.8: Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
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.
Columbus and the Egg
This is a story about Columbus. He was an explorer. He is the explorer who came to the Americas from Spain in 1492. This is a story about what might have happened long ago when he was back in Spain.
When Columbus came back from his trip to the Americas, many people praised him. He was made an admiral. That means he was a leader. People said what a great thing he had done. But not everyone
liked him. Some were jealous of all the attention he got.
One day Columbus was at a party that a Spanish gentleman gave in his honor. People were saying, “What a great discovery you havemade.” Several persons were present who were jealous of the great
admiral's success. They were proud, conceited fellows, and they very soon began to try to make Columbus uncomfortable.
``You have discovered strange lands beyond the seas,'' they said, ``but what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast
along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world.''
Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company: ``Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?''
One by one those at the table tried the experiment. When the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done.
Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little. After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright.
``Gentlemen,'' said he, ``what is easier than to do this which you said was impossible? It is the simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it--AFTER HE HAS BEEN SHOWN HOW!''
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: Conceited | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1
The author states, “ They were proud, conceited fellows, and they very soon began to try to make Columbus uncomfortable.” What does the word “conceited” mean in this sentence?
A. Arrogant *
B. Mean
C. Silly
D. Upset
In which sentence is the word “conceited” used correctly?
A. That conceited girl pushed that little boy in the pool.
B. My parents were very conceited and did not let me go outside and play with my friends.
C. I thought that celebrity would have been very conceited, but she actually seems very humble. *
D. My friend is so shy sometimes, I worry she might be conceited.
Word/Phrase: Admiral | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q2
The author says, “He was made an admiral.” What does the word admiral mean in this sentence?
A. Admirer
B. Commander *
C. Teammate
D. Coach
Which sentence below is correct?
A. His son deserved to become admiral, he was a born leader. *
B. He was an admiral, the lowest rank in the military.
C. The admiral was very shy and timid.
D. When I grow up, I want to be an admiral.
Word/Phrase: Present | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3
The passage states, “Several persons were present who were jealous of the great admiral's success”. What does “present” mean?
A. A gift
B. A box
C. In attendance *
D. There
Which sentence is “present” used correctly?
A. I cannot wait to give my Father his Christmas present.
B. He was not present in class today. *
C. I wish I could give my teacher her present, but she is out sick today.
D. In our present day community, we are stronger than ever.
Word/Phrase: Succeeded | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q4
The author states, “When the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done.” What does “succeeded” mean?
A. Achieved *
B. Inheritance
C. Approached
D. Allowed
Which sentence is correct?
A. My Father succeeded the throne after my Grandfather passed away.
B. I succeeded my goal of getting all A’s this semester. *
C. I succeeded my coworker and got the promotion of manager.
D. I never thought I would have succeeded my garden as much as I have.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4,
Task 2: Discussion Activity
(20 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.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.8,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(40 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here 300 word response on why you believe the people of Spain were so hesitant to believe Columbus and his accomplishments. Make sure to provide specific examples from the text.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.8,
