Grade: Grade 3 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Hope Fudenski Lesson Length: 1 hour 15 minutes Keywords/Tags: firefly, reading, writing, folktales, literature Lesson Description: Students will read a folktale and learn about how the firefly got its light according to said folktale. Afterwards they will answer vocabulary questions on new words, participate in thoughtful discussions with their classmates and produce a written telling of the secret mentioned in the story.
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.3.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
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: Lonely | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1
When the Moon claimed to be "Lonely at night" and wanted a friend, what did the word "Lonely" mean?
A. Happy because one has so many friends.
B. Sad because one has no friends. *
C. Angry because one has too many friends.
D. Bored because one has no friends.
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "Lonely" in a correct way?
A. Anna was so lonely with all of her friends playing with her on the playground.
B. Feeling lonely, Anna threw a fit because there were too many people who wanted to talk to her.
C. Anna felt lonely sitting at the lunch table all by herself, she wished she had more friends. *
D. Anna yawned because she was so lonely, she wished she had more to do.
Word/Phrase: Secret | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2
What does the word "secret" mean in this sentence, "The moon told the fly the secret"?
A. Something that is not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others. *
B. Something that is known or seen and is meant to be known and seen by others.
C. Something that is commonly known by everyone.
D. Something that does not even exist.
Which of these sentences uses the word "secret" correctly?
A. Tommy knew that the secret was not real.
B. Everyone knew Tommy's secret, he had nothing to hide.
C. Tommy's favorite secret was that the sky is blue.
D. Tommy only told his parents his secret. *
Word/Phrase: Special | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3
Which of these definitions fits the word, "Special" when used like "He is special and one one else is like him"?
A. Standing out from everyone or being different. *
B. Blending in with everyone.
C. Being the same as everyone else.
D. Copying what others do.
Which sentence below uses the word, "Special" correctly?
A. Sam was special, just like everyone else.
B. Sam is the only left-handed person in his family, that makes him special. *
C. Sam was being special, just like his friends.
D. Being special, Sam fit in with everyone else easily.
Word/Phrase: Folktale | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4
When the author claims that there story is based on an old "Folktale", what do they mean by "Folktale"?
A. A fact or belief that is known to be true.
B. A story based on facts.
C. A primary source.
D. A story that comes from culture, usually passed on through word of mouth. *
Which of the following sentences uses "Folklore" correctly?
A. Everyone knows the folklore of George Washington being the first president.
B. Sarah used folklore to learn about history in order to pass her history test.
C. Sarah loves when her grandma tells her the folklore of her family. *
D. In her essay, Sara uses folklore to prove her point.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4,
Task 2: Discussion Activity
(25 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
Did the fly make a good decision?
The fly felt sad before the moon told him the secret, did the fly make the right decision in agreeing to be the moon's friend? Do you think that the fly could have become happy if he stayed the same?
Sent on: Jun 28, 2020 by: Hope Fudenski
0
What cured the moon's lonliness?
In the story the moon mentions feeling lonely, what did the fly do to help him with his lonliness? Is there proof in the text that the moon no longer feels lonely at all anymore?
Sent on: Jun 28, 2020 by: Hope Fudenski
0
Why does the mouse's mother not want him to know the secret? “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." In that excerpt from the story the mouse's mother was very firm about not wanting it to shine, why do you think that is? What do you think would happen to the mouse if he could shine too?
Sent on: Jun 28, 2020 by: Hope Fudenski
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(35 points)
Instructions: Write a 350 word essay on what the moon's secret may have been that he shared with the fly. Use your imagination here and make sure to explain how the secret helped the fly to shine.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3,
