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A Lesson on The Turtle and the Rabbit Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
A Lesson on The Turtle and the Rabbit Grade: Grade 3
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Tresha Zerringer
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Reading, Comprehension, Vocabulary, Writing
Lesson Description: This activity's lesson goals are for students to read the story, answer questions correctly, and complete the writing activity. At the same time, they are learning new vocabulary words while strengthening writing and comprehension skills. After reading "The Turtle and the Rabbit" story, the follow-up questions and discussions encourage students to think critically about the story's moral and from the author's point of view.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • 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.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.3.6: Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
  • 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.3.6: Distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4a: Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.6: Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate conversational, general academic, and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships (e.g., After dinner that night we went looking for them).
 
     
     
 
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 (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: Challenge | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1 The turtle tells the rabbit, "I accept your challenge". What does the word "challenge" mean?
A. to engage in a contest *
B. to fall asleep
C. to give up
D. to wake up early
Which sentence below uses the word "challenge" correctly?
A. I am going home to challenge.
B. I challenge you to a game. *
C. The teacher told me to challenge my homework.
D. Saying goodbye.
Word/Phrase: Confident | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 When the turtle says, "I am confident that I can beat you". What does the word "confident" mean.
A. Sad
B. Self-assured *
C. Alone
D. To give up
Which sentence below uses the word "confident" correctly?
A. They were confident that their team would win. *
B. The teacher provided confident work.
C. They lost they game so got confident.
D. Confident classes are easy.
Word/Phrase: Boasting | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3 The rabbit was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never been beaten..." What does the word "boasting" mean in the sentence?
A. an untruth
B. laughter
C. excessively proud *
D. rude
Which sentence below uses the word "boasting" correctly?
A. When you go boasting everyone follows.
B. We should go boasting some marshmallows.
C. The questions are boasting.
D. She is boasting because she got all the correct answers. *
Word/Phrase: Fixed | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 What does the word "fixed" mean in this sentence? "So a course was fixed and a start was made."
A. tomorrow
B. early in the morning
C. predetermined, cannot be changed *
D. to win
Which sentence below uses the word "fixed" correctly?
A. The race course was fixed before the race. *
B. The money was fixed.
C. The time is fixed.
D. The student's writing is fixed.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4a,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 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
Message Could rabbit have won the race?
What could rabbit have done differently to win the challenge? Explain your answer.
Sent on: Oct 8, 2020 by: Tresha Zerringer		 0
Message Rabbit or turtle?
If you could be the rabbit or the turtle which one would you be and why? Use character details from the story to explain your answer.
Sent on: Oct 8, 2020 by: Tresha Zerringer		 0
Message The moral of the story.
After reading the story, what do you think the moral of the story is? Explain your answer in at least 2 sentences.
Sent on: Oct 8, 2020 by: Tresha Zerringer		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: Write a brief 1 paragraph summary of the story and what you learned. Then write 1 paragraph on why you think the author wrote the story? Hint: Think about the moral of the story exercise. 
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.6,
 
     

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