Grade: Grade 3 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Colleen Mcgrath Lesson Length: 1 hour Keywords/Tags: ELA, Essay, multiple choice, Short answer Lesson Description: Students will be able to discuss and reflect on the story The Turtle and the Rabbit. The lesson will consist of 3 main parts, broken down into multiple choice questions, a discussion post among peers and a short essay question.
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.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
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.
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
(25 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: wayside | Tier: 2 | Points: 6
Q1
In the story, \"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.\" What does the word way side mean?
A. lay in the middle of the road
B. lay to the edge/side of the road *
C. lay in the tuck
D. lay on the turtle
Which sentence below correctly uses the word \"wayside\"?
A. I became so tired of walking up the steep hill, I decided to rest by the wayside before continuing my trek. *
B. The wayside of the house is very tall, good thing I have a ladder.
C. I painted the wayside of my truck.
D. I could never catch the rabbits wayside, he was just too fast.
Word/Phrase: boasting | Tier: 3 | Points: 7
Q2
The author talks about how "the Rabbit was once boasting of his speed before the other animals." What does the word "boasting" mean in this sentence?
A. The rabbit was upset at himself.
B. The rabbit was extremely and overly proud of himself. *
C. The rabbit was sad at himself.
D. The rabbit was mad and angry at himself.
which sentence below correctly uses the term "boasting"?
A. The student was boasting in the dirt at the park near his house.
B. The house was boasting with bugs.
C. My neighbor was boasting about the garden in her backyard. *
D. The rabbit was boasting with fur.
Word/Phrase: reached | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q3
What does the word "reached" mean in the sentence? "He saw the Turtle had reached the goal."
A. The turtle arrived to his goal *
B. The turtle jumped over his goal.
C. The turtle missed his goal.
D. The turtle failed his goal.
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "reached" correctly?
A. I was late and reached my riding lesson.
B. I watched my friend reach from the main gate at the airport.
C. My friend reached before we got to the store.
D. I rode my bike and then got on the bus all before I reached my destination *
Word/Phrase: victory | Tier: 3 | Points: 7
Q4
In our story the rabbit starts off by saying “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." What does the word "victory" mean in the sentence above?
A. The act of dancing in a game.
B. The act of tying with an opponent in a game.
C. The act of defeating an opponent in a game. *
D. The act of losing to an opponent in a game.
Which of the following sentences below uses the word "victory" correctly?
A. We are going to victory for dinner, it is my favorite restaurant.
B. It is victory day, so we can sleep in.
C. I won the race so we are going to a victory dinner to celebrate. *
D. we lost our game today causing a victory.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4,
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
Never lost a race "He saw the Turtle had reached the goal. He was very surprised. He had never lost a race before."
Explain/discuss: What you think would have happened if both the rabbit and the turtle stopped to take a nap during the race. Who whould wake up first and why?
Sent on: Sep 20, 2021 by: Colleen Mcgrath
0
A time when you experienced this "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."
Think/ talk: About an expierence where you thought you were going to win or were certain of an outcome and it did not go the way you thought?
Sent on: Sep 20, 2021 by: Colleen Mcgrath
0
What would you do? "The Turtle said quietly, "I accept your challenge. I am tired of your bragging. I am confident that I can beat you.”"
Think/discuss: What would you do? Would you accept the challenge, why or why not. What would the challenge that you accepted be?
Sent on: Sep 20, 2021 by: Colleen Mcgrath
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(35 points)
Instructions: Write a paragraph (3-4 sentences) talking about you opinion on what would have happened if the story was different.
What do you think would have happened if the turtle did not accept the rabbits challenge? Do you think the rabbit would have just kept boasting about winning, or do you think the rabbit would ask someone else to race him? Why?
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b,
