Grade: Grade 3 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Alessandra Matarazzo Lesson Length: 30 minutes or less Keywords/Tags: boast, fast, slow, time Lesson Description: "A Lesson on the Turtle and the Rabbit" depicts a story of a race between a tortoise, who is a creature that moves very slowly- and a rabbit, who moves really fast. The hare is very confident of winning, so it stops during the race and falls asleep. Tortoise is a slow-moving creature that knows his limitations, yet carries a level of confidence and strength that leads him to victory.
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.3.2: Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
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.3.9: 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.3.2: Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
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.3.8: Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.3: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
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: boast | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1
The Rabbit was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "
A. talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about himself *
B. complaining on how he is slower
C. telling a story
D. speaking with facts
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "boast" correctly?
A. "She boasted about her many conquests throughout the world in pride." *
B. She went to the store to get boast beef.
C. She sulked in the corner, boasting on how hard the life of a student was.
D. She boasted on how long it took for the fish to eat the food.
Word/Phrase: steady | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2
The author in our story says " The Turtle never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course..." What does the word "steady" mean in this sentence?
A. To be excited
B. To go faster
C. To go slower
D. To be constant *
Which one of the sentence below uses the word "steady" correctly?
A. The dog sniffed, slowing down his steady steps as he waited for the cat.
B. He continued to make steady movements as he ran faster through the forest.
C. She felt embarrassed under his steady gaze as she continued to work with his eyes on her. *
D. Jesse was steady enough turn his head to catch the cat off the tree.
Word/Phrase: Confident | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3
The author in our story says "I am confident that I can beat you.” What does the word "confident" mean in this sentence?
A. Self-assured or positive about something. *
B. Aggravated about a situation.
C. Nervous
D. Happy to do something
Which one of the sentence below uses the word "confident" correctly?
A. Tom was waiting confidently, anticipating the next question.
B. She was confident she was going to ace the exam. *
C. Sam was confident when she turned in her test, frowning as she walked back to her seat.
D. Jerry was shouting confidently, arguing with the classmate who copied off of him.
Word/Phrase: brag | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q4
The author in our story says ""I accept your challenge. I am tired of your bragging." What does the word "bragging" mean in this sentence?
A. To disagree with
B. To agree with.
C. To show off *
D. To joke about
Which one of the sentence below uses the word "brag" correctly?
A. He bragged about the similarities he had with his friend, agreeing with the subject.
B. Tuliet began to brag, chuckling as she talked about the joke she just heard.
C. He bragged, shaking his head in disbelief of what they just said,
D. Julia used to brag that her family had a villa in Spain. *
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.3,
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
Why..
Why do you think the rabbit decided to take a nap, even when he was in a race?
Sent on: Feb 19, 2022 by: Alessandra Matarazzo
0
What..
What makes you think that the turtle wanted to stand up against the rabbit? Why did he agree to the race?
Sent on: Feb 19, 2022 by: Alessandra Matarazzo
0
So you see..
So you see, the turtle did agree to the hare that they can win the race. Explain why the turtle is confident in regards to the hare?
Sent on: Feb 19, 2022 by: Alessandra Matarazzo
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.8,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(30 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here 500 words essay on the moral of the story, and the similarities and differences between the Turtle and the Rabbit. Make sure to provide specific examples for each point.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.9, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.9, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1,
