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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: Meredith Bentley
Lesson Length: 2 hours
Keywords/Tags: Reading, Writing, Vocabulary
Lesson Description: The goal of this lesson is to help students practice their reading and writing skills while also learning new vocabulary words in the story "The Turtle and the Rabbit." This lesson will help students understand the key points the author is trying to address as they read the story. This will help students expand their vocabulary and understanding of the authors message about the story and how it pertains to both the rabbit and the turtle. The activities will provide the students with hands on learning that requires them to reread the passage and understand the meaning of various words.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • 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.W.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b: Provide reasons that support the opinion.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1c: Ask questions to check understanding of information presented, stay on topic, and link their comments to the remarks of others.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4a: Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
 
     
     
 
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 (20 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: Beaten | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q1 In our story, the Rabbit says "I have never yet been beaten." What does the word "beaten" mean in this sentence?
A. to be unhappy
B. to be hit
C. to be defeated *
D. to be played
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "beaten" correctly?
A. The boy had beaten on the drum
B. I had beaten Charlie in the Spelling Bee *
C. The ingredients are beaten into cake mix
D. When humans landed on the moon, they achieved victory.
Word/Phrase: Challenge | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q2 The Rabbit in the story states "I challenge any one here to race me. I am the best." What does the word "challenge" mean in this sentence?
A. agree
B. dare *
C. accept
D. compliment
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "challenge" correctly?
A. I found the test to be a challenge
B. When I say you're a shy person, I challenge you
C. Novels are a challenge to read
D. I challenge you to a foot race *
Word/Phrase: Boasting | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q3 In the story the Turtle says to the Rabbit "Keep your boasting till you've beaten me." What does the word "boasting" mean in this sentence?
A. excessive bragging *
B. excessive happiness
C. excessive anger
D. excessive comefort
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "boasting" correctly?
A. The girl was boasting with joy
B. When the boy spilled his milk he was boasting
C. Tony was boasting about winning the soccer game *
D. Andy was boasting and hit Ralph
Word/Phrase: Evident | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q4 The author states in the story, "..it was evident that the Rabbit was too full of himself from the beginning." What does the word "evident" mean?
A. obvious *
B. unknown
C. confusing
D. difficult
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "evident" correctly?
A. He was confused about the question so he was evident
B. It was evident that Mikey had taken the cookie because he had crumbs on his face. *
C. When I could't find the answer to the problem, it was evident I understood the question
D. When my room is dirty, my shoes are evident to find.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4a,
 
     
     
 
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.
 
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  Topic Title Replies
Message Turtle vs. Rabbit
Which character in the story would you rather be, the Turtle or the Rabbit? Explain your reasoning.
 
 
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Sent on: Feb 18, 2015 by: Meredith Bentley		 0
Message Story Theme
What do you believe is the main theme to this story? Give specific examples from the text to support your answers.
 
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Sent on: Feb 18, 2015 by: Meredith Bentley		 0
Message Rabbit's Lesson
What lesson do you think the Rabbit learned by the end of the Race in this story? Do you think his attitude has changed from the beginning of the story?
 
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Sent on: Feb 18, 2015 by: Meredith Bentley		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1c,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (40 points)
Instructions: Write 500 words on what you believe the moral of the story is and why the author might have wrote it. Include examples from the text to support the reason for your opinions. You may want to include how both the Rabbit and Turtle's attitudes affected the outcome of the race. 
 
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Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b,
 
     

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