LessonFarm.Com
Home | Search/Browse Lessons | Questions? 		Welcome Guest
Login | Register
     
 
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: Maysha Pate
Lesson Length: 45 minutes
Keywords/Tags: confident, challenge, short reading, lesson, morale, race
Lesson Description: A short reading passage on a turtle and rabbit.
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.3.5: Refer to parts of stories, dramas, and poems when writing or speaking about a text, using terms such as chapter, scene, and stanza; describe how each successive part builds on earlier sections.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.10: By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 2–3 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
  • 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.3.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
  • 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.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
 
     
     
 
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: confident | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q1 The turtle states that he is "confident" he can beat the rabbit. What does the word "confident" mean in this statement?
A. not sure of his statement
B. sure of his statement *
C. needs help to complete the task
D. thinks someone else can complete the task
Which one of the following sentences uses the word "confident" correctly?
A. Amy did not study her spelling words, so she is "confident" she will do well on the spelling test.
B. Matthew is "confident" he will not do well at the swim meet, because he got a good night's rest the night before.
C. We are "confident" that we will win the track meet, because we have been preparing for months. *
D. Most students who know Amber would say she is a "confident" girl, because she is always quiet, asks the teacher for reassurance, and always changes her answers.
Word/Phrase: challenge | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q2 The turtle states that he will accept the rabbit's "challenge". What does the word "challenge" mean in this statement?
A. to do your best
B. to practice a task
C. to take part in a contest or competition *
D. to help assist a leader in a job
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "Challenge" correctly?
A. The officer accepted the lead officer's "challenge" to complete the obstacle course. *
B. The pilot wanted to challenge the flight attendant by allowing her to sit down when the plane left the landing.
C. Mrs. Jones asked her students to accept a "challenge" to lay their heads down after finishing the assignment.
D. A challenge is never a hard thing to accept or complete.
Word/Phrase: wayside | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q3 The rabbit took a nap on the wayside. What does the word "wayside" mean in this sentence?
A. log or branch
B. curb or sidewalk
C. rest area or break area
D. land next to road or path *
Which one of the following sentences below uses the word "wayside" correctly?
A. I fell asleep on the branch, or the wayside when I finished.
B. I jumped higher than before on the wayside in the boat.
C. There were a lot of colorful flowers on the wayside of the path. *
D. My mom likes to take her baths on the wayside.
Word/Phrase: boasting | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q4 The rabbit was boasting to everyone that no one could beat him in a race. The turtle was tired of his boasting. What does the word "boasting" mean in both of these sentences?
A. to speak of or assert with excessive pride *
B. to speak of or assert with question
C. to speak of or assert with doubt
D. to speak of or asset with help
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "boasting" correctly?
A. The girls were humble and did not brag as they continued boasting.
B. The baseball team members cheered as they were boasting to the other team members when they won the game. *
C. The teacher told the two students that it was good that they were boasting about losing.
D. Boasting parades filled the streets.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4,
 
     
     
 
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 Why is the rabbit confident that he will win the race?
The rabbit proudly tells everyone that he is confident he will win the race. What reason does he give for his confidence?
Sent on: Jul 23, 2015 by: Maysha Pate		 0
Message Why is it a joke?
When the turtle accepts the rabbit's challenge to the race, why does the rabbit exclaim that it is a "joke" for the turtle to do such a thing? What roles of each character contributes to the rabbit's response?
Sent on: Jul 23, 2015 by: Maysha Pate		 0
Message Lesson Learned...
What can be learned from this short story? What is the overrall moral?
Sent on: Jul 23, 2015 by: Maysha Pate		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.5, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.10, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (50 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here 500 words essay on what lessons are learned from the rabbit and turtle. Describe a situation in which either you or someone you know has learned a similar lesson. Does the person relate more to the rabbit or the turtle?
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3,
 
     

University of South Florida Patent & Copyright Office © 2017 (Tech ID # Pending)