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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: Cortnie Cullen
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: rabbit, turtle, race
Lesson Description: A literary lesson for third grade students on reading comprehension, based upon understanding of vocabulary, opinion development, and explanation with text support, based on an excerpt from "The Turtle and The Rabbit".
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • 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.SL.3.1d: Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
  • 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 (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: "when I put forth my full speed" | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1 The Rabbit in the story says he has never been beaten "when I put forth my full speed". What does the Rabbit mean by "put forth" his speed?
A. The Rabbit gave his speed to the Turtle.
B. The Rabbit held back his speed.
C. The Rabbit ran with all the speed he had. *
D. The Rabbit forgot about his speed.
In which sentence below are the words "put forth" used correctly?
A. The Rabbit put forth his dinner so he would not be hungry.
B. The Rabbit put forth his best effort into the race. *
C. The Rabbit put forth his left foot before his right.
D. The Rabbit put forth a nap because he was tired.
Word/Phrase: "Keep your boasting till you've beaten me" | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 In the story, the Turtle tells the Rabbit to "keep your boasting till you've beaten me". In this sentence, what does "boasting" mean?
A. Talking about how bad something is.
B. Talking about how hungry someone is.
C. Talking about how smelly something is.
D. Talking about how confident someone is. *
Of the sentences below, which one uses the word "boasting" correctly?
A. The Rabbit was boasting about how fast he was. *
B. The Turtle was boasting a turkey for dinner.
C. The Rabbit's boasting was very sad.
D. The Turtle started boasting when he saw the Rabbit napping.
Word/Phrase: "winning-post" | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3 In the story, the Rabbit wakes up from his nap to see the Turtle near the "winning-post". What does the word "winning-post" mean in this sentence?
A. The post at the beginning of the race.
B. The post at the end of the race. *
C. The post in the middle of the race.
D. The post outside of the race.
In which of the sentences below is the word "winning-post" used correctly?
A. The runners in the race were all running toward the winning-post. *
B. When my father finishes the laundry, he hangs our clothes to dry on the winning-post.
C. The winning-post turned red, so all the cars stopped.
D. Santa Claus' house is marked by the Winning-Post.
Word/Phrase: "course" | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 The author of the story says that the Turtle went on "with a slow and steady pace to the end of the course". In this sentence, what does the word "course" mean?
A. A rough and prickly object the Turtle and Rabbit are running from.
B. An obvious ending that the Rabbit and Turtle saw coming.
C. The swimming pool the Rabbit and the Turtle wanted to go to.
D. The track the Turtle and Rabbit are running on. *
In which sentence is the word "course" used correctly?
A. The Rabbit ran with course past the Turtle.
B. The Rabbit took a course when he saw how far ahead of the Turtle he was.
C. The Turtle went through the course at his own pace. *
D. The Rabbit felt course when he saw that the Turtle was winning the race.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.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 Why does the Rabbit take a nap?
In the story, when the Rabbit realizes how far ahead he is of the Turtle, he decides to take a nap.  Why do you think the Rabbit decides to take a nap?
Sent on: Oct 10, 2015 by: Cortnie Cullen		 0
Message What does the Turtle mean by, "I could dance around you all the way"?
When the Rabbit says to the Turtle, "I could dance around you all the way", does he mean he would actually dance?  Why or why not?
Sent on: Oct 10, 2015 by: Cortnie Cullen		 0
Message Why is the Rabbit sure he will win?
In the story, the Rabbit brags to the Turtle and all the animals about how fast he is.  When the Turtle challenges the Rabbit, the Rabbit boldly states, "You will never be able to speed past me.  You will not get the victory".  Why is the Rabbit so sure he will win?
Sent on: Oct 10, 2015 by: Cortnie Cullen		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1d,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: For this activity, you will need to write at least three sentences explaining why you believe the Turtle won the race instead of the Rabbit.  Please include at least two examples from the story as to why you believe this is true.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1,
 
     

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