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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: Rose Kettelle-daily
Lesson Length: 2 hours
Keywords/Tags: reading, writing, vocabulary
Lesson Description: The goal of this lesson is to have students to practice critical thinking skills while reading an entertaining story. The lesson allows them to practice reading and writing skills while also learning new vocabulary. The story of "The Turtle and the Rabbit" teaches about morals and helps students understand how boasting about a situation can affect its outcome. The discussion questions and writing activity allow students to think from the authors point of view and even has them put themselves in the place of one of the main characters for a more in-depth thinking experience.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • 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.3.3: Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
  • 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.3.1b: 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 (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: 3 | Points: 10
Q1 The author says that the rabbit was "boasting" of his speed to the other animals. What does he word "boast" mean?
A. to be afraid
B. to brag *
C. to run
D. to cry
Which of these sentences used the word "boast" correctly?
A. I boasted to my friends when I failed a test.
B. My friend was boasting about beating me in a race. *
C. The dog boasted for food.
D. My baby brother boasted while I changed his diaper.
Word/Phrase: Challenge | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 The turtle says "I accept your challenge". What does the word "challenge" mean?
A. Hang out with your friends
B. Give a gift
C. Take part in a competition *
D. Accept a compliment
Which one of the sentences uses the word "challenge" correctly?
A. I challenge you to a game of checkers. *
B. I challenge you when I help you tie your shoe.
C. My brother challenged me by making me lunch.
D. I like to challenge the flowers when I water them.
Word/Phrase: confident | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 When the turtle says "I am confident I will beat you" what does the word "confident" mean?
A. insecure
B. afraid
C. excited
D. self-assured *
Which sentence used the word "confident" correctly?
A. If I don't think I can do something correctly then I am confident.
B. After studying so much, I am confident that I did well on that test *
C. Feeling confident makes me sad.
D. When people don't like me, it makes me confident.
Word/Phrase: evident | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 In the last line of the story, what does the word "evident" mean?
A. annoying
B. obvious *
C. interesting
D. unclear
Which sentence uses the word "evident" correctly?
A. I am evident when I make my bed in the morning.
B. The snacks my mom packed me were evident.
C. It was evident that her favorite color was blue because it was the only color she wore. *
D. He was evident when he finished his test.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: 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 Main idea
What do you think is the main idea of the story? Support your answer with details you read in the text.
Sent on: Oct 12, 2015 by: Rose Kettelle-daily		 0
Message Turtle or rabbit?
Do you think you are more like the turtle or the rabbit in this story? Explain your answer.
Sent on: Oct 12, 2015 by: Rose Kettelle-daily		 0
Message Strategies
What were the differences between the strategies used by the turtle and the rabbit in the race? How did these strategies help or hurt them? Use details from the story for support.
Sent on: Oct 12, 2015 by: Rose Kettelle-daily		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: Write two to three paragraphs on what you think the moral of this story is. What message did the author want to give his viewers? Consider why the turtle won and why the rabbit lost. Make sure to use specific examples from the text.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2,
 
     

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