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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: Brittany Doxsey
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: The Rabbit and the Turtle
Lesson Description: The goal of this lesson is to allow students to explore and recgonize the moral lesson while critically reading the story "The Rabbit and the Turtle". Students must be able to critically think through and understand and illustrate an understanding of humbleness and perseverance,, through not only reading and comprehending the text by way of key words and indictors throughout, but also by responding appropriately to the discussion questions and writing activity. Students will gain new vocabulary words and be able to identify their meaning and use them correctly by completing a series of vocabulary questions.
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.3.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4c: Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a: Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b: Provide reasons that support the opinion.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.6: Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification. (See grade 3 Language standards 1 and 3 here for specific expectations.)
 
     
     
 
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: Boasting | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q1 The story begins with the sentence "The rabbit was once boasting of his speed before the other animals." What does the word "boasting" mean?
A. Yelling
B. Bragging *
C. Crying
D. Singing
Choose the sentence below that best uses the word "boasting" in the same way the author uses it in the story.
A. Sara was so sad she lost the soccer game that she started boasting to her mom and dad.
B. The dog came boasting down the street because he was chasing a cat.
C. Juan would not stop boasting to all of his classmates after he won the spelling bee competition. *
D. The cat was boasting very loudly because the dog was chasing him.
Word/Phrase: Darted | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q2 In the story the author says "The rabbit darted almost out of sight at once..." What does the word "darted" mean in this sentence?
A. To move very quickly *
B. To trip and fall
C. To sit down
D. To disappear
Choose the sentence below that best uses the word "darted" in the same way the author uses it in the story.
A. Sally sat down and darted at her parents because they found out she had a bad grade.
B. John darted into the room, after hearing his little sister scream. *
C. The dog licked and darted the small kitten.
D. The small kitten darted the dog on the nose with it's paw.
Word/Phrase: wayside | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q3 In the story the author says that the rabbit "...lay dow by the wayside to have a nap." What does the word "wayside" mean?
A. Up in a tree
B. The middle of the road
C. The side of the road *
D. Over in a field by the road
Choose the sentence below that best uses the word 'wayside" in the same way the author uses it in the story.
A. Marty ran wayside in to the wall because he did not have his glasses on.
B. The wayside of the house was leaning to the left because it was so windy during the storm.
C. The squirrel ran wayside up the tree and on to a branch.
D. The car had a flat tire and we had to pull over to the wayside so dad could change it. *
Word/Phrase: steady | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q4 In the story the author says "...but went on with a slow but steady pace..." What does the word "steady" mean in this story?
A. Fast
B. Rocky
C. continuous *
D. Wobbly
Choose the sentence below that best uses the word "steady" correctly in the same way the author uses it in the story.
A. Alice had a math test she was not prepared for and her nerves were steady, causing her to be on edge.
B. The wind made the boat steady as the sails whipped back and forth.
C. The weather was steady because it kept changing day by day.
D. Even though he was tired, Marco kept swimming at a steady pace until he reached the shore. *
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.4c,
 
     
     
 
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 The Moral
Explain, in 3-5 sentences, why the rabbit did not win the race but the turtle did and how does that reflect the moral of the story? 
Sent on: Oct 9, 2016 by: Brittany Doxsey		 0
Message Boasting
What is boasting? Explain in your own words what boasting is and how can it be hurtful to people's feelings? Also, how can it be hurtful to the person who is boasting?
Sent on: Oct 9, 2016 by: Brittany Doxsey		 0
Message Rabbit and Turtle
Explain, in a paragraph, how you think the rabbit feels after losing the race and why? How do you think the turtle feels after winnng the race and why? 
Sent on: Oct 9, 2016 by: Brittany Doxsey		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.6,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (50 points)
Instructions: Write at least 3-5 sentences in response to one of the two prompts. You may respond to both if you want. 

a.) Describe a time when you boasted about something and how it made you and others fee and why.

b.) Describe a time when someone else boasted about something and how it made you or others feel and why.

 

 

 
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2,
 
     

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