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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: Julie Wheeler
Lesson Length: 2 hours
Keywords/Tags: Reading, vocabulary, writing
Lesson Description: The goal of this lesson is to allow students to practice their reading skills, writing skills and learn new vocabulary words while reading the story of "The Turtle and the Rabbit." The lesson allows students to critically read the text to understand what morals are and how having too much pride can affect the outcome of a situation. The discussion questions and writing activity allow students to think from the authors point of view and allow students to give their own opinions on the story. The lesson lets students focus on the point the author is trying to make rather than a long reading passage. This gives students the opportunity to look for key words in the text that help describe the Turtle and the Rabbits points of view.
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. Therefore, it was evident that the Rabbit was too full of himself from the beginning.
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (30 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: Challenge | Tier: 2 | Points: 0
Q1 When the turtle said "I accept your challenge" what does the word "challenge" mean in the story?
A. to accept a gift
B. to compliment someone
C. to take part in a contest or competition *
D. to be honest
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "challenge" correctly in relationship to the story?
A. I challenge you when I say you're a good person.
B. I challenge you to a spelling bee. *
C. Saying happy birthday.
D. I challenge you to clap your hands.
Word/Phrase: Confident | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 In the story when the turtle says "I am confident I can beat you" what does the word "confident" mean?
A. afraid
B. angry
C. insecure
D. self-assured *
Which ones of the sentences below uses the word "confident" correctly?
A. If I am bad at something that means I am confident.
B. If I'm insecure of my abilities then I am confident
C. I am confident of my abilities. *
D. I don't like feeling confident because it makes me sad.
Word/Phrase: Boasting | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3 The author in the story says " The Rabbit was once boasting of his speed before the other animals." What does the word "boasting" mean?
A. excessive pride *
B. excessive shyness
C. excessive sadness
D. excessive doubt
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "boasting" correctly?
A. The girl is boasting because she is shy.
B. He was boasting about how good he looked. *
C. When she dropped her bag she was boasting.
D. She was boasting to show she was tired.
Word/Phrase: Evident | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 In the last line of the story what does the word "evident" mean?
A. clearly noticeable *
B. confusing
C. unclear
D. aggressive
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "evident" correctly?
A. I am evident when I tie my shoes.
B. It was evident that she ate a piece of cake because there were crumbs all over her. *
C. He was unsure of his decision so he was evident.
D. I like to be evident when cooking because then my food taste better.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.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 Moral of story
What do you think the moral of the story is? Explain your answer.
Sent on: Oct 11, 2013 by: Julie Wheeler		 0
Message Turtle or Rabbit?
If you could be the Turtle or the Rabbit which one would you be and explain your answer.
Sent on: Oct 12, 2013 by: Julie Wheeler		 0
Message Main idea of story
What do you think the main idea of the text is? Explain the main points of the story and explain how they support the main idea.
Sent on: Oct 12, 2013 by: Julie Wheeler		 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 2 paragraphs on the authors point of view and why you think the author wrote this story. Provide reasons that support your opinion. You might want to consider writing about why the Rabbit might of lost and why the Turtle might have won.

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

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