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A Lesson on Columbus and the Egg Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite

A Lesson on Columbus and the Egg Grade: Grade 5
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Jonathan Quintana
Lesson Length: 45 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Columbus, eggs
Lesson Description: In this lesson plan the students are to read a story about Columbus who was a real live famous explorer but a story about him that may be fictional. The students are to read the story and understand the story at a higher level with the questions and activities included that make them think and ponder the story in a little more complex way.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.5.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
 
     
     
 
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.

Columbus and the Egg

This is a story about Columbus. He was an explorer. He is the explorer who came to the Americas from Spain in 1492. This is a story about what might have happened long ago when he was back in Spain.

When Columbus came back from his trip to the Americas, many people praised him. He was made an admiral. That means he was a leader. People said what a great thing he had done. But not everyone 
liked him. Some were jealous of all the attention he got.

One day Columbus was at a party that a Spanish gentleman gave in his honor. People were saying, “What a great discovery you havemade.” Several persons were present who were jealous of the great 
admiral's success. They were proud, conceited fellows, and they very soon began to try to make Columbus uncomfortable.

``You have discovered strange lands beyond the seas,'' they said, ``but what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast 
along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world.''

Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company: ``Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?''

One by one those at the table tried the experiment. When the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done.

Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little. After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright.

``Gentlemen,'' said he, ``what is easier than to do this which you said was impossible? It is the simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it--AFTER HE HAS BEEN SHOWN HOW!'' 

 
     
     
 
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: admiral | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q1 The author in our story says \"He was made an admiral\" What is an admiral?
A. Leader *
B. Fish
C. accident
D. Lamborghini

Which one the sentences uses the word \"admiral\" correctly?
A. She likes to watch me admiral.
B. Everynight we admiral until we fall asleep.
C. I hate it when he is such an admiral!
D. The admiral arrived on the ship and conducted his proper duties along with the crew. *

Word/Phrase: succeeded | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 The author in our story says "When the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done." What does the word succeeded mean in this sentence?
A. The name of a car
B. The name of a bird
C. To achive the desired goal *
D. To to take a nap

Which one of the sentence below uses the word "Succeeded" correctly?
A. I had finally succeeded in getting her to give me her number. *
B. Succeeded the books alright.
C. I laughed then succeeded some food.
D. The succeeded was humble.

Word/Phrase: Discorvered | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 The author in our story says ``You have discovered strange lands beyond the seas,'' they said, ``but what of that? What does the word "Discovered" mean in this sentence?
A. To find *
B. To dance
C. To cook
D. To love

Which one of the sentences below uses the word "Discovered" correctly?
A. The dog loves discovered.
B. Today I discovered something completely new. *
C. Just left cooking classes all discovered.
D. She always knows how to get me discovered.

Word/Phrase: Explorer | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 The author in our story says "He was an explorer." What does the word "explorer" mean in this sentence?
A. a famous person
B. a stranger person
C. a person who travels in search of geographical or scientific information *
D. the people that cut lawns

Which one of the sentences below uses the word "Explorer" correctly?
A. The explorer was able to find some new artifacts inside the cave. *
B. She was explorer the car.
C. The shoes stepped explorer
D. The car blew an explorer fuse

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.5.4a,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (25 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 What is the purpose for the egg...
Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company: ``Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?''

One by one those at the table tried the experiment. When the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done.

Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little. After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright.

``Gentlemen,'' said he, ``what is easier than to do this which you said was impossible? It is the simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it--AFTER HE HAS BEEN SHOWN HOW!''

Explain what the purpose is for this egg in the story?


Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana
0

Message Some were Jealous...
When Columbus came back from his trip to the Americas, many people praised him. He was made an admiral. That means he was a leader. People said what a great thing he had done. But not everyone 
liked him. Some were jealous of all the attention he got.

Why were these people in the story jealous of Columbus?


Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana
0

Message Some were Jealous...
When Columbus came back from his trip to the Americas, many people praised him. He was made an admiral. That means he was a leader. People said what a great thing he had done. But not everyone 
liked him. Some were jealous of all the attention he got.

Why were these people in the story jealous of Columbus?


Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana
0

Message The simplest thing...
``You have discovered strange lands beyond the seas,'' they said, ``but what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast 
along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world.''

Why did they consider sailing "the simplest thing in the world"?


Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana
0

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (35 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here 500 words essay on the pro and cons of being a world famous explorer. Make sure to provide a few examples.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1,
 
     

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