Grade: Grade 3 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Jenna Herberson Lesson Length: 45 minutes Keywords/Tags: Darted
Steady
Boasting
Confidence Lesson Description: This lesson will allow students to think more critically about key words and how the same word can be seen in a negative and a positive way.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
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.RL.3.5: Refer to parts of stories, dramas, and poems when writing or speaking about a text, using terms such as chapter, scene, and stanza; describe how each successive part builds on earlier sections.
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: Darted | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1
In the story, the author stated, "The rabbit darted almost out of sight at once,..." What does the word "darted" mean in this sentence?
A. The rabbit walked slowly.
B. The rabbit took a nap.
C. The rabbit ran fast. *
D. The rabbit hopped slowly.
Which of the following sentences uses the word "darted" correctly?
A. As soon as the bell rang for dismissal I jumped out of my seat and darted for the door. *
B. Instead of speeding off like the rest of the kids, I went slow and darted from the start line.
C. All of the race cars were going fast except for one, because it's engine darted when it tried to go.
D. I darted the ball across the yard.
Word/Phrase: Steady | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2
In the text, the author says, "The turtle never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course". What does the word "steady" mean?
A. Consistent *
B. Uneven
C. Broken
D. Fast
Which sentence uses the word "steady" correctly?
A. As I entered the race, I wanted to keep my pace nice and steady so I wouldn't become tired too fast. *
B. If I don't steady for my test I will fail.
C. The horse was alternating between walking and running, keeping a steady pace.
D. The dog was steady as he jumped from the dock into the water.
Word/Phrase: Boasting | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3
In the story, the author says, "The rabbit was once boasting of his speed before the other animals." What does the word boasting mean?
A. Compassionate
B. Empathetic
C. Humble
D. Bragging *
Which sentence correctly uses the word "boasting"?
A. I ate so much at dinner my stomach was boasting out of my pants.
B. My friend was boasting about how good he was at playing a video game at recess today. *
C. At nights, the frogs in the pond begin boasting and create a lovely melody.
D. The cake was boasting over the pan.
Word/Phrase: Confident | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4
In the text, the turtle says, "I am confident that I can beat you". What does the word "confident" mean?
A. Mean
B. Nice
C. Nervous
D. Certain *
Which of the following sentences uses the word "confident" correctly?
A. I was confident that I passed my test. *
B. The dog was confident as he wavered back and forth between jumping off the dock or staying on it.
C. My neighbor makes a confident out of me.
D. The baker used confident sugar when baking the cake.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, 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
What does the rabbit teach you from losing the race?
After reading the story, what did you learn from the rabbit losing to the turtle when he was so confident he would win?
Sent on: Feb 27, 2017 by: Jenna Herberson
0
How would you describe the turtle?
Descibe the turtle from the beginning of the story wheh he first stood up to the rabbit to the end when he beats the rabbit. Is there any change in character?
Sent on: Feb 27, 2017 by: Jenna Herberson
0
What was the difference between the turtle and the rabbit?
Both the turtle and the rabbit were confident in themselves in the story, is there a difference between the two levels of confidence? Could one level of confidence be considered bad?
Sent on: Feb 27, 2017 by: Jenna Herberson
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.5,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(30 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here 500 words essay on would you rather be the rabbit who was fast or would you rather be the turtle who was slow but still managed to win the race?
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3,
