The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit by Susan LowellWhole Group ReadingAligned TEKS1.7(A) connect the meaning of a well-known story or fable to personal experiences.2.6(A) identify moral lessons as themes in well-known fables, legends, myths or stories3.5(A) paraphrase the themes and supporting details of fables, legends, myths, or storiesFirst and Second Grade Strategyfig.19 (F) make connections to own experiences, to ideas in other texts, and to the larger community and discuss textual evidence.Third Grade Strategyfig.19 (F) make connections (e.g., thematic links, author analysis between literary and informational texts with similar ideas and provide textual evidence.Second and third grade students will find textual evidence to support the ideas and connections. Other Fables:

The Lion and the Mouse The Town Mouse and Country Mouse The Fox and the Grape The Eagle and the Wren The Ant and the Grasshopper

Other Book Titles: PersistenceDon’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo WillemsDon’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo WillemsGreen Eggs and Ham by Dr. SeussKittens First Full Moon by Kevin HenkesThe Little Engine that Could by Watty PiperCarrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Day 1: (My first graders are already familiar with the books in the Persistence box. This will help them to make a text to text connection. We have also already read fairy tales and fractured fairy tales with a western theme.)Before Reading: Talk about what a fairy tale or fable is and why they were written. Brainstorm about what students think a fairy tale or fable is.Have both fables and fairy tales displayed for children to view.

Chart the student responses.

Why do you think people wrote these stories? Were they first written down or were they told by mouth? Do you think they some of these tales might have been told at campfires as the cowboys were

going to bed? Why do you think these stories were so popular that they were passed down generations? Do these stories seem to be real stories?

A fable is a short narrative that uses animals as characters to teach a lesson or moral.A fairy tale is story, usually written for children. It usually involves legendary characters, (an evil character and a good character) and some form of magic is used in the story.

Students will have already heard the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. What was the moral of the fable, The Tortoise and the Hare? What connections can you make to the character of the Tortoise? What connections can you make to the character of the Hare? What connections can you make to the moral of the story? What other story have you read that has the same message?

Purpose for reading: Students will use the strategy of making connections to own experiences, to ideas in other texts, and to the larger community and discuss textual evidence

During Reading: As you listen to the story being read, be ready to share any questions or connections that you may have with the characters, the story problem, the story solution, and the author’s message.

After Reading: What do you think the moral of this story might be? What makes you think so?How does the Tortoise and the Hare compare to the Tortoise and the Jackrabbit?Compare the characters and story plot on the Elements of a Fable Graphic.Students will then make connections to the characters, the story problem, the story solution, and the author’s message. Chart the responses on the Making Connections graphic.

Making Connections

Text SelfSomething similar that happenedto me was...I remember when I...

Text Text

A book I read had a similar problem,(character, setting)...This is different than another

book I read...

Text World

That reminds me of something I heard (read, saw) in the...

Elements of a Fable

Name of Fable Animal Character (s)

Setting Problem Solution Moral(Lesson)

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit