Identify and explain important lessons or truths that are revealed through traditional stories, such as creation stories, by discussing key events and character actions.

Materials

“Spider Grandmother”
“Bacabs”

Standards

RL.3.2RL.3.3

Lesson

Language

Use subordinating conjunctions to produce complex sentences.

Materials

Clause Sorting Handout (G3, U3, L4)

Standards

L.3.1.i

Lesson

Recount what happened in "The Bird of One Thousand Colors."

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Bird of One Thousand Colors"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Describe the turkey and how his actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Bird of One Thousand Colors"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.3

Lesson

Explain what lesson the author is trying to teach in "The Bird of One Thousand Colors."

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Bird of One Thousand Colors"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Recount what happened in "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle."

Materials

Tales Our... — "''Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Lesson

Describe Venado and Jicotea and how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Materials

Tales Our... — "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.3W.3.1

Lesson

Explain what lesson the story "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle" is trying to teach.

Materials

Tales Our... — "'Dear Deer!' Said the Turtle"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Lesson

Recount what happened in "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains."

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Lesson

Describe the soldier and the ant and how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Explain what lesson the story "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains" is trying to teach.

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Goat from the Hills and Mountains"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3

Lesson

Language

Incorporate a variety of clear and interesting dialogue tags to show who is speaking and how they speak.

Materials

Folktales Mad Libs Handout (G3, U3, 14)

Standards

L.3.2.c

Lesson

Recount what happened in "The Happy Man’s Tunic."

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Happy Man's Tunic"

Standards

L.3.1.dRL.3.2RL.3.3

Lesson

Describe the shepherd and how his actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Happy Man's Tunic"

Standards

L.3.2.cRL.3.3

Lesson

Describe what lesson the story "The Happy Man's Tunic" teaches the reader.

Materials

Tales Our... — "The Happy Man's Tunic"

Standards

RL.3.2RL.3.3W.3.3.b

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Discussion

Analyze common lessons across different folktales and how characters are similar and different.

Materials

Tales Our...

Standards

L.3.6RL.3.2RL.3.9SL.3.1SL.3.1.aSL.3.1.dSL.3.6

Lesson

Writing

Overview

Write an opinion paragraph that states which traditional story teaches the most important lesson and give reasons to support that opinion.

Day 1 - Planning & Drafting

Plan and draft an opinion paragraph that states which traditional story teaches the most important lesson using three strong reasons and linking words.

Materials

Single Paragraph Outline
Single Paragraph Outline Sample Response (G3, U3, L19)

Standards

W.3.1W.3.1.aW.3.1.bW.3.1.cW.3.1.d

Lesson

Describe Doc Rabbit and how his actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Materials

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales pp. 13–19 — "Doc Rabbit, Bruh Fox, and the Tar Baby"

Standards

L.3.2.cRL.3.2RL.3.3W.3.3.b

Lesson

Describe Bruh Rabbit.

Materials

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales pp. 5–12 — "He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit"

Standards

L.3.1.iRL.3.2RL.3.3RL.3.9

progress
monitoring

Lesson

Describe Bruh Rabbit.

Materials

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales pp. 31–41 — "Bruh Lizard and Bruh Rabbit" (pp. 31–34) and "Bruh Alligator Meets Trouble" (pp. 35–41)

Lesson

Discussion

Analyze and debate unit Essential Questions.

Standards

RL.3.2SL.3.1SL.3.1.aSL.3.1.dSL.3.6

Write an opinion paragraph that states which of Bruh Rabbit's clever tricks teaches the most important lesson, using reasons and examples from the story.

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Analyze key Bruh Rabbit tricks and begin planning a visual retelling of one that teaches an important lesson.

Materials

Opinion Planner (G3, U3, L24)
Story Board Planning Template (G3, U3, L24)

Standards

RL.3.2W.3.1

Day 2 - Drafting

Draft an opinion paragraph explaining which Bruh Rabbit trick teaches the most important lesson and why.

Materials

Single Paragraph Outline
Opinion Paragraph Examples (G3, U3, L24)
Story Board Planning Template (G3, U3, L24)

Standards

W.3.1W.3.1.aW.3.1.bW.3.1.cW.3.1.d

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Revise an opinion paragraph to include illustrative examples that strengthen supporting opinions.

Standards

W.3.1W.3.1.bW.3.1.cW.3.5

Day 4 - Publishing

Finalize and publish paragraphs and story boards.

Materials

Story Board Planning Template (G3, U3, L24) — Completed

Standards

W.3.1W.3.5W.3.6

Lesson

Writing

Overview

Write a narrative using effective technique and organizing an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Writers brainstorm story elements and characters to prepare for writing an original folktale that includes key folktale traits and teaches a clear lesson.

Materials