Students explore how two humorous works of Roald Dahl contain deeper messages about courage, friendship and stepping in to save others.
In this third-grade literature course, students explore the concepts of courage and friendship, beginning in Unit 1 with an author study of Roald Dahl. Even though Roald Dahl is known for writing silly, exaggerated stories with highly engaging characters, his stories have important themes and messages embedded in them.
In addition to launching a year-long exploration of the themes of friendship and courage, these texts will also help establish a positive classroom culture as students analyze what it means to help others, be a good person, and show courage. We hope this unit, in connection with all of the units in our third-grade literature course, will help students develop a deep and nuanced understanding of both friendship and courage.
In reading and writing, this unit focuses on setting a strong foundation for text analysis. Students will dive deep into characters and study the ways in which authors develop characters. They will analyze author’s word choice, both as a strategy for figuring out unknown words and as a way to improve their own narrative writing. Roald Dahl’s fun and playful writing style also allows for an exploration of how reading with expression and fluency helps develop comprehension.
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Book: The Twits by Roald Dahl (Puffin Books, 2007) — 750L
Book: The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl (Turtleback Books; Bound for Schools & Libraries ed. Edition, 2002) — 600L
Audio Interview: Roald Dahl on Writing
Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading (Grade 3 Unit 1)
See Text Selection Rationale
These assessments accompany this unit to help gauge student understanding of key unit content and skills. Additional progress monitoring suggestions are included throughout the unit.
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"be foiled" "bear it" "beg your pardon" "pay back" arrange cling faint fearsome filthy fury gasp glimpse gradually gulp helpless horrid hoisted innocent instigate intends long magnificent nasty nonsense obedient ordinary pale peer pity presence revenge revolting schemes shrink smear smeared stubborn thistles
-ly -less -some non- non-
The Enormous Crocodile pp. 1 – 13
RL.3.3
Describe the Enormous Crocodile.
The Enormous Crocodile pp. 14 – 30
RL.3.2
RL.3.3
Describe the Enormous Crocodile.
Discussion
The Enormous Crocodile
RL.3.3
SL.3.1
SL.3.1.a
SL.3.1.d
L.3.6
Analyze why people seek retaliation and if seeking retaliation is an effective way to solve a problem.
Writing
L.3.1.f
L.3.1.i
L.3.3.b
Explain the difference between a fragment and a complete sentence.
The Twits pp. 3 – 10
RL.3.3
Describe Mr. and Mrs. Twit.
The Twits pp. 10 – 17
RL.3.3
Describe Mr. and Mrs. Twit’s relationship and how they treat each other.
The Twits pp. 18 – 23
RL.3.3
Explain what evidence Roald Dahl uses to show that Mr. Twit is an instigator.
The Twits pp. 24 – 31
RL.3.3
Describe how Mr. and Mrs. Twit respond to the plan and why their responses are different.
Writing
L.3.1.f
L.3.1.i
L.3.3.b
Determine if a sentence is a complete sentence or incomplete sentence.
The Twits pp. 32 – 38
RL.3.3
Describe what evidence Roald Dahl includes to describe where and how Mr. and Mrs. Twit live.
The Twits pp. 39 – 46
RL.3.3
Describe what evidence Roald Dahl includes to help readers better understand Muggle-Wump and Roly-Poly bird and why they are important.
The Twits pp. 46 – 61
RL.3.3
Explain how Muggle-Wump has changed and why by analyzing key details that describe character traits, motivations and relationships.
The Twits — Page 62 - end
RL.3.3
Evaluate the animals’ plan for revenge and if they got what they intended.
Writing
L.3.1.f
L.3.1.i
L.3.3.b
Identify the four different types of sentences and explain when they’re used.
Discussion
The Twits
RL.3.2
RL.3.3
SL.3.1
SL.3.1.a
SL.3.1.d
SL.3.6
L.3.6
Analyze why people seek retaliation and if seeking retaliation is an effective way to solve a problem.
Discussion
The Twits
RL.3.2
RL.3.3
SL.3.1.a
SL.3.1.d
L.3.6
Determine two or three traits that describe the Twits in depth.
Assessment
SL.3.1
Roald Dahl on Writing
SL.3.6
Explain what we can learn about writing stories from Roald Dahl and why it is important to study the work of authors by listening to interview clips from Roald Dahl describing his motivations for writing.
5 days
Narrative Writing
W.3.3.a
W.3.3.d
L.3.1.i
L.3.2.f
Write stories in the style of Roald Dahl.
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