Jessica Antonio

DIRECT INSTRUCTION LESSON PLAN Grade Level/Subject: 3rd Grade Reading Topic: Central Message

Rationale: Students need to learn how to determine the central message of stories through the text they read. This will help them have a better understanding of the text. Common Core/Essential Standards Reference: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2 Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text Behavioral Objective: The students will read a folktale. After they read, they will answer questions to determine the central message using key details from the story. The students will work independently. To be successful, students should accurately state what the central message is and include at least 2 clues from the text that support how they found the central message. Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills: Students be able to retell stories using key details, demonstrate understanding of a central message and determine the central message. Materials/Resources: Coyote and the Star from readinga-z.com Coyote Spills the Stars worksheet with questions (attached) Folktale from http://www.worldoftales.com/Native_American_folktales/Native_American_Folktale_7. html The Boy Who Cried Wolf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heasnJY8HM0M).

Content and Strategies Focus/Review: Have the students gather in the meeting area. We have learned a lot about folktales so far. Can someone tell me what they know about folktales? What are some folktales we read in class or that you have read before? Objective (as stated for students): Today we are going to learn how to use clues to find the central message of a folktale. This is important because it will help us learn more about the story and have a better understanding. Teacher Input: The central message is what the author wants you to learn from this story. It could be a lesson that you can use in your own life to make you a better person. To find the central message we need to look for clues in the story which are parts of the story that important. These clues can help us figure out the central message. We can find the central message after we read the story, and it is important to find the central message because it will help us have a better understanding of what we read. Today we are going to read Coyote and the Star, which is a Klamath Indian folktale. I want you to pay close attention to the story. Read the entire book aloud to the students. To look for the central message, we have to think about the whole story that we read. I think the central message could be that we should be happy with what we have in

life before it is gone (write this on the board). Since I think this could be the central message of the story, I am going to have to look back at the story for clues to make sure. I am going to look back at the first part of the story. In this part it says that everything was perfect, and every animal had what they needed, except for the Coyote. All he wanted was the star (write this on the board) I am going to ask myself, Does this help support my central message? I think it does because the animals had everything they needed, but the Coyote still wanted more. I am going to read some more. On the next page, it says that Coyote would always talk to her, but she never responded. He even wrote her a song, but it still did not work. In the middle of the story, the coyote was trying to run to the star and he even tumbled down a hill and fell into the water. It says that the Coyote would not give up and kept trying to get to the star (write this on the board). I am going to ask myself, Is this a clue that supports my central message? I think it does because the Coyote is still trying to get the star even though it is not working and he even got hurt. I am going to read some more to see if I can find some more clues. Near the end of the story, Coyote finally reached the star, but the star took him high up into the sky. Coyote was scared, and he missed the earth and everything he had there (write this on the board). I am going to ask myself again, Is this a clue that helps support my central message? I think is does because it shows that Coyote missed what he used to have, and this shows us that we need to enjoy what we have. I am going to read some more and look for one last clue. The star finally let go, and Coyote fell down to the earth. He knew he had been acting foolish and he was full of regret. Coyote hit the ground, and he died (write this on the board). I am going to ask myself for the last time, Does this clue help support my central message? Yes it does because Coyote did not get to enjoy the things he has anymore because it was too late. These clues really help support the central message because they tell us that the Coyote was not happy with what he had. He wanted more and kept trying to get it even though it was not working. In the end, he did not get to enjoy the things he used to have because it was too late.

Guided Practice: Ask the students if they remember the story of the little boy who cried wolf. If they do not know the story, play this video of the story being read aloud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heasnJY8HM0M. If they do remember the story, ask them what they think the central message is. The anticipated response should be that the central message is to not lie because no one will ever believe anything you say, even if it is the truth. Have the students turn and talk to a partner who is sitting next to them about what clues from the story support the central message. Discuss the clues with the class and figure out if they are right or wrong. Anticipated clues could be: The boy cried wolf, and everybody came to help him even though he was lying, the boy cried wolf again and everybody believed him even though he was lying, the third time the boy cried wolf nobody believed him because he lied the first two times, and this time there really was an actual wolf. Independent Practice: The students will read the folktale Coyote Spills the Stars and answer the questions on the attached worksheet. They will have to determine the central message and list at least 2 clues from the text that support the central message. Closure: Can someone tell me what they think is the central message of Coyote Spills the Stars? What clues from the story did you use to figure out the central message? How can this lesson help us in the future? Anticipated responses: The central message is to listen to your elders who

are wiser. We know this because the coyote in the story did not listen to the Mother, and she punished him. We can use this in our lives in the future by listening to our parents, teacher, and other adults. Evaluation: Criteria for evaluating student work: Full Mastery: Student accurately stated the central message and listed 2 or more clues from the text that support the central message Partial Mastery: Student accurately stated the central message and listed only 1 clue from the text that supports the central message No Mastery: Student did not accurately state the central message nor list any clues from the text that support the central message. For advanced students: Full Mastery: Students accurately stated the central message, listed 2 or more clues from the text that support the central message, and stated how they could use this lesson in their lives. Partial Mastery: Students accurately stated the central message, listed only 1 clue from the text that supports the central message, and did not state how they could use this lesson in their lives. No Mastery: (re-teaching necessary) Students did not accurately state the central message, did not list any clues from the text that support the central message, nor state how they could use this lesson in their lives.

Answer Key 1. The central message is that we should respect our elders and do what they say. 2. The clues that I found were that the Coyote did not listen to the Mother, and he did what she told him not to do. He got in trouble for not respecting her. 3. (For advanced students) I can use this lesson in my life by doing what my parents and teacher tell me to do. Plans for Individual Differences: Struggling Students: Struggling students will be given the Coyote Spills the Stars worksheet with questions that give them extra guidance. Advanced Students/Early Finishers: Students will be given a worksheet with an extra question which is how they can use this lesson in their life. References: Not Applicable

Name______________________________________________ Coyote Spills the Stars A Native American Folktale In the beginning days when all came up from the underworld a huge gathering was planned, uniting all the four-leggeds and flyers. At this meeting Our Mother selected a human being to take a jar of stars, hang them in the sky and name them for all to enjoy. Coyote was very interested in what was going on, but being a wiggler and trickster then as he is now, Our Mother turned to him and said "Do not make mischief here!" The human being was busy, placing the stars in ordered patterns upon the sky...Seven Stars here and the three Pot Rest Stars there. When he had placed the beautiful Morning Star he stood back and admired his work, as did all the rest. While everyone including Our Mother was gathered to gaze at the luminous Morning Star, Coyote tiptoed over to the jar of stars to see for himself what the man was doing. As he lifted the jar's lid just a little, the stars rose to the occasion, pushed the lid away and raced for the sky. This is the reason so many twinkle without order or pattern, and why so many are not named. Our Mother was angry with Coyote, and said that because of his mischief with the stars Coyote would forever be a wanderer and bring trouble with him wherever he may go. That some days he could be happy and abundant, but other days he would see unhappiness and hunger.

1. What is the central message of the story?

2. What clues from the story did you use to find the central message?

Name______________________________________________ Coyote Spills the Stars A Native American Folktale In the beginning days when all came up from the underworld a huge gathering was planned, uniting all the four-leggeds and flyers. At this meeting Our Mother selected a human being to take a jar of stars, hang them in the sky and name them for all to enjoy. Coyote was very interested in what was going on, but being a wiggler and trickster then as he is now, Our Mother turned to him and said "Do not make mischief here!" The human being was busy, placing the stars in ordered patterns upon the sky...Seven Stars here and the three Pot Rest Stars there. When he had placed the beautiful Morning Star he stood back and admired his work, as did all the rest. While everyone including Our Mother was gathered to gaze at the luminous Morning Star, Coyote tiptoed over to the jar of stars to see for himself what the man was doing. As he lifted the jar's lid just a little, the stars rose to the occasion, pushed the lid away and raced for the sky. This is the reason so many twinkle without order or pattern, and why so many are not named. Our Mother was angry with Coyote, and said that because of his mischief with the stars Coyote would forever be a wanderer and bring trouble with him wherever he may go. That some days he could be happy and abundant, but other days he would see unhappiness and hunger.

1. What is the central message of the story? (What does this story want you to learn?)

2. What clues from the story did you use to find the central message? (What parts of the story can be used to figure out the lesson in the story?)

Name______________________________________________ Coyote Spills the Stars A Native American Folktale In the beginning days when all came up from the underworld a huge gathering was planned, uniting all the four-leggeds and flyers. At this meeting Our Mother selected a human being to take a jar of stars, hang them in the sky and name them for all to enjoy. Coyote was very interested in what was going on, but being a wiggler and trickster then as he is now, Our Mother turned to him and said "Do not make mischief here!" The human being was busy, placing the stars in ordered patterns upon the sky...Seven Stars here and the three Pot Rest Stars there. When he had placed the beautiful Morning Star he stood back and admired his work, as did all the rest. While everyone including Our Mother was gathered to gaze at the luminous Morning Star, Coyote tiptoed over to the jar of stars to see for himself what the man was doing. As he lifted the jar's lid just a little, the stars rose to the occasion, pushed the lid away and raced for the sky. This is the reason so many twinkle without order or pattern, and why so many are not named. Our Mother was angry with Coyote, and said that because of his mischief with the stars Coyote would forever be a wanderer and bring trouble with him wherever he may go. That some days he could be happy and abundant, but other days he would see unhappiness and hunger.

1. What is the central message of the story?

2. What clues from the story did you use to find the central message?

3. How can you use this lesson in your life?