THEME Lesson: The Wise Man

THEME Lesson:

The Wise Man

By Maria Cabreza

Poll

After the INTRODUCTION LESSON, what can you say about "Theme"?

a Chinese Folktale​

READ TO UNDERSTAND

​First Read: The Wise Man

Multiple Choice

What does "wise" mean?

• having the knowledge to make predictions

• having the ability to make inferences

• having the ability to jump to conclusions

• having information or good judgment

Multiple Choice

How does the old man come to have a "stallion of great worth"?

• The old man's friends gave the stallion as a gift for being wise.

• The old man's horse that had run away comes home with it.

• The son found the stallion and returned home with it.

• The old man bought the stallion from his friends.

Multiple Choice

What is the old man's attitude about the stallion?

• He bragged about the stallion to his friends.

• He celebrated with his friends because a stallion is expensive.

• He does not celebrate and says that the real worth will become clear later.

• He was worried that the stallion's owner is looking for it.

Multiple Choice

What happens to the old man's son?

• He falls off the stallion and learned his lesson.

• He falls off the stallion and breaks his leg.

• He falls off the stallion but didn't get hurt.

• He falls off the stallion and breaks his arm.

Multiple Choice

How does the old man react to his son's accident?

• He was angry with the son for not obeying him.

• He is calm about it and suggests it could be a blessing.

• He was worried about his son's life.

• He is calm about it first then became worried.

How does the son's accident turn out to be a blessing?​

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Pair Share

​Turn and Talk

Multiple Choice

How does the son's accident turn out to be a blessing?

• The son was recruited to be a war soldier, which gave honor to the old man.

• The son was recruited by soldiers to fight despite his disability.

• The son didn't have to fight in the war and suffer the consequences it might bring.

• The son was pitied by the old man's friends and was given special treatment.

CLOSE READER HABITS

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READ TO ANALYZE

​Second Read: The Wise Man

Find a partner to compare your underlined sentences. Talk about it.​

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READ TO ANALYZE

​Second Read: The Wise Man

Multiple Choice

THINK: Part A Question:

How do the actions of the old man's friends contribute to the theme of the story?

• They want to celebrate with the old man.

• They jump into conclusions about what events are blessings and misfortunes.

• They are glad because the old man's son does not have to go to war.

• They are confused by the old man's happiness.

Multiple Choice

THINK: Part B Question:

Which detail from the folktale best supports the answer to Part A (They jump into conclusions about what events are blessings and misfortunes.)

• "The old man's friends offered their condolences. We are so sorry about this unfortunate incident," they said.

• "The old man's friends are stunned by his reaction."

• "Some months later, the old man's horse returned, bringing with it a stallion of great worth."

• "A group of soldiers came to the old man's house to recruit his son."

Graphic Organizer and

Short Response

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READ TO INTEGRATE KNOWLEDGE

​Third Read:

The Wise Man

Multiple Choice

Based on the details and how the characters respond to events or challenges in the folktale, WHICH IS NOT A PROPER THEME for the folktale?

• You should not rush to judgment about whether an event is good or bad.

• To see is to believe.

• Do not judge without seeing the big picture.

• A person should not judge events too quickly.

Poll

What do you think about "THEME" at this point of the lesson?