The Mouse That Scored

What has Reuben submitted to the city-wide art contest?

• a Lego basketball

• a humane mouse trap

• painted sneakers

• a giant mouse

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RF.4.4C

CCSS.RF.5.4C

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

How does the text contrast the way people expect Reuben to play basketball to how he actually plays?

• Reuben is short so people don't expect him to be a good basketball player, but he is good because is able to squeeze past other players and score.

• Reuben is quick so people expect him to be a good basketball player, but he is not a good basketball player because he can't score well.

• Reuben is tall so people expect him to be a great basketball player, but he is not a good basketball player nor is he interested in the sport.

• Reuben is easily distracted so people don't expect him to be a good basketball player, but he is good because he is able to focus during games.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.2.1

1.    Read the following sentences from the text.

“’Huh,’ his mom said, then frowned and replied, ‘Even so, mice are no use to no one.’

‘Mice matter too, Mom!’ Reuben retorted.

Back on the basketball court today, Reuben felt like an oversized mouse himself, trapped in his wiry body and just about useless in the eyes of his peers. He knew he mattered, but he couldn’t prove it in gym class….

Reuben shook his head, then Ms. Henries blew her whistle and gym class was over. He ran off the court, relieved to be done today with gym and basketball.

For the rest of the day, however, Reuben couldn’t shake his sadness. Why didn’t people see his usefulness? The basketball court wasn’t the only place that counted, was it?”

What conclusion can you draw from this evidence about how Reuben feels?

• Reuben can forget about all of his worries when he is playing basketball.

• Reuben is curious about how to make better basketball sneakers.

• Reuben feels like others see him as useless and wants to change that.

• Reuben enjoys gym class more than any of his other school subjects.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

Why does Reuben feel like he matters when he wins the city-wide art contest?

• He thinks more people will go to school basketball games now.

• The prize will help him make more humane mouse traps.

• Someone from the Lego company delivers the award to him.

• He feels like his classmates can see him for his strengths.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.3.3

What is one main theme of this story?

• It is important to appreciate people for their unique interests and strengths.

• If you want to accomplish a goal, take one small step at a time towards it.

• Animals are an important part of the world and should be treated better.

• Sports have a way of bringing people together that nothing else can match.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2