Reading: Theme

Passage 1

Annie and the Bike Race

During a trial bike race with her friend, Mike, Annie is left in the dust and becomes discouraged. As she's resting, she thinks about the story of "The Tortoise and the Hare." Annie hops back on her bike and beats Mike, who has been wasting his time along the bike trail.

Passage 2

The Tortoise and the Hare

When a determined tortoise challenges a boastful hare to a race, the hare is sure he will win. As the race begins, the hare is so confident that he takes his time. In fact, he naps along the way. The tortoise plods along, slow and steady, and beats the hare to the finish line.

adapted from "The Tortoise and the Hare" by Aesop

What do the hare and Mike have in common in these stories?

• They both like to nap along the way.

• They both lie to get what they want.

• They are both so over-confident that they end up losing the race.

• They are both slow and steady.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.9

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

"Tommy, your history teacher says you are failing this quarter," Coach Snead said. Tommy Blake was his star running back. "That's the third time he's told me. He says you aren't doing your homework."

"Ah, coach, I've got too much to do," Tommy replied. "We've got that big game with Hamden. I do a lot of stuff with my community. I'm helping my little brother with his model train. I've got other classes, too. History takes a lot of time."

Coach Snead put his hand on Tommy's shoulder. "I can see you've got too much on your plate, so I'm cutting you from the squad as of now. That way you'll have plenty of time to take care of your school work and your community responsibilities."

Tommy laughed as he said, "Right; you're going to cut the league-leading running back before the biggest game of the season."

"That's right, son, that's what I'm going to do."

"You'll lose the game."

"You are much more important to me than a game," Coach Snead said. "Besides I've got six guys out there that would love to start the biggest game of the year."

"What do you mean 'you are much more important than a game'?"

"We're a team, Tommy, and teams have rules. One of our rules is that everybody has to be passing all their classes during the season. You're not doing that, despite having several chances to bring up your grades. If I let you off just because there's a big game, then you and everybody else on the team will learn that my rules don't matter. At least they don't matter for special people, like league-leading running backs. If I let you get away with this, you'd learn the wrong lesson, and that would hurt you in the future."

Which lesson can be learned from this story?

• Skill is more important than courage in sports.

• To be a team player, you have to compromise.

• Winning is the most important thing.

• On a team, no player is above the rules.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which theme is about trusting each other and never betraying friends?

• honesty

• kindness

• loyalty

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which theme is about never giving up even during difficult times?

• honesty

• perseverance

• loyalty

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which theme is about overcoming fear or accepting a risk?

• compassion

• cooperation

• courage

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which theme is about respecting and accepting others' differences?

• acceptance

• courage

• cooperation

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which theme is about making people who are suffering feel better.

• kindness

• acceptance

• compassion

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and saw his reflection in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish Dog he had been.
What is the theme?

• Be honest.
• Don't be greedy.
• Always share your things with others.
• Be respectful to others.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.
• Always work hard.
• It pays to be honest.
• Teamwork is best.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he would die of thirst. Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.
What is the theme?

• be persistent
• be honest
• always share with others
• respect your family

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9