LAFS.3.RL.1.3
Description:
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Maps to Reading Plus skills:
3A, 3B, 3C
Exemplars
3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect
3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect
Description:
Analyzing Cause and Effect
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
C-30
C-30
Grade level: 3
Word count: 1325 words
Author: Nancy Joline
Synopsis: Who is that mysterious stranger?
Excerpt:
"We may as well anchor here," I told Emily. "We can't row in the dark. We'll just sit here in the boat and wait for our parents to find us."
Question:
Why did Emily and Tarij stop rowing and wait in the boat?
- It was too dark to see where they were going.
- They heard their parents coming.
- They thought the boat's motor would start working.
- It was late and they wanted to go to sleep.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Write three "why" questions about things that happened in a selection and then answer those questions.
Evaluator
Organization:
Curriculum Design Institute
3B: Analyzing Plot/Character
3B: Analyzing Plot/Character
Description:
Analyzing setting, plot, and character
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
C-59
C-59
Grade level: 3
Word count: 1357 words
Author: R. Bender
Synopsis: Why is the mouse such a small animal? This legend from long ago offers an interesting explanation.
Excerpt:
The girl was an average size, but the boy was very small. He was no more than two feet high.
One day she said, "Look, little brother! I have made you a bow and some arrows. It is time you learned to take care of yourself. While I am gone, practice shooting.
Each day he practiced, shooting at a tree when there was nothing better to aim at. At last he killed a bird.
But he had made up his mind to see the world for himself, and off he went. His legs were short and he was not used to walking far.
One day she said, "Look, little brother! I have made you a bow and some arrows. It is time you learned to take care of yourself. While I am gone, practice shooting.
Each day he practiced, shooting at a tree when there was nothing better to aim at. At last he killed a bird.
But he had made up his mind to see the world for himself, and off he went. His legs were short and he was not used to walking far.
Question:
Which two statements about the boy are correct?
- He was not able to walk great distances because he was small.
- He learned to hunt by practicing every day.
- He was as large as a Mastodon and as smart as a coyote.
- He took care of his older sister, and kept her safe from harm.
- He was a skilled hunter who never missed a shot.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Explain why you agree or disagree with the behavior of a character.
Evaluator
Organization:
Curriculum Design Institute
3A: Predicting Outcomes
3A: Predicting Outcomes
Description:
Predicting Outcomes
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
C-44
C-44
Grade level: 3
Word count: 1130 words
Author: Erica Cirino
Synopsis: A day at the zoo requires detective work when car keys disappear.
Excerpt:
The next exhibit they searched was the safari exhibit. This was Marco's favorite place in the whole zoo. They hopped on the safari train again. Marco and his dad were so happy that they nearly forgot about the lost keys.
Question:
In the selection, Marco rides on the safari train two times. When he rides on the train, what kind of expression would you probably see on his face?
- a smile
- a frown
- anger
- surprise
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Write an email to a friend who has not read the selection. Provide enough information about the selection's characters, settings, and events so your friend is able to predict what happened in the selection.
Evaluator
Organization:
Curriculum Design Institute