2nd Grade ELA
Learning Objective: We will determine the central message of a story.
Focus Standard:
Support Standard:
Prerequisite(s):
2.RL.2 Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine
the central message, lesson, or moral.
2.RF.4a Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.
1.RL.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central
message or lesson.
Manipulative(s):
Special
Instructions:
Lesson is to be taught as a read-aloud.
Common Core “Shifts”
in ELA / Literacy
Vocabulary
determine, identify
Shift 1 K-5, Balancing
Informational & Literary
Texts
Content:
central message, lesson about life
Shift 2 6-12, Building Knowledge
in the Disciplines
Support:
revenge, reflection
Shift 3 Staircase of Complexity
Academic:
Shift 4 Text-based Answers
Shift 5 Writing from Sources
Shift 6 Academic Vocabulary
READY TO TEACHSM EDI ® Lessons
©2013 All rights reserved.
EDI Lesson Overview
Learning Objective
We will determine1 the central message of a
story.
Activate Prior Knowledge
CFU
What are we going to do?
What does determine mean?
Determine means __________.
In The Three Little Pigs, what did the pigs learn?
A The wolf was not very strong.
B Working hard is the best idea.
C A brick house is the strongest.
Make Connection
In Goldilocks and the Three Bears, what did
Goldilocks learn?
A Bears are friendly.
B Eating too much makes you sleepy.
C Ask before going into a stranger’s house.
Students, you already know
how to identify what a
character learns in a fairy tale.
This is the central message.
Now, we will determine the
central message in fables and
folktales.
Vocabulary
1
TEACHSM
EDI®
READY TO
©2013 All rights reserved.
Lessons
figure out
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures,
and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Concept Development
The central message in a story is a lesson about life2.
• Central message is shown when a character learns the lesson.
• Central message can also be shown by clue words.
Clue Words for
Central Message
learned, knew,
showed, found out
Central message: Problems can be solved if you keep trying.
The Crow and the Pitcher
Adapted from Aesop
1. A thirsty Crow flew to a pitcher of water.
2. Crow tried many ways to get the water but
could not reach it. 3. At last, he used his beak to
drop stones into the pitcher. 4. The stones made
the water rise. 5. Then, he could drink the water.
6. Crow learned that problems can be solved if
you keep trying.
63 words
CFU
What could be a central
message in a story?
A a lesson about mathematics
B a lesson about helping
people
In your own words, what is the
central message in a story?
“The central message in a story
is_____________________”
Vocabulary
2
Not an example of a central message:
A thirsty crow flew to a pitcher of water.
©2013 All rights reserved.
(lesson about life) a new way to
act
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Skill Development/Guided Practice
The central message in a story is a lesson about life.
• Central message is shown when a character learns the lesson.
Clue Words for
Central Message
learned, knew,
showed, found out
Determine the central message.
1 Read the story carefully.
2 Identify3 the characters. (circle)
3 Identify a clue word for the central message. (underline)
4 Determine the central message. (circle) Hint: What the character learns
5 Identify what helped you determine the central message. (answer)
Hint: Look back to the text to check your answer.
CFU
4 How did I/you determine the
central message?
5 How did I/you identify what
helped you determine the
central message?
The Color of Wings
adapted from Aesop’s Fables
1. A Peacock was proud of its colorful feathers.
2. The Peacock teased the Crane because his feathers
were white. 3. The Crane said, “True, but I can fly high
in the sky, and you walk below like a chicken.” 4. Then,
the Peacock learned that what you can do is more
important than how you look.
54 words
What text helped you determine the central message?
A …because his feathers were white.
O Yes
B The Peacock teased the Crane…
O Yes
x Yes
C The Crane said, “…I can fly high in the sky.” O
x No
O
x No
O
O No
Vocabulary
3 find
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Skill Development/Guided Practice (continued)
The central message in a story is a lesson about life.
• Central message is shown when a character learns the lesson.
Clue Words for
Central Message
learned, knew,
Determine the central message.
showed, found out
1 Read the story carefully.
2 Identify the characters. (circle)
CFU
3 Identify a clue word for the central message. (underline)
43 How did I/you determine the
4 Determine the central message. (circle) Hint: What the character learns
central message?
5 How did I/you identify what
5 Identify what helped you determine the central message. (answer)
helped you determine the
Hint: Look back to the text to check your answer.
central message?
Feathers
adapted from Aesop’s Fables
1. One day, Raven found out that trying to get what
others have may not be good for you. 2. Raven saw a
Swan with white feathers. 3. Raven thought he could
change his black feathers white by washing in the lake.
4. Raven tried hard to wash his feathers, but he couldn’t
change their color. 5. Instead, his feathers got wet and
he couldn’t fly until they dried out.
65 words
What text helped you determine the central message?
x No
A Raven saw a Swan with white feathers.
O Yes O
x Yes O No
B Raven tried hard to wash his feathers.
O
x Yes O No
C … his feathers got wet and he couldn’t fly.
O
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Skill Development/Guided Practice (continued)
CFU
1 How did I/you know what we were
2
3
4
5
trying to find?
What did I/you know about this
idea?
How did I/you know what words or
information was given?
How did I/you know if the answer
made sense?
How did I/you determine if the
question has been answered?
Circle the sentence that shows what the oak tree learned.
The Oak Tree and the Tall Grass
Application
adapted from Aesop’s Fables
1. A large oak tree was tipped over by the wind. 2. It
fell in some tall grass. 3. The oak tree spoke to the tall
grass, "You are so light and weak. 4. Why aren’t you tipped
over by the wind?" 5. The tall grass said, "You, oak tree,
stand stiff to fight the wind, and end up falling. 6. We
change by bending with the wind, and still stand tall.”
7. The oak tree found out that being stiff will hurt you,
while changing will help you.
84 words
Explain why the text you chose helped you
determine what the oak tree learned.
In B, the oak tree is stiff
T: _________________________________
and ends up falling.
___________________________________
In C, the tall grass
S: ________________________________
changes by bending and
___________________________________
still stands tall.
What text helped you determine what the oak tree learned?
x No
A A large oak tree was tipped over by the wind.
O Yes O
x Yes O No
B You, oak tree, stand stiff …, and end up falling. O
x Yes O No
C We change by bending … and still stand tall.
O
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Relevance
The central message in a story is a lesson about life.
• Central message is shown when a character learns the lesson.
1 Determining the central message in a story will
help you understand your favorite stories.
Pinocchio
Little Red Riding Hood
CFU
“Always tell the truth”
“Don’t talk to strangers”
2 Determining the central message in a story will
help you do well on tests.
Does anyone else have another
reason why it is relevant to
determine the central message
in a story? (Pair-Share) Why is
it relevant to determine the
central message in a story? You
may give me my reason or one
of your own. Which reason is
more relevant to you? Why?
3. Read the story and identify which is the best central message.
A Everything has its own place.
B Listen before you talk.
C If you help someone, someone will help you.
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
The central message in a story is a lesson about life.
• Central message is shown when a character learns the lesson.
Clue Words for
Central Message
Skill Closure
learned, knew,
showed, found out
Determine the central message.
1
2
3
4
5
Read the story carefully.
Identify the characters. (circle)
Identify a clue word for the central message. (underline)
Determine the central message. (circle) Hint: What the character learns
Identify what helped you determine the central message. (answer)
Hint: Look back to the text to check your answer.
Help or Revenge4
Adapted from Aesop
1. An Eagle caught a Snake in his claws to eat it. 2. The Snake
fought back and wrapped around the Eagle to crush it. 3. A man
saw the fight and helped the Eagle get free. 4. In revenge, the
Snake spit poison into the man's cup. 5. The Eagle knocked the cup
out of the man’s hand and saved him from the poison. 6. The Snake
found out that one good action leads to another.
62 words
Vocabulary
Access Common Core
What text helped you determine the central message?
A The Snake fought back….
B A man saw the fight and helped the Eagle get free.
C The Eagle knocked the cup out of the man’s hand.
4
x No
O Yes O
x Yes O No
O
x Yes O No
O
Summary Closure
What did you learn today about determining the central
message of a story? (Pair-Share) Use words from the word bank.
©2013 All rights reserved.
to get back at someone
Word Bank
central
message
lesson
life
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Independent Practice
The central message in a story is a lesson about life.
• Central message is shown when a character learns the lesson.
Clue Words for
Central Message
learned, knew,
Determine the central message.
showed, found out
1 Read the story carefully.
2 Identify the characters. (circle)
3 Identify a clue word for the central message. (underline)
4 Determine the central message. (circle) Hint: What the character learns
5 Identify what helped you determine the central message. (answer)
Hint: Look back to the text to check your answer.
The Three Fish Adapted from an Indian fable
1. Three fish heard some fishermen say they will come
tomorrow to catch fish. 2. The first fish said, “We must
leave the pond.” 3. The second fish agreed. 4. The third
fish said, “My luck will save me.” 5. The first fish left that
night. 6. The second fish left in the morning. 7. The third
fish did not want to leave. 8. The fishermen came and
caught the third fish. 9.The first two fish knew that
planning ahead was better than waiting for luck. 85 words
What text helped you determine the central message?
x Yes O No
A The first fish said, “We must leave the pond.”
O
x Yes O No
B The third fish said, “My luck will save me.”
O
x No
C The second fish left in the morning.
O Yes O
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Independent Practice (continued)
The central message in a story is a lesson about life.
• Central message is shown when a character learns the lesson.
Clue Words for
Central Message
learned, knew,
Determine the central message.
showed, found out
1 Read the story carefully.
2 Identify the characters. (circle)
3 Identify a clue word for the central message. (underline)
4 Determine the central message. (circle) Hint: What the character learns
5 Identify what helped you determine the central message. (answer)
Hint: Look back to the text to check your answer.
Capturing Monkeys Adapted from an Indian fable
1. A wise woman knew how to catch monkeys. 2. She cut
a hole in a coconut, filled it with peanuts, and put it on the
ground. 3. The monkey put his hand in the hole to grab the
peanuts. 4. But he could not get his hand out. 5. It was
too full. 6. The woman then rushed out, threw a blanket
over his head, and captured him. 7. The wise woman knew
that holding on to things will get you into trouble. 77 words
What text helped you determine the central message?
x No
A She cut a hole in a coconut, filled it …. .”
O Yes O
x Yes O No
B But he could not get his hand out. It was too full. O
x No
C The woman then rushed out, ….”
O Yes O
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Independent Practice (continued)
CFU
1 How did I/you know what we were
trying to find?
2 What did I/you know about this
idea?
3 How did I/you know what words or
information was given?
4 How did I/you know if the answer
made sense?
5 How did I/you determine if the
question has been answered?
Circle the sentence that shows what the dog learned.
The Dog and His Reflection
Application
adapted from Aesop’s Fables
1. A dog stole some meat from a market. 2. Carrying
the meat in his teeth, he crossed a bridge over a peaceful
river. 4. Looking in the water, he thought his reflection was
another dog. 5. “That dog has a nice piece of meat,” he
thought, “almost as good as the one I have. 6. If I can
scare him, maybe he’ll drop the meat and run.” 7. The dog
opened his mouth to bark. 8. The meat dropped into the
water and he lost it. 9. The dog found out that by being
greedy he lost what he had.
93 words
Explain why the text you chose helped you
determine what the dog learned.
B, the dog barks to scare
T: In
_________________________________
him and get more meat.
___________________________________
In C, the meat falls and
S: ________________________________
the dog gets nothing.
___________________________________
What text helped you determine what the dog learned?
x No
A A dog stole some meat from the market.
O Yes O
x Yes O No
B The dog opened his mouth to bark.
O
x Yes O No
C The meat dropped into the water and he lost it. O
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Periodic Review 1
Circle the sentence that has the central message.
The Lion and the Mouse Adapted from Aesop’s Fables
1. Lion woke up when a mouse ran over his face.
2. Getting angry, he caught the mouse and was about to
eat him. 3. The mouse cried, "Excuse me, great King.
4. If you let me go, I will some day repay your kindness."
5. The lion laughed at the idea that a little mouse could
help a great lion, so he lifted up his paw and let him go.
6. Soon, the lion was caught by hunters who tied him to
the ground with strong ropes. 7. The mouse, hearing the
roar, came and chewed the rope with his teeth and set
the lion free. 8. The lion learned that you don’t have to
be big to help someone.
113 words
Access Common Core
Using the story above, Anwar said the text that helped
him determine the central message was Sentence 2.
Alysha said the text that helped her was Sentence 7.
Which student do you agree with and why?
I agree with Alysha because Sentence 7
tells about how the mouse helped the Lion.
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Periodic Review 2
Circle the sentence that has the central message.
The Boy and the Fox
Adapted from a Swedish fable
1. There was once a boy who saw a fox sleeping on a big rock.
2. The boy picked up a heavy stone to kill the fox. 3. He thought
that he could sell the skin and get more money. 4. Then, he would
buy some seeds to plant. 5. When people passed by his field they
would see what he planted. 6. But he would tell them to keep away
from the plants. 7. They would not listen, so he would shout,
“Keep away from my plants.” 8. But by screaming so loudly, the
boy woke up the fox who ran away. 9. The boy knew then that
thinking about something is not the same as doing it.
110 words
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Access Common Core
Each of these stories has the same central message.
Underline the evidence and write the central message.
Pinocchio’s Nose
Pinocchio had forty coins for his father. On the
way home, he was tricked by the Fox and Cat and lost
his coins. When he got home, he lied to his father
about the coins and his nose grew very long. He
finally learned that his nose grew when he lied. He
had to change.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A shepherd boy was bored watching the sheep. He
told the people the wolf was coming. When they came
to help, he laughed, saying he was just fooling. The
next day, the wolf really did come. The boy ran to tell
the people. But they did not believe him. The boy lost
many sheep because he had lied about the wolf.
Answers will vary.
Telling lies causes problems.
Central Message: __________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Periodic Review 3
Circle the sentence that has the central message.
The Monkeys and the Moon
Adapted from a fable of Tibet
1. Long ago some monkeys found out that it’s better to think
before doing something. 2. One night, they saw the reflection1
of the moon in a lake. 3. The leader said, “The moon has fallen
into the lake. 4. Shouldn’t we pull it out?" 5. The monkeys said
yes, and decided to form a chain to pull the moon out.
6. The first monkey hung on to the branch of a tree, and the
second to the first monkey's tail, and a third one to the tail of the
second one. 7. When they were all hanging on to one another,
the branch began to bend and shake. 8. Then the branch broke,
and all the monkeys fell into the lake and were hurt.
122 words
Vocabulary
1
an image or picture of something
caused by light bouncing off a clear
surface, like a mirror
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Access Common Core
The central message for this passage is “good work is more important than fast work.”
Find two details in the passage that support this statement.
The Silkworm and the Spider (adapted from Aesop)
1. The Silkworm received an order from the Princess for 20 yards of silk and went
right to work. 2. A Spider came nearby and started to spin her silky web. 3. The
Spider worked fast and was soon finished. 4. “See how big and perfect my web is.
5. See how quickly I did it. 6. I am a much better worker than you, Silkworm.”
7. “Yes,” said the Silkworm. 8. “You are fast, but your work will not last. 9. Your web
is destroyed as soon as it is seen; it is brushed away as useless dirt. 10. But my
work is treasured for its strength and will be used for a long time by the Princess.”
110 words
Supporting detail:
The
Spider’s work is destroyed and brushed away.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Supporting detail:
The Silkworm’s work is treasured and used for a long time.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
EDI – Cognitive, Teaching, and English Learner Strategies
Learning Objective: We will determine the central message of a story.
Cognitive Strategies
Elaboration
Teaching Strategies
Demonstration
Language Strategies
Academic
Targeted
Vocabulary
Content
Support
determine, identify
central message, lesson about life
revenge, reflection , well
Multiple-Meaning
Synonym
Vocabulary
Strategy
Definition
determine, identify
central message, revenge, reflection, lesson about life
Homophone
Internal Context Clue
Listen, Speak
Similar Sounds
Read
Tracked Reading
Write
Writing
Content Access Strategies
Comprehensible
Input
Cognates
Graphic Organizer
Contextual Clues
©2013 All rights reserved.
Contextualized
Definitions
Pictures
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.
Blank Page
©2013 All rights reserved.
CCSS 2nd Grade Reading Literature 2.2
Determine the central message in a story.
Lesson to be used by EDI-trained teachers only.