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Online Lesson

Student's Version

The Right Job for 'The Tortoise and the Hare'

Introduction:

There is a great community of workers in the story of the "Tortoise and the Hare!"
A family of squirrels runs the marketplace, the family of pigs owns a bakery, and families of the dogs and cats own the local dairy. community
Mr. R.S. Tortoise (the R.S. stands for Real Slow) and Daniel Hare should respect each others attributes, but Mr. Hare thinks Mr. Tortoise is too slow.

Task:

Before you read the story consider the following questions.

  • What kind of person would make a good storyteller?
  • What kind of person would make a good dentist?
  • What kind of person would make a good school nurse?
  • Would a good school nurse make a good race car driver?

Process:

tortnhare Listen to the story, "The  Tortoise and The Hare. " This computer-read story will take you to the animal's village and the famous race.

Mr. R.S. Tortoise's strengths.

  • Did he have what it takes to be a good inventor?
  • Does an inventor have to be fast?
  • Does an inventor need to be thorough?
  • Does the community need Mr. Tortoise to be slow and thorough?

tort

Mr. Hare's strengths.

  • Did he have what it takes to be a good mail carrier?
  • Does it help if a mail carrier is fast?
  • Why?
  • Does it benefit the entire community that Mr. Hare is fast?

hare

Conclusion:

Daniel Hare does not understand that we all work at our own rate of speed. His job calls for speed, but other jobs call for different strengths. Specialization benefits everyone when their skills and strengths match their job in a community.

Assessment Activity:

www.dltk-teach.com/fables/tortoise/coloring.htm For a color page of tortoise and the hare, click on: the crayons
For a "The Tortoise and the Hare" word search, click on:
the puzzle 		http://www.ameritech.net/users/macler2/2wsAEStortoise.gif

Extension Activity:

Brainstorm on what a community would be like if the community helpers' jobs do NOT match their strengths.

  • What if the vet was allergic to animals?
  • What if the emergency room doctor fainted when he/she saw blood?
  • What if the teacher didn't like children, but loved animals?
  • What if the cafeteria workers burned every meal, but loved children?
  • What if the car repair person couldn't remember where parts went in a car, but was a good cook?
  • What if the principal liked to sleep until noon?

The possibilities are endless! Draw what you think a community would look like if many people were doing a job that did not take advantage of their strengths.