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A Lesson on Columbus and the Egg	Save As Favorite

	Grade: Grade 5 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Jonathan Quintana Lesson Length: 45 minutes Keywords/Tags: Columbus, eggs Lesson Description: In this lesson plan the students are to read a story about Columbus who was a real live famous explorer but a story about him that may be fictional. The students are to read the story and understand the story at a higher level with the questions and activities included that make them think and ponder the story in a little more complex way.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.5.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

Columbus and the Egg

This is a story about Columbus. He was an explorer. He is the explorer who came to the Americas from Spain in 1492. This is a story about what might have happened long ago when he was back in Spain.

When Columbus came back from his trip to the Americas, many people praised him. He was made an admiral. That means he was a leader. People said what a great thing he had done. But not everyone
liked him. Some were jealous of all the attention he got.

One day Columbus was at a party that a Spanish gentleman gave in his honor. People were saying, “What a great discovery you havemade.” Several persons were present who were jealous of the great
admiral's success. They were proud, conceited fellows, and they very soon began to try to make Columbus uncomfortable.

``You have discovered strange lands beyond the seas,'' they said, ``but what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast
along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world.''

Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company: ``Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?''

One by one those at the table tried the experiment. When the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done.

Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little. After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright.

``Gentlemen,'' said he, ``what is easier than to do this which you said was impossible? It is the simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it--AFTER HE HAS BEEN SHOWN HOW!''

Task 2: Discussion Activity (25 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.


	Topic Title	Replies

	What is the purpose for the egg... Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company: ``Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?'' One by one those at the table tried the experiment. When the egg had gone entirely around and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done. Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little. After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright. ``Gentlemen,'' said he, ``what is easier than to do this which you said was impossible? It is the simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it--AFTER HE HAS BEEN SHOWN HOW!'' Explain what the purpose is for this egg in the story? Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana	0

	Some were Jealous... When Columbus came back from his trip to the Americas, many people praised him. He was made an admiral. That means he was a leader. People said what a great thing he had done. But not everyone liked him. Some were jealous of all the attention he got. Why were these people in the story jealous of Columbus? Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana	0

	Some were Jealous... When Columbus came back from his trip to the Americas, many people praised him. He was made an admiral. That means he was a leader. People said what a great thing he had done. But not everyone liked him. Some were jealous of all the attention he got. Why were these people in the story jealous of Columbus? Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana	0

	The simplest thing... ``You have discovered strange lands beyond the seas,'' they said, ``but what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world.'' Why did they consider sailing "the simplest thing in the world"? Sent on: Oct 13, 2013 by: Jonathan Quintana	0

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1,

Task 3: Writing Activity (35 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here 500 words essay on the pro and cons of being a world famous explorer. Make sure to provide a few examples.

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1,

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