Article
Art by Mike Deas
Fiction,

The Terrific Turtles

Read about a soccer team whose luck goes from terrible to terrific!

By Katie Mach and Janice Behrens
From the March/April 2023 Issue
Lexiles: 490L
Guided Reading Level: H
Featured Skill: Main Idea,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Features of print RL.1.2 Retell stories RL.1.3 Describe characters and settings using key details RL.1.4 Words that describe feelings RL.1.7 Use visuals RL.1.10 Grade-1 prose and poetry SL.1.1 Discuss grade-1 texts
TEKS Standards
  • English Language Arts
    (5) Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking—self-sustained reading. The student reads grade-appropriate texts independently. The student is expected to self-select text and interact independently with text for increasing periods of time.

Magazine View
See Student View

I’m Tim. My team is the Turtles. It is a good name because we are slow.

In fact, we have never won a game. Ever.

Last time, Sid kicked the ball into the woods.

Ela, the goalie, was busy doing cartwheels.

I left my glasses at home.

Sometimes I think we should be called the Terrible Turtles. Oh well.

PAUSE AND THINK: Why does Tim think the Turtles is a good name for the team?

At home, I kicked the ball with my dad.

“It’s OK if you don’t really like soccer,” he said. “You can try another sport next year.” 

“But the Turtles are fun,” I said. “And we get ice cream after games.”

“That’s true,” he said. “You do have fun.”

PAUSE AND THINK: Why does Tim like being on the Turtles?

For the next game, we had to play the Tigers. The Tigers were the best team. 

So far, they had one point, and we had zero. 

Then something strange happened. One Tiger slipped in mud and missed.

Another Tiger’s laces got tangled. I guess any team can have a bad day.

PAUSE AND THINK: What happened during the game so far?

Next a very fast Tiger got the ball. She kicked it hard to the goal. It went flying. Uh-oh.

But the ball bounced off our goal and flew all the way back to their goal. It went in.

Score one for the Turtles! 

PAUSE AND THINK: How did the Turtles get a goal?

It was the end of the game. It was a tie. We didn’t lose! Everyone gave high fives.

“So how do you want to celebrate?” asked my dad.

“Who knows?” said Ela. “We never almost won before.”

“Ice cream?” I said. 

The Terrific Turtles all cheered!

video (1)
Activities (4)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Activities (4) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

About the Story

English Language Arts Focus

Elements of a story

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Essential Question

The essential question of this issue is What can sports teach us? The articles below connect to this theme.

  • Picture This!: “Flip Out!,” p. 2
  • Background Builder: “Sports for All,” p. 8
  • Big Read-Aloud: “Ready, Set, Race!,” p. 10
  • Fiction: “The Terrible Turtles,” p. 24
  • Mini History: “The Story of Sneakers,” p. 30
  • Poetry: “Brand-New Ball,” p. 32

Through the above genres, students will discuss:

  • What sports do people play? What equipment do they use?
  • Why do we play sports?
  • What is it like to be on a team?
  • How can we try our best?

1. IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS

Read-Aloud

  • Storyworks 1 provides a variety of text levels and types. As a read-aloud, the fiction story will develop children’s listening and comprehension skills. Check comprehension as you read by using the Pause and Think prompts.

Technology Time

Online Read-Aloud

  • Click the Read-Aloud button at the top of the digital issue to hear the story read aloud by a professional voice actor! This exciting online resource promotes fluency and increases comprehension.

1. BEFORE READING

Show Video (10 minutes)

  • Tell children that they are going to watch a video about sports. (This video also goes with other stories in the issue.) As you play the video, ask them to watch for the parts about teamwork and being a good sport.
  • After watching, ask for volunteers to recall something they noticed about teamwork. Do they remember what it means to be a good sport? Write their ideas on chart paper.

Preview the Title and Set a Purpose for Reading (5-10 minutes)

  • Now tell students they are going to read a sports story. It is about a soccer team called the Turtles. Ask them if they think the name “Turtles” is a good name for a soccer team.
  • Open your magazines to “The Terrific Turtles.” Point out the Read and Think prompt and remind children to think about what changes in the story.

2. READ THE STORY (10-20 MINUTES)

  • Read the story aloud. Check comprehension as you read together with the Pause and Think questions. You may want to have children turn and talk to a partner to discuss.
  • After reading, ask students what happened at the end. Were the Turtles “good sports”? How did they feel about winning or losing?

3. AFTER READING: FOCUS ON SKILLS

ELA Focus: Cause and Effect (10 minutes)

  • Using the Cause and Effect skills page, children can practice understanding the key events and sequencing of the story.

SEL Focus: Relationship Skills (10 minutes)

  • Explore the story theme of being a good sport with the Good Game! activity.

ELA Focus: Parts of Speech (20 minutes)

  • Explore sports vocabulary and practice separating nouns and verbs with the Sort and Score activity. (This page also goes with other stories in the issue.)

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (10 minutes)

  • The skills page Terrific or Terrible? lets children show what they know about key concepts and vocabulary within the story.

Text-to-Speech