Explaining How The Moral Is Shown

1. Julio loved to be right. In group discussions, he interrupted others and corrected every small mistake. One day, his teacher asked, "Julio, do you think being right is more important than letting others speak?" Julio stayed quiet. Later, he apologized to his group and started listening more. What is the BEST moral?

Always correct people.

Being right is more important than kindness.

Listening and respect matter more than always being right.

Discussions are not helpful.

Julio realizes that respect and listening are more important than winning arguments.

Explanation

Julio realizes that respect and listening are more important than winning arguments.

2. How do Julio’s actions at the END of the story support the moral?

He interrupts more people

He apologizes and changes his behavior

He argues with the teacher

He leaves the group

His apology and new behavior show he learned the lesson.

Explanation

His apology and new behavior show he learned the lesson.

3. To explain a moral, you should point to events from the beginning, middle, and end that show the character’s change.

True

False

Looking at the whole story shows how the moral grows.

Explanation

Looking at the whole story shows how the moral grows.

4. A girl named Priya always compared herself to others. She felt bad when classmates got better grades or ran faster. One day, her coach said, "You don't need to be the best, you just need to be your best." Priya started focusing on her own improvement instead of others' scores. She felt more proud and less stressed. What is the BEST moral?

You should always be better than other people.

Only grades matter.

Comparing yourself to others can make you unhappy; focus on your own growth.

Sports are more important than school.

Priya learns to measure success by her own progress, not by others.

Explanation

Priya learns to measure success by her own progress, not by others.

5. How does Priya’s change at the end show the moral?

She stops working hard

She ignores her coach

She keeps comparing herself to classmates

She focuses on improving herself and feels better

Her new focus supports the lesson about personal growth.

Explanation

Her new focus supports the lesson about personal growth.

6. During a group project, only two students did all the work while the others played. After they got a low grade, the students who hadn't helped complained, "That's not fair!" The teacher said, "Fairness means sharing the work, not just sharing the grade." What is the BEST moral?

Complaining fixes problems.

Doing your part is part of fairness.

Group work is always unfair.

Only grades matter.

The story shows that fairness includes doing your share.

Explanation

The story shows that fairness includes doing your share.

7. Which detail BEST supports this moral about fairness?

The project was for science class

There were several students in the group

Only two students worked while the others played

The teacher spoke to them

That detail clearly shows the problem with fairness and effort.

Explanation

That detail clearly shows the problem with fairness and effort.

8. When you explain how the moral is shown, you should give at least one specific example from the story.

True

False

Examples (text evidence) support your idea.

Explanation

Examples (text evidence) support your idea.

9. A boy refused to ask for directions when he and his family got lost on a hike. His sister suggested asking a park ranger, but he said, "I can figure it out myself." After another hour of walking in circles, he finally agreed. Once they asked for help, they found the right path quickly. What moral fits this story?

Never trust park rangers.

Asking for help can be wise, not weak.

You should always be lost.

Hiking is dangerous.

The boy learns that asking for help saves time and trouble.

Explanation

The boy learns that asking for help saves time and trouble.

10. Which detail BEST supports this moral about asking for help?

They went hiking in a park

He walked in circles for an hour before asking for help

His sister likes hiking

The park had trees

The wasted time shows the cost of refusing help.

Explanation

The wasted time shows the cost of refusing help.

11. Lena heard a rumor about a new student and believed it without checking if it was true. She avoided the student and told others the rumor. Later, she discovered it wasn't true and that the new student felt lonely and hurt. Lena apologized and promised to learn the truth before repeating anything. What is the BEST moral?

Rumors are fun.

Believe everything you hear.

Spreading rumors can hurt people; check the truth first.

New students are always lonely.

The story shows harm caused by an untrue rumor.

Explanation

The story shows harm caused by an untrue rumor.

12. Which statement BEST explains how the story shows this moral?

Lena goes to school.

Lena changes from spreading rumors to checking the truth and apologizing.

The new student is in her class.

The teacher is nice.

Her change in behavior clearly reflects the lesson.

Explanation

Her change in behavior clearly reflects the lesson.

13. The moral of a story is always about school.

True

False

Morals can be about family, friends, choices, honesty, bravery, and more.

Explanation

Morals can be about family, friends, choices, honesty, bravery, and more.

14. A farmer had an old, tired horse. His neighbor said, "Get rid of it. It's useless." But the farmer cared for the horse anyway. One day, the horse helped pull the farmer's wagon out of deep mud. The neighbor said, "I guess that old horse was worth keeping." What is the BEST moral?

Always get rid of old things.

Value and loyalty can’t always be seen on the surface.

Horses are very strong.

Mud is dangerous.

The farmer’s loyalty is rewarded, showing hidden value.

Explanation

The farmer’s loyalty is rewarded, showing hidden value.

15. When writing about a story's moral, a strong response should:

Name a random lesson with no details

Copy a sentence with no explanation

State the moral and explain it using details from the story

Only retell the story

These standards ask students to determine the moral/central message and explain how it is shown through key details.

Explanation

These standards ask students to determine the moral/central message and explain how it is shown through key details.

Explaining How the Moral Is Shown

2. How do Julio’s actions at the END of the story support the moral?

3. To explain a moral, you should point to events from the beginning, middle, and end that show the character’s change.

5. How does Priya’s change at the end show the moral?

6. During a group project, only two students did all the work while the others played. After they got a low grade, the students who hadn't helped complained, "That's not fair!" The teacher said, "Fairness means sharing the work, not just sharing the grade." What is the BEST moral?

7. Which detail BEST supports this moral about fairness?

8. When you explain how the moral is shown, you should give at least one specific example from the story.

10. Which detail BEST supports this moral about asking for help?

12. Which statement BEST explains how the story shows this moral?

13. The moral of a story is always about school.

14. A farmer had an old, tired horse. His neighbor said, "Get rid of it. It's useless." But the farmer cared for the horse anyway. One day, the horse helped pull the farmer's wagon out of deep mud. The neighbor said, "I guess that old horse was worth keeping." What is the BEST moral?

15. When writing about a story's moral, a strong response should: