Instructions: The packet below can be used regularly over the course of a school year to help students build fluency. There are enough passages to work on one per week



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The Spider and the Fly


By Mary Howitt
“Will you walk into my parlor?” said the Spider to the Fly,

“’Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy;

The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,

And I have many curious things to show when you are there.”

“Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain;

For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”

“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;

Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the Spider to the Fly.

“There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;

And if you like to rest a while, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”

“Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,

They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, “Dear friend, what can I do

To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?

I have, within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;

I’m sure you’re very welcome—will you please to take a slice?”

“Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind sir, that cannot be,

I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”

“Sweet creature,” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise;

How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;

If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”

“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say,

And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,

For well he knew the silly Fly would soon be back again;

So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing:

“Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are green and purple, there’s a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.”

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,

Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by:

With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew—

Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;

Thinking only of her crested head—poor foolish thing! At last,

Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.

He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den

Within his little parlor—but she ne’er came out again!


The Spider and the Fly

Checking for Understanding




  1. What are the different ways the Spider tried to invite the Fly into his parlor?



  1. How did the Spider finally trick the Fly into his parlor? What does that tell you about the Fly?

  2. How and why does the Fly’s response to the Spider change from the beginning to the end of the text?

Vocabulary

  • behold

  • wily

  • flitting

  • vain

http://famousliteraryworks.com/howitt_the_spider_and_the_fly_funny.htm



Generosity


By J. Erskine Clarke
A father of a family wished to settle his property between his three sons. He therefore made three equal parts of his chief possessions and gave one part to each son. There remained over a diamond ring of great value, which he reserved for the son who should perform the noblest and most generous action within the space of three months. The sons separated, and at the appointed time presented themselves before him.

The eldest son said, 'Father, during my absence I had in my power all the riches and fortune of a person who entrusted them to me without any security of any kind; he asked me for them, and I returned them to him with the greatest honesty.'

'You have done, my son,' replied the father, 'only what was your duty, and I should die of shame if you were capable of doing otherwise, for honesty is a duty; what you did was just, but not generous.'

It was now the second son's turn, and he spoke thus: 'I was on the banks of a lake, when, seeing a child fall in, I threw myself in, and with great danger to myself drew him out. I did it in the presence of some countrymen, who will testify to the truth of it.'

'Well and good,' replied the father, 'but there is only humanity in that action.'

At last came the turn of the third son, who spoke thus: 'I found my mortal enemy, who had strayed during the night, and was sleeping on the edge of a precipice in such a manner that the least false movement on waking would have thrown him over. His life was in my hands; I was careful to wake him with precaution, and drew him out of danger.'

'Ah, my son!' exclaimed the father, overjoyed, embracing him, 'without doubt you deserve the ring.'

Generosity


Checking for Understanding

  1. What does “chief” mean as it is used in the following sentence: “He therefore made three equal parts of his chief possessions and gave one part to each son”?




  1. How do you feel about the father’s decision to give the diamond ring to the third son rather than one of the other sons? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Vocabulary



  • entrusted

  • countrymen

  • manner

  • noblest

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20117/20117-h/20117-h.htm


Outwitting Himself


By J. Erskine Clarke

A celebrated physician once attended the child of a wealthy French lady, who was so grateful for the recovery of her boy that she determined to give a larger fee than usual for his attendance. As he was taking leave on his final visit, the grateful mother handed to the doctor a handsome pocket-book, which she said she had worked with her own hands. The doctor bowed stiffly, and said, 'Madam, the pocket-book is quite a work of art, and I admire it exceedingly, but my fee is two thousand francs.'

'Not more?' she replied; and taking the pocket-book back, she removed from it five one-thousand franc-notes, and handed two of them to the doctor, bowing stiffly in her turn, and, replacing the other three notes in the rejected pocket-book, she retired.

Outwitting Himself

Checking for Understanding




  1. Why did the doctor refuse the pocketbook? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.




  1. Create a moral for this story.

Vocabulary



  • Exceedingly

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20117/20117-h/20117-h.htm





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