Is choosing an easy path always the best decision? Aesop's fable "The Salt Merchant and His Donkey" challenges individuals to consider the question as they read about a donkey that makes choices to lessen his load. The writing activity that accompanies the resource asks writers to create their own endings to the fable.

Concepts

literary themes, narratives, active reading, aesop's fables

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• As a pre-reading activity, hold a discussion about choices and their consequences
• While reading, encourage pupils to make text-to-self and text-to-text connections

Classroom Considerations

• Be sure to have headphones available if readers use the 1:18-second audio recording

Pros

• Passage's Flesch-Kincaid readability score of a 9.6 is rigorous and provides a challenge for learners
• Online format is easy to access and navigate for blended learning settings and individual work

Cons

• Activity does not come with rubric 

Common Core

W.5.3.a W.6.3.a W.7.3.a W.8.3.a