Ready-to-teach lesson
TUMBLETA | ELA SKILL LESSON | REGIONAL STANDARDS EDITION
TENNESSEE | GRADE 3
Pizza Counting - The Cat and the Whale
TEACHES - COMPLETE STANDARD MATCH
3.RL.CS.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
Why this is a full match Students determine the intended meaning of nonliteral phrases from the story and contrast each with its literal reading.
Source
Tennessee Department of Education - Tennessee Academic Standards for English Language Arts https:/ / www.tn.gov/ education/ districts/ academic -standards/ english -language -arts -standards.html Verified September 2026. Canonical TumbleTA pages follow unchanged.
TumbleTA - Tumbleweed Press Inc.
Regional standards page 1
ELA SKILL LESSON · GRADE 3
Pizza Counting
The Cat and the Whale
- TIME
- 20 minutes full · 10 minutes short
- PRIMARY SKILL
- Distinguish literal wording from intended meaning
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- OBJECTIVE
- Explain the literal picture and intended meaning of two text-supported expressions, then identify the clue that supports each interpretation.
- STUDENT EVIDENCE
- Two literal/nonliteral comparisons plus text-based support.
- ESSENTIAL QUESTION
- How do we know an expression means more than its literal words?
Before teaching
Read or play the complete book before the timed lesson. Mark the two expressions that the book itself gives enough information to interpret.
- Materials:
- The book; Student Evidence page; pencil.
Mark these moments: “the cat is out of the bag” · “a whale of an appetite”
Lesson sequence
- 3 min
- Literal first For “the cat is out of the bag,” picture the words literally before discussing the intended meaning.
- 5 min
- Use the book’s clue Identify the definition or sentence information that shows the expression means a secret or surprise has been revealed.
- 6 min
- Try the whale Contrast a literal whale image with the intended meaning of a very large appetite. Use the comparison itself as support.
- 6 min
- Prove the interpretation Complete both rows and point to the specific clue that makes the nonliteral reading reasonable.
TumbleTA | ELA Skill Lesson | Grade 3 | Pizza Counting Page 1
ELA SKILL LESSON · TEACHER SUPPORT · GRADE 3
Pizza Counting
The Cat and the Whale
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- Access routes
- SOLO
- Complete both literal/intended-meaning rows and cite the supporting clue for each.
- SUPPORTED
- Draw or say the literal picture first. Then use: “It really means ___ because the book says/shows ___.”
- LISTENING
- Replay the two expressions and nearby context. Give the literal picture and intended meaning orally.
- EXTEND
- Find another expression in a familiar text and explain what evidence prevents a literal reading.
Teacher guidance
Assess only expressions the book itself supports. Do not require outside cultural knowledge. “As American as apple pie” can be discussed as enrichment if students know it, but it is not part of the assessed task.
Assessment
- Explains the literal picture for both expressions.
- Explains the intended meaning for both expressions.
- Uses book context or comparison as evidence.
- Recognizes that a literal reading does not fit the intended message.
Short route · 15 minutes 3 min - cat expression. 3 min - whale expression. 4 min - complete one evidence explanation.
TumbleTA | ELA Skill Lesson | Grade 3 | Pizza Counting Page 2
STUDENT EVIDENCE · GRADE 3
Pizza Counting
Literal Words, Intended Meaning
Name ______________________________________ Date __________________ For each expression, tell what the words picture literally and what the expression means in the book. Then show the clue that supports your interpretation.
THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG Literal picture / intended meaning / clue from the book
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A WHALE OF AN APPETITE
Literal picture / intended meaning / clue from the book
EXIT CHECK
I know one expression is not literal because _________________________________________.
TumbleTA | ELA Skill Lesson | Grade 3 | Pizza Counting Page 3
TEACHER KEY · GRADE 3
Pizza Counting
The Cat and the Whale
Strong response
“The cat is out of the bag” literally pictures a cat leaving a bag, but in context means a secret or surprise has been revealed; the book supplies the meaning. “A whale of an appetite” literally suggests a whale-sized appetite, but means a very large appetite; the size comparison supports the interpretation.
Expected evidence
- Cat: literal cat leaving a bag vs. secret/surprise revealed.
- Whale: literal whale-sized picture vs. very large appetite.
- Evidence comes from the book’s definition, nearby context, or comparison.
Watch for
- Bringing in the apple-pie expression as required evidence.
- Giving a synonym without explaining why the literal reading does not fit.
Independent success
The student accurately explains both expressions and identifies text-based support for at least one interpretation.
TumbleTA | ELA Skill Lesson | Grade 3 | Pizza Counting Page 4
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