Cambridge Primary English 0058 · Stage 1

Burro's Tortillas

Fiction — traditional tale retold · A 30-minute lesson with a 15-minute short version.

C2-B4

Learning intention

For learnersI am learning to choose the main events and retell them in order.

Success criteria

  • I can identify the repeated problem.
  • I can order the jobs Burro completes.
  • I can retell the ending clearly.
  • I can add a simple description of a character.

Learning objectives

  • 2Ri.07Pick out the main events and use them to retell a story out loud.
  • 2Ri.03Name what simple stories usually have.
  • 2Wc.03Add simple descriptions of places and characters to own stories.

Key vocabulary

burro
a small donkey
tortillas
flat breads made from corn or flour
amigos
friends
stubborn
determined not to change
grinding
crushing something into smaller pieces

30-minute lesson

  1. Connect to the story problem

    2Ri.03

    Read-along: Show the cover and title before starting the audio.

    Teacher: Introduce the central question: Which events must stay in the retelling so the repeated pattern and ending make sense?

    Learners: Share an initial idea and listen for evidence that might confirm or change it.

    3 min
  2. Listen for the whole story

    2Ri.07

    Read-along: Listen with the text highlighted through the complete read-along.

    Teacher: Pause only at natural section boundaries and keep the full event sequence visible.

    Learners: Track the characters, setting and main events.

    7 min
  3. Map the evidence

    2Ri.07

    Read-along: Replay the sections that establish the problem and its outcome.

    Teacher: Build an evidence chain from the verified events: Burro sees tall corn and decides to make tortillas. Bobcat, Coyote and Jackrabbit refuse to help with picking, shelling, grinding and cooking. Burro completes each job himself. The friends offer to help eat, and Burro recalls the work they refused.

    Learners: Select accurate events and place them in a useful order.

    6 min
  4. Explore the learning objective

    2Ri.07

    Read-along: Pause and replay the strongest evidence for the shared question.

    Teacher: Prompt learners to answer: Which events must stay in the retelling so the repeated pattern and ending make sense?

    Learners: Respond using this requirement: Retell the decision, the repeated refusals, Burro's work and the ending in order.

    5 min
  5. Make the learner activity

    2Ri.07

    Read-along: Learners reread independently or follow the audio while checking their evidence.

    Teacher: Support completion of Burro's four-job retelling without supplying the response.

    Learners: Complete the activity, then rehearse the response with a partner.

    6 min
  6. Reflect and check

    2Ri.03

    Read-along: Return to the final relevant section of the read-along.

    Teacher: Use the assessment check and invite one revision based on the text.

    Learners: Share evidence, listen to another response and refine one idea.

    3 min

Reading routes

Shared questionWhich events must stay in the retelling so the repeated pattern and ending make sense?

Evidence requiredRetell the decision, the repeated refusals, Burro's work and the ending in order.

Solo

Read independently, mark the strongest evidence and prepare the shared response.

Supported

Read along with the audio, pause at agreed evidence points and use the response frame.

Listening

Listen with the text highlighted, choose evidence from the teacher's displayed options and give the response orally.

Assessment check

Listen for four ordered events, the repeated refusal and a clear explanation of why Burro answers as he does at the end.

15-minute short version

  1. Connect

    2Ri.03

    Read-along: Show the cover and state the shared question.

    Teacher: Activate one relevant idea.

    Learners: Share one initial response.

    2 min
  2. Listen and locate

    2Ri.07

    Read-along: Listen with highlighting and pause at the problem and outcome.

    Teacher: Direct attention to two accurate story details.

    Learners: Identify the details that matter most.

    5 min
  3. Answer with evidence

    2Ri.07

    Read-along: Replay the evidence section once.

    Teacher: Which events must stay in the retelling so the repeated pattern and ending make sense?

    Learners: Retell the decision, the repeated refusals, Burro's work and the ending in order.

    5 min
  4. Check

    2Ri.07

    Read-along: Return to the outcome.

    Teacher: Listen for four ordered events, the repeated refusal and a clear explanation of why Burro answers as he does at the end.

    Learners: Share the response and improve it after feedback.

    3 min

Learner activity

Burro's four-job retelling

Use the read-along to complete each task with accurate story evidence.

  1. Number the four jobs in order.
  2. Add what the three friends say each time.
  3. Retell what Burro does after every refusal.
  4. Explain the ending in one sentence.
Return to this book in TumbleBookLibrary