Horses to Ride

Pre-reading Look at the pictures. Name the items in your home language. Then talk with each other and name the items in English.

Home language

English

Home language

English

Home language

English

Home language

English

Talk with each other: What do you know about horses? During reading Now read along as you listen to the story: http://www.eslfast.com/eslread/ss/s006.htm

Laura went to the stable. Four horses stood there. She put a saddle on Star. He was seven years old, big and dark brown. Her sister came out to the stable. They were both going to exercise the horses. It was a warm, sunny day. Janice saddled up Moonbeam, a white mare. They got on the horses and started walking them. A few minutes later, Laura was telling Janice about the new doctor in her hospital. She raised her hand for a second to make

a point. Just then, Star bucked. Laura went flying into the air. She landed on her head and shoulder on the grass. "Oh, my gosh!" Jan cried. "Laura, are you all right?" Laura moaned. Jan gently rolled her over. She didn't see any blood. That's good, she thought. "Can you move? You're not paralyzed anywhere, are you?" Jan pulled Laura up into a sitting position. Laura slightly moved her legs and arms. She wasn't paralyzed. When she moved her right hand to touch her head, she groaned. "What's the matter?" "That hurt. When I moved my arm, it hurt." They still didn't see any blood. Jan unbuttoned the top buttons on Laura's blouse and looked at Laura's right collarbone. "Oh, no," she said.
Post-Reading: First talk with each other. Then write your answers in your English notebook. 1. Quick write/talk: Why did Jan say, Oh, no? What do you think she saw? Does she sound shocked or amazed (tone)? 2. Who are the main characters? Are they male or female? 3. Describe the setting (place and time). 4. Give 2 causes for Lauras fall from the horse. 5. What does it mean to be paralyzed? 6. How do the girls know that Laura is not paralyzed? 7. What is a synonym? Find a synonym for groaned in the story.