Unit 3

Don Quixote
Lesson 1
Chapter 1
Objectives
Core Connections: Explain important aspects of life as a
knight during the Middle Ages.

Reading: Explain that Adventures of Don Quixote is a story

set in Spain, involving a character who became a knight and set
out to experience knightly adventures.
Agenda
Core Connections 30 minutes

Reading 60 minutes
Intro 15 minutes
Read Ch1 “A Knight in Armor” 20 minutes
Wrap up 20 minutes
Word Work: Honorable 5 minutes
“Adventures of Don Quixote” was originally
written by Cervantes /saer*von*taes/ who
lived in Spain.
 Activity Book
Activity Page 1.1

We will read “Gloomy Castles and Jousting Knights,” to

review some information about knights in the Middle Ages.
Page 18
How did knights compare with other soldiers during the Middle
Ages?
» They were more esteemed, or admired, than ordinary
soldiers.

Page 19 Paragraph 1
Why were knights usually from wealthy, influential families?
» It was expensive to become a knight because of the
equipment and training required.
Page 19 Paragraph 2
Why might a person decide to become a knight?
» He could become wealthy, as well as influential and
important.

Describe the knight pictured on page 19. Compare and

contrast the knight with the soldiers pictured on page 18.
» The knight has more armor than the soldiers on page 18;
the knight is on horseback; the knight is carrying a lance,
which is larger and heavier than the weapons carried by the
soldiers.
Page 21 “The Way of the Knight”

What was chivalry and how did it affect a knight’s behavior?

» Chivalry referred to the way a knight was expected to
behave. Knights were supposed to serve their lord, protect
the Church and weaker members of society, and treat
captured knights as honored guests until a ransom was
received for their release.
Page 22

In addition to serving as entertainment for spectators,

jousting matches served as training for knights. How would a
jousting match help a knight in his training?
» They were mock, or pretend, battles in which knights could
perfect their skills, such as using a lance while wearing heavy
armor and riding a horse.
 Part 1
1.Reading
Purpose

Listen and read to learn about

the main characters and
setting of Adventures of Don
Quixote.
 Adventures of Don Quixote
Adventures of Don Quixote is a fictional story

Stories about events that are not real but instead

come from the author’s imagination
 Adventures of Don Quixote
Chapter 1
Lets watch the video !
https://edpuzzle.com/media/63aedd7168f979410a2cb553
Page 1
What do you learn about knights from this first paragraph?
» They wore armor; they had encounters with dragons,
monsters, giants, wizards, and other knights; they each had
a lady of their dreams.

Describe the people who are part of the man’s household.

» his young, cheerful niece; his friendly, opinionated, 40-
year-old housekeeper; a boy who does chores around the
house.
Page 2

How does this description of Don Alonso’s armor and his

preparation for knighthood compare to what you read and saw in
“Gloomy Castles and Jousting Knights”?
» The armor Don Alonso uses is not new. He did not go through the
extensive training to become a knight as described in the excerpt.

What is the full name Don Alonso takes as a knight?

» Don Quixote de la Mancha
Page 2
What name does Don Quixote give to his “lady”?
» Dulcinea del Toboso

Read a passage from the text that tells you whether or not
Dulcinea del Toboso knows that Don Quixote is in love with
her.
» Without her knowledge, Don Quixote pronounced her his
“lady” . . .
 Wrap up
1. What is the setting of the fictional story Adventures of Don Quixote?
» The story is set in Spain.

2. Who are the two main human characters and one animal character
introduced in Chapter 1 and what role does each play in the story?
» Don Alonso/Don Quixote is the main character; he wants to be a knight
and have knightly adventures. Dulcinea del Toboso is Don Quixote’s “lady.”
Rocinante is Don Quixote’s horse.

3. How is Don Quixote similar to the knights you read about in “Gloomy
Castles and Jousting Knights”?
» Both wear armor; both want to live by a code of chivalry and honor in
which, they protect weaker members of society.
 Wrap up
4. How is Don Quixote different from the knights you read about in
“Gloomy Castles and Jousting Knights”?
» His armor and his horse are not as good as that worn by the knights in
“Gloomy Castles and Jousting Knights;” nor does he have the formal
training that was described.

5. Reread the first two paragraphs of the chapter. How do they set the
scene for Don Quixote’s strange behavior as described in the remainder of
the chapter?
» Don Quixote became obsessed with reading books about exciting
adventures of knights. He decided to become a knight. He started his
search for his grandfather’s broken armor, started practicing jousting in
his room.
 Wrap up
6. A character chart is a graphic organizer for recording information. Turn
to Activity Page 1.3. Record information about Don Quixote.
» Don Quixote: about 50 years old; tall, thin; has a small beard; dressed in
old armor and wearing a helmet that must be tied together.

7. What is meant by the label “Character Trait” in the boxes?

» A character trait is a quality or a part of someone’s personality.

What are some character traits for Don Quixote?

» He lives in a fantasy world, idealistic, or thinks positively; curious; brave ;
eccentric (has strange behavior).
 Wrap up
8. What evidence from the text proves that Don Quixote is eccentric; idealistic;
curious; brave? Record this information in the column labeled “Evidence from Text”
on Activity Page 1.3, and draw an arrow from the “Character Trait” box to the box
in which you write evidence from the text.
» For “eccentric,” he only reads books about knights; he used to practice jousting;
he sold his farmland to buy more books about knights (pages 1 and 2).

» For “idealistic,” he is positive about his horse’s name; he is not upset about
wearing old armor or a helmet; and he believes Dulcinea is his “lady,” even though he
met her only once (pages 1 and 2).

» For “curious,” he likes to read about knights and their adventures (page 1).

» For “brave,” he wants to right all that was wrong, even if it means he will
encounter dragons, monsters, or giants (page 1).
 Word Work: Honorable

1. In the chapter you heard, “No one would ever expect anything bad
from him or think anything wrong about him, for he was an honorable
man.”
2. Honorable means deserving of respect.
3. Mr. Juarez proved himself to be an honorable man when he gave
the money he found to its rightful owner.
4. Who is an honorable person and what is it that makes that person
honorable? Be sure to use the word honorable in your response.
5. What part of speech is the word honorable?
» adjective
 Making Choices activity
1. Marissa invited the new student in class to eat lunch with her and her
friends.
» That is honorable.
2. Antonio snuck into the kitchen and took an extra piece of cake from the
table.
» That is not honorable.
3. Juan helped his elderly neighbor shovel the snow off his driveway.
» That is honorable.
4. The firefighter bravely entered the burning building to see if anyone
was inside.
» That is honorable.
 Homework
Take home Activity Page 1.4 to read to a family member. To
build fluency, encourage students to read it at least once from
beginning to end without stopping.

Take home Activity Page 1.5 to use as a reference throughout

the unit.
 Resources
Core Knowledge Teacher’s Guide
Student Reader
https://edpuzzle.com/media/63aedd7168f979410a2c
b553