Drama

by Dawn McMillan
illustrated by Maxim Larin

PAIRED
The Perfect Present
READ

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 STRATEGIES & SKILLS
Comprehension Vocabulary
Strategy: Make Predictions alarmed, anguish,
Skill: Theme necessary, obsessed,
possess, reward,
Vocabulary Strategy treasure, wealth
Root Words
Word count: 1,475

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ISBN: 978-0-02-118812-3
MHID: 0-02-118812-2

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 Essential Question
How do you decide what is important?

by Dawn McMillan
illustrated by Maxim Larin

Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Scene One
The New City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Scene Two
The Gods’ Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Respond to Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
PAIRED
The Perfect Present . . . . . . . . . . 17
READ
Focus on Genre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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 The Naming of Athens
Characters
Reader
Cecrops (SEE-krahps), a half-man, half-
serpent, who will be the king of the new city
Gods and Goddesses of Olympia,
including:
Zeus, king of the gods
Poseidon (puh-SIGH-duhn), god of the sea
Athena, goddess of wisdom
Citizen One
Other Citizens

List of Props
Poseidon’s trident, a large rock, water jars,
an olive seed, an olive tree

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 Scene One
The New City

On a rocky hilltop in ancient Greece

READER: Athens was the most powerful city
in ancient Greece. The people of this city had
a civilization that is still admired today. This is
how the city got its name.
CECROPS: (to the gathered gods and goddesses)
Gods and goddesses of Olympus, here we are
high on this hilltop, and see there below us,
our beautiful land. Of course I’ve named the
land after myself, Cecrops.
And now I see the
beginnings of a
new city—a
beautiful city.
It seems right
that the new
city should be
called Cecrops
as well.

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 GODS AND GODDESSES: (together) No! No!
We want to name this new city after one of us.
Call it after me!
No, me!
The city should have my name.
I’ll name the city.
POSEIDON: Listen, my friends! The city should
have my name. After all, I am Poseidon, god of
the sea, and everyone knows how powerful the
ocean is. This
city reaches to
the sea. Yes! The
city should be
called Poseidon.
Poseidon! Now
that is a great
name for a
new city in our
beloved land.

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 ATHENA: Perhaps not, Poseidon. I can see that
you are obsessed with the idea of the city having
your name, but maybe it’s not such a good idea.
The sea can be wild and angry. Perhaps the city
should have a quieter name, like mine. After all,
I am the goddess of wisdom, and the people in
our new city will need to be wise.
POSEIDON: Absolute nonsense. I…
ZEUS: Wait! My friends, this squabbling will
only bring us anguish. Poseidon, Athena, I can
see that you both have strong feelings about
this. Each of
you wants the
city named after
you, and both
of you have a
good claim. Let
me think. I need
to find a way to
decide between
you. I will ask
thunder for help.
Thunder rolls
loudly.

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 ZEUS: Gods and goddesses, do not be alarmed!
The thunder has great wisdom. Poseidon and
Athena, you will each bring a gift for the city.
Tomorrow we will all meet here again on this
hilltop, and you will show us what you have
brought. If you bring the best gift, you will have
the city named after you.
GODS OF OLYMPUS: (together) Good idea!
Bring us your gifts then. Tomorrow we
shall decide.

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 ZEUS: Ah, but I think it’s necessary for the
citizens to see the gifts that Poseidon and Athena
bring. I will send a rainbow to lead them to
this place.
GODS OF OLYMPUS: Yes!
Of course!
The citizens must agree!
Rightly so!
Fair enough!
The citizens must be consulted!
The citizens must decide!
ZEUS: Until tomorrow, then.

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 Scene Two
The Gods’ Gifts

READER: The next day the citizens of the city

and the gods of Olympus gather together on
the hilltop.
CECROPS: Welcome! Welcome! Come, make
yourselves comfortable. Oh, there you are, Zeus.
Here, sit by me. A very good morning it is this
morning. Just a little shower earlier, for your
rainbow. Now the sun is shining brightly, and it
is a good day indeed for deciding the name of
our new city.
ZEUS: Greetings, all. Gods, goddesses, citizens…
we are meeting here today to view the gifts that
Poseidon, god of the sea, and Athena, goddess
of wisdom, have prepared for our city. The
first to present his gift is… Poseidon! Welcome,
Poseidon!
Poseidon steps forward and bows. Everyone claps.

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 POSEIDON: Behold! I possess great powers. See
the magic that happens when I strike this rock
with my trident!
Poseidon marches forward and strikes a large
rock, and then turns to face the citizens.
See how the water gushes from the rock! Citizens
of the new city, I bring you a never ending
supply of water. Never again will your crops
wither and die in the hot summer sun. Never
again will you go thirsty. This gift of mine is a
miracle. It is what the city needs!
CITIZEN 1: Poseidon, a never ending supply of
water is, indeed, a miracle. Fresh water, you say?
POSEIDON: Of course! It is fresh, clean water.
Taste it for yourselves!

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 CITIZEN 1: Ugh! This water tastes terrible! It’s
salty, like the sea!
CITIZENS: (tasting the water) Ugh!
Dreadful!
Disgusting!
Undrinkable!
CITIZEN 1: Poseidon, the sea fills our water
jars. No! No! This will not do! This water is not
a suitable gift for our city.
The citizens shake their heads, screw up their
faces, and pour the water from their jars.

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 CECROPS: Indeed, it will not do!
ZEUS: Oh dear! Poseidon, your power as
god of the sea is too strong. Strike the rock
again and stop the flow of this salty water,
immediately!
Poseidon strikes the rock and leaves the
stage  angrily.
CITIZENS: Athena! Athena! We want Athena!
ZEUS: Yes. Athena, please come forward and
show us your gift.
Athena comes to stand in front of the citizens
and gods and goddesses, and everyone waits
in  anticipation.
ZEUS: (looking puzzled) Your gift, Athena.
Where is your gift?
Athena opens her hand to show an olive seed.
She turns to face the citizens.

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 ATHENA: Here it is, my citizens. Here is my
gift for your city. This will give you food and
oil to cook with. This will give you firewood
to keep you warm in winter. These things are
necessary for a good life in our new city. Watch
as I plant this seed.
The citizens and the gods and goddesses gather
around as Athena plants the seed in the ground.
ATHENA: See how the seed grows!
An olive tree prop is pushed onto the stage.

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 GODS AND GODDESSES: Ohhh! A miracle!
CITIZENS: Incredible!
Everyone claps.
CITIZEN 1: This is a great gift, one we need.
It will bring our city wealth. Athena, we must
name the city after you.
CITIZENS: Athena! Athena! Athena!

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 ZEUS: Our problem is solved. The gods and
goddesses are pleased. The citizens have spoken.
Cecrops, announce the name of this new city.
CECROPS: Athena, a fine reward for you for
bringing us such a gift! Our new city will be
named Athens. We will build glorious temples
and present you with treasure. We will have
festivals. We will honor you, goddess of wisdom,
for whom our city is named. (Cecrops calls out.)
Athens! Our new city is to be called Athens!
CITIZENS: (dancing around) Athens! A great
name for a new city!
Athena bows and everyone applauds.

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 15

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 Summarize Detail

Summarize the events of

Detail
The Naming of Athens. Use
a  Theme Chart to help you.
Detail

Theme

Text Evidence
1. What kind of text is The Naming of Athens?
List two things that you notice about this
kind of text. GENRE

2. What gifts did Poseidon and Athena choose

to give the citizens? THEME

3. Find the word wisdom on page 5. What does

it mean? What gives you a clue? ROOT WORDS

4. Write a version of the story in which Poseidon

is the winner. What would be different? WRITE
ABOUT READING

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 Compare Texts
Read how Luke finds a perfect present for his mother.

The Perfect Present

The day before Mom’s birthday, I went with
my dad to the mall. “I have no clue about
what to buy for your mother!” Dad muttered.

I sighed and said, “I don’t know what to

get either. I’ve only got $5.50.”

Dad told me that he could give me some

money in advance on my pocket money, but
I like to be independent. “No thanks,” I said.

Dad bought a shirt for Mom in a boutique,

but I looked in all the shops and I couldn’t
find anything. I thought about making a card
Illustration: Sole Otero

and getting a bar of soap.

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 But when we stopped at the grocery store
on the way home, I found a better present—
one that I could afford. Strawberries!

“Good choice, son,” said Dad, as he eyed

the strawberries. “Perhaps I should try one to
see if they taste as good as they look!”

I laughed as I paid the cashier for the

fresh berries. At home, I hurried up the stairs
and hid the strawberries in my room. I made
Mom a beautiful birthday card shaped like a
strawberry, and then I went down to dinner.

Early the next morning I tiptoed down to

the kitchen. I washed the strawberries and put
them in a bowl.

“Happy Birthday, Mom,” I said, as I pushed

open the bedroom door. I gave her the
strawberries and the card.

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 Mom sat up and rubbed her eyes. “My
favorite! How delicious! And what a gorgeous
card!” she said.

“When you’ve finished the strawberries, I’ll

bring you some coffee,” I said. And then I saw
Dad’s hand move.

“Watch out, Mom!” I yelled. “Dad is after

your strawberries!”

“Well, if he helps you make the coffee,

I might give him one,” laughed Mom.

“You couldn’t have gotten your mother a

better present,” said Dad, as we made coffee.

I was pleased that Dad said that.

And I was pleased with myself,
too. I think I did pretty well
to find something special for
Mom. Special and affordable!

Make Connections
In The Perfect Present, how did Luke decide what to
buy for his mother? ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What helps the citizens in The Naming of Athens
Illustration: Sole Otero

and Luke in The Perfect Present get what they

want? TEXT TO TEXT
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 Plays A play is a story that is written to be
performed, rather than read. The people who
perform in a play are called actors. Sets show the
audience where the action is taking place. Props,
such as the olive tree in The Naming of Athens, also
help make the story come alive.

Read and Find In The Naming of Athens, the names

of the characters are written in upper case and
bold. A colon separates the name of the character
from the words that the character will speak.
The stage directions are written in italics. These
directions tell the actors what to do.

Your Turn
Imagine if another god, such as Apollo, the
god of the sun, also entered the competition.
What gift might he have offered? Write your
ideas as another scene for The Naming of Athens.
Remember to use text features to show which
character is speaking, and what the character is
saying and doing.

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 Literature Circles

Fiction

Plot
What is The Naming of Athens
mostly about?
What is The Perfect Present
mostly about?

Author’s Purpose
Why do you think the author wrote
The Perfect Present?

Characters
Who are the main characters in
The Naming of Athens?
Who are the supporting characters?

Setting
Where and when is The Naming of
Athens set?

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 Treasures

GR P • Benchmark 38 • Lexile [t/k]

Grade 3 • Unit 6 Week 1

www.mheonline.com

ISBN-13 978-0-02-118812-3
MHID 0-02-118812-2
99701
EAN

9 780021 188123
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