Slide 1 The Enormous Yuca A Mexican Retelling of a Favorite Tale What do you do when you need help to get something done? How do you think a garden can be helpful to others? Fernando had a fine ranch in Mexico, and on that ranch he kept a large and productive garden. In the spring, after the rains came, Fernando tilled his garden. Then he hoed the rows and planted vegetables. Fernando planted corn and beans. He planted squash and carrots. He planted potatoes and onions. And he planted his favorite vegetable of all—yuca. “I can’t wait to see the results of my labor,” said Fernando. “Soon I will pull up a huge yuca root and boil it for dinner.” Fernando weeded his garden. And he watered his garden. And he waited for the vegetables to grow.

Slide 2 The Enormous Yuca A Mexican Retelling of a Favorite Tale (Cont.) One day when Fernando was in the garden, he noticed a yuca root sticking up from the ground. But this was no ordinary yuca. “Look at what an old man like me can accomplish with hard work,” said Fernando. “I have grown an enormous yuca root. Now I will pull it, and my wife and I will taste our first yuca of the season.” Fernando pulled at the huge root. He yanked and he heaved, but the root would not budge. Fernando strained and tugged, but he could not pull the enormous yuca out of the ground. “To pull this enormous yuca from the ground is an arduous task,” said Fernando, panting. “I must call my wife for help.” So Fernando’s wife Rosa came to help, and together the two of them pulled and heaved and strained and tugged, but still they could not yank the enormous yuca out of the ground.

Slide 3 The Enormous Yuca A Mexican Retelling of a Favorite Tale (Cont.) Fernando called to his grandson who was playing nearby. “Carlito,” he cried, “come and help us pull this yuca root out of the ground.” Carlito came to help, and together they pulled and heaved and strained and tugged, but still they could not pull the enormous yuca out of the ground. Then Fernando called to the pig that was lying in the mud. “Pig,” he cried, “come and help us pull this yuca root out of the ground.” Pig came to help. They pulled and heaved and strained and tugged, but still they could not pull the enormous yuca out of the ground. Just then, Fernando saw a mouse hiding under a leaf. He called to Mouse for help. But Rosa said, “If all of us together can’t pull up the yuca root, how can little Mouse help us succeed?” But Fernando insisted that Mouse help, too. So everyone, including little Mouse, pulled on the huge yuca, and all of a sudden—BAP! The enormous yuca root popped right out of the ground!

Slide 4 The Enormous Yuca A Mexican Retelling of a Favorite Tale (Cont.) “When we all work together, then we can get the job done!” shouted Fernando as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Let us rejoice!” cried Pig and Mouse, hopping up and down. “…and eat yuca for supper!” shouted Carlito. Since the root was too big to carry to the kitchen, Fernando built a fire in the garden. There, he roasted the enormous yuca root until it was soft and warm. Rosa brought out a camping stove. She made a delicious sauce from milk, garlic, limes, and salt. And everyone, even the little mouse, got a hot plate of yuca root with milk sauce for supper that night. Unit 4, Week 1 1. What did you accomplish so far today? 2. What is the most arduous job you have done lately? 3. If you tried moving a chair, but it wouldn’t budge, what could you do? 4. What do your parents insist that you do at home? 5. Which is a kind of labor, building a brick wall or playing catch? 6. On an ordinary day, when do you do your homework? 7. Will you rejoice when summer vacation comes? Why or why not? 8. What kind of results do people wait for after they plant seeds? 9. What kind of sauce is usually used on pizza? 10. What do you have to do to succeed at school? 11. Which might cause you to have sweat on your skin, running a race, working at a computer, pulling up weeds, or watching TV?