Lessons 49–50 · 2 lessons · Yu. Yu. Musurmanova. Russian Language, Grade 5 (textbook for general secondary schools with Uzbek and other languages of instruction). “O‘qituvchi” Publishing and Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2020
49
N. N. Nosov. «Огурцы»
Textbook: pp. 196–198
GoalN. N. Nosov's story «Огурцы»: honesty, a mistake and putting it right.
«Огурцы» is a funny and thoughtful story by Nosov. Pavlik and Kotka pick cucumbers from someone else's garden and run away from the watchman; Pavlik gives his cucumbers to Kotka too. Kotka's mother insists that he return them at once, because the old watchman is responsible for them. Although he is scared, Kotka goes to the field in the dark, gives the cucumbers back to the old watchman and admits that he ate one. The watchman forgives him, and Kotka goes home with a light heart. The story teaches that taking another person's things without permission is wrong and that putting a mistake right takes courage.
Worked examples
«Огурцы» (a short retelling). «Павлик и Котька нарвали огурцов на чужом огороде и убежали от сторожа. Мама велела Котьке сейчас же отнести огурцы обратно. Котьке было страшно, но он пошёл к старому сторожу. Он вернул огурцы и честно всё рассказал. Сторож простил мальчика. Домой Котька шёл с лёгким сердцем.» (Pavlik and Kotka picked cucumbers in someone else's garden and ran away from the watchman. Mum told Kotka to take the cucumbers back at once. Kotka was scared, but he went to the old watchman. He returned the cucumbers and honestly told him everything. The watchman forgave the boy. Kotka walked home with a light heart.)
Words: «стыдно», «прощение», «честный», «сторож». Proverb: «Повинную голову меч не сечёт» (a confessed fault is half forgiven).
Class activity
“Asking forgiveness”. A scene in pairs: «Простите, пожалуйста. Я взял без спроса. Я вернул». The other pupil: «Спасибо, что сказал правду».
Practice
1
Who wrote the story?
Н. Н. Носов
2
An antonym of «честный»:
нечестный
3
What did Kotka do with the cucumbers?
вернул их сторожу
4
Why did Kotka feel ashamed?
He realised he had taken someone else's things without asking.