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Grade: Elementary
Subject: Language
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Materials Needed: This lesson plan containing fables and notebook paper
Other Suggested (Optional) Materials:
Lesson Plan and Worksheets with Fables from Learning Abilities Books;
A Funny Dolch Word Book #2 and A Funny Dolch Word Book #3 by Betsy Lee
(Aesop's fables in these two books mostly have words which are on the Dolch word list. To remain true to the fables, non-Dolch list words are used occassionally. The morals are stated in simple terms. In many books of fables, the morals were often rephrased, but the stories remained basically the same.)Age group: This can be adapted for all school ages. Discussion of the psychology presented in the fables can range from classroom and family issues to world issues depending on the ages and interests of the students. After they have experienced this lesson, they might write or tell original fables.
Purpose: Especially for children, stories are compatible means of teaching important truths. Let's remember that fables were originally aimed at adults.
Instructions: Explain that a fable is a short story which has a moral or message stated at the end. Have children rewrite, retell, or even act out fables. Ask them to write or tell the fables in their own words. Let them feel free to rephrase the moral as long as they understand the main idea. Published authors often do this. Indeed, some published fables have different morals for the same story. This is a good opportunity to teach about literary honesty. Even if a story is in the public domain, credit should be given to the original individual or group who created it. Have them label their papers.
From: (name of book) _____________________________________
Title of the Fable: ______________________________________
A (An) ________________Fable as Told by _____________ (student's name)
Ask them to put Aesop's, Native American, Irish, etc. to describe the type of fable as told by (the student's name).--------------------
Free Fables to Copy as told by Betsy Lee~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts"
The birds and the beasts were preparing to have war against each other. The birds asked the bat to join them. "But I am a beast," said the bat. The beasts asked the bat to join them. "But I am a bird," said the bat. The birds and beasts decided to use conflict resolution skills. There was no fight. All of them were happy and they had parties. The bat tried to join the birds at their party. They pecked at him and made him fly away. The bat tried to join the beasts at their party, but they tried to bite him. He flew away fast. Then he said,
"He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends."~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Belling the Cat"
All of the mice gathered for a meeting. They needed to find a way to deal with their great enemy, the cat. They talked and talked. Finally, a young mouse said, "I have a great idea! I know all of you will love my idea. The cat is sly and tricky, right?" "Yes!" all of them agreed. "We need to know when she is coming so we can hide, right?" "Yes!" all of them agreed. "Let's tie a bell on the cat! That way, we will always know when she is coming!" said the young mouse. "Yes! Yes!" all of them shouted and clapped. Then an old mouse said, "That sounds good. It is easier said than done. Who will bell the cat?" Everyone was quiet. They shook their heads. Then the old mouse said,
"It is easy to make impossible suggestions."~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Belly and the Members"
Some members of the body said, "We do all of the work and the belly gets all of the food!" They decided to go on strike to force the belly to do his fair share of the work. For two days, the legs did not walk to get food; the hands did not pick up any food; the mouth did not open to get food; and the teeth had no work to do. The members began to feel weak. The hands could hardly move. The mouth felt very dry. The teeth hurt. The Legs were not able to hold up the body. They learned that the belly was just as important as the rest of them in his own quiet way.
All members need to work together for the common good.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Bundle of Sticks"
An old man was about to die. He wanted to be sure his sons remembered an important lesson. He asked each of them to try to break a large bundle of sticks which was tied together. None of them could break it. Then he told them to untie the bundle and try to break each stick separately. They did this easily. He said to remember that their family was like these sticks.
United, we stand. Divided, we fall.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey" (This fable is also told only with Dolch words in A Funny Dolch Word Book # 3)
A man and boy were walking beside their donkey on the way to market. They passed a man who said, "Look dummy, don't you know that donkeys are for riding!" So the man put the boy on the donkey. Soon they passed some men who said, "See that lazy boy! He lets his father walk while he rides!" So the man rode and let the boy walk. Soon they passed two women. One said to the other, "Shame on that lazy man. He makes his poor son walk while he rides!" So the man let the boy ride with him. "That should please everyone," said the man. Soon they passed people in town. One man said, "You should be ashamed of yourself for having two big people ride that poor little donkey!" So the man and boy got off of the donkey. They sat down and talked for a long time about what to do. They decided to tie the donkey's legs to a pole and to carry him. The donkey didn't like this at all. He kicked and brayed. Everyone laughed and jeered at the man and the boy. As they crossed a bridge, the donkey got one leg free. He kicked the boy who dropped his end of the pole. The donkey fell into the river.
You just can't please everyone.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Tortoise and the Birds"
The tortoise wanted to live far away in a new land. He knew the eagle could take him there quickly although eagles were enemies of tortoises. He thought he would be safe if he asked a young eagle and if he offered great reward. A young eagle agreed to take him and not to hurt him. They flew near a crow who said, "You have a good meal there." The eagle said, "I don't want to eat him. His shell is too hard." The crow said, "See the rocks far below us. They can break the shell." The young eagle said, "I hadn't thought about that." He dropped the tortoise. The eagle and the crow had a good meal.
Enemies are not to be trusted.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
The wolf devised a clever plan for getting his meals. He found a sheep skin and put it over his back. Without the shepherd and his dogs noticing, he walked among the sheep. Each day a sheep or a lamb would follow him away from the herd. He ate many tasty lamb chops before the dogs caught him.
We can be fooled by what we think we see.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Wolf and the Lamb" (This fable is also told only with Dolch words in A Funny Dolch Word Book # 3)
A wolf noticed a lamb drinking just downstream. He thought she would be an easy supper. If he could trick her, he would not even have to run after her. Then he called out, ""We can drink from the same stream, friend, but you are making my water muddy." The lamb said, "Nay, master wolf. If your water is muddy, I can't be the cause if it. You see, the water goes past you then it comes to me." The wolf changed the subject. He must make the lamb feel bad and helpless. He said, "Why did you call me bad names this time last year?" The lamb said, "That could not have been me. I am only six months old." Then the wolf said, "I don't care. If it was not you, it was your father!" He pounced upon the poor lamb, but the shepherd's dogs arrived in time to save her.
Any excuse will serve a tyrant or a bully.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Fox and the Grapes"
A thirsty fox saw juicy grapes. They were on a vine which was on a high limb. The sun had ripened them nicely. "Those look great!" said the fox. He jumped and jumped to get them. He missed them each time. Then he said, "Forget it! Who wants those lousy grapes. They are likely to be sour anyway."
It is easy to hate what you can't have.
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