Have you ever heard of the story “The Tortoise and the Hare”? Or maybe “The Ant and the Grasshopper”? These are special stories called fables, and today we’re going to learn all about them!
A fable is a fun story that teaches us a lesson. But what makes fables so special? Let’s find out:
Have you heard of Aesop? He was a storyteller from ancient Greece, a long, long time ago. Aesop is famous for his collection of fables, known as “Aesop’s Fables.” People still enjoy these stories today!
Some of Aesop’s famous fables include “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The Fox and the Grapes,” “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
Did you know the saying “sour grapes” comes from the story “The Fox and the Grapes”? It’s amazing how stories from so long ago are still important today!
Once upon a time, a lion was sleeping when a little mouse woke him up. The lion was about to eat the mouse, but the mouse begged the lion to let him go, promising he might help the lion someday. The lion laughed but decided to let the mouse go.
Later, the lion got caught in a hunter’s trap. The mouse saw the lion in trouble and chewed through the ropes to set him free. The mouse smiled and said, “See, I told you I could help!”
What can we learn from this story? Even the smallest creatures can make a big difference, and being kind is always a good idea. The moral of the story is: no act of kindness is ever wasted.
True or False: A fable is a real story.
– False! Fables are make-believe.
Who is famous for their fables?
– Aesop.
Can you name two things that make a story a fable?
– Possible answers: make-believe, short story, teaches a lesson, animals as characters, takes place outside.
Which fable does the phrase “sour grapes” come from?
– “The Fox and the Grapes.”
Fables are special stories that teach us important lessons. Next time you read a story, see if you can find a fable and learn something new to share with your friends and family!
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for more fun resources and activities.
Create Your Own Fable: Think about a lesson you have learned recently. Now, imagine two animals that could teach this lesson in a story. Draw a picture of your animals and write a short fable about them. Remember to include a moral at the end of your story. Share your fable with a family member or friend and see what they think!
Fable Scavenger Hunt: With a parent or guardian, go on a walk outside and look for animals or signs of animals. Imagine what kind of fable these animals might be in. What lesson could they teach? Write down your ideas and discuss them with your class or family.
Role-Play a Fable: Choose a fable you like, such as “The Lion and the Mouse,” and act it out with your friends or family. Use simple props or costumes if you like. After the role-play, discuss what each character learned and how the lesson can be applied in real life.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Welcome to Fables for Kids!
Have you ever heard of a story called “The Tortoise and the Hare”? How about “The Ant and the Grasshopper”? These two stories are examples of fables, and today we are going to talk all about these unique kinds of stories.
So, what is a fable? A fable is a story that teaches a moral lesson.
Okay, cool! But why are fables unique? It is because they have certain characteristics or elements in order to be considered a fable. Let’s talk about those for a minute:
1. A fable is always fictional, meaning that it is an imaginary story.
2. A fable is almost always a short story.
3. A fable teaches a moral lesson, like “slow and steady wins the race” or “an act of kindness, no matter how small, is never wasted.”
4. In fables, the main characters are always animals who act like humans.
5. Fables take place outside.
Now that we know what makes a fable a fable, let’s talk about the origins of some of our most famous fables. Have you ever heard of a person named Aesop? Aesop was an ancient storyteller who lived in Greece from about 620 BC to 564 BC. He had a collection of fables most commonly called “Aesop’s Fables.” Historians today are still unsure if Aesop wrote all these fables himself or if he just gathered them. One thing they know for sure is that these stories have been passed down through generations all the way to today.
Cool, right? Stories from Aesop’s Fables include “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The Fox and the Grapes,” “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” among many others.
Here’s an interesting fact: the saying “sour grapes” comes from the story “The Fox and the Grapes.” Who could have guessed that the work of someone who lived so long ago would still be so important today? History is fascinating!
Let’s share an example of a fable. This one is called “The Lion and the Mouse.” See if you can figure out the moral of the story as we talk about it.
A lion is fast asleep until a mouse wakes him up. The lion opens his mouth to eat the mouse, but the mouse begs the lion to think again because the mouse might be helpful to the lion in the future. The lion laughs but lets the mouse go.
Sometime later, the lion is caught in a trap set by some hunters. At that moment, the mouse walks by and notices the lion is trapped. The mouse walks up and chews through the rope to free the lion. The mouse smiles at the lion and says, “Was I not right?”
What sorts of lessons can we learn from this story? You never know where your kindness can lead to. Sometimes even the smallest of us can make a huge difference. And probably the most famous moral from this story is: no act of kindness is ever wasted. Kindness begins with us.
Now that we have talked about fables, let’s see what you remember!
True or false: A fable is a non-fiction story.
– False! Fables are fiction.
Who is the person known for their fables?
– Aesop.
Name two elements of a fable.
– Possible answers include: fiction, short story, moral lesson, animals as main characters, setting is outside.
Which fable does the phrase “sour grapes” come from?
– “The Fox and the Grapes.”
Great job, friends! Fables are a unique kind of story that teach us important lessons. The next time you are reading, try to find some fables. Maybe you will learn something new that you can share with your friends and family.
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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