Welcome to the magical world of “Just So Stories” by Rudyard Kipling! Today, we’re going to learn about a funny and imaginative story of how the whale got his throat. It’s a tale full of surprises and clever tricks, featuring a big whale and a smart sailor.
Once upon a time, there was a giant whale who loved to eat. He was always hungry and gobbled up all kinds of fish like starfish, crabs, and more. He ate so much that soon there were hardly any fish left in the ocean, except for one tiny fish called the stoot fish. This little fish was very smart and hid behind the whale’s ear to stay safe.
One day, the whale was feeling hungry again. The stoot fish had an idea and told the whale about a new kind of food called “man.” The whale was curious and wanted to try it. The stoot fish told him about a sailor floating on a raft at a special place in the ocean. The fish also mentioned that the sailor had important things like suspenders and a jackknife.
The whale swam to the spot and found the sailor sitting on a raft, wearing blue pants and suspenders. The whale opened his big mouth and swallowed the sailor, his raft, and everything on it. But once inside the whale’s belly, the sailor started moving around, making the whale feel uncomfortable.
The sailor was very clever and didn’t want to stay inside the whale. He told the whale to take him back to his home, a place called the White Cliffs of Albion. The whale agreed and swam as fast as he could to the sailor’s home.
When they reached the sailor’s home, the whale opened his mouth to let the sailor out. But the sailor had a surprise for the whale! He used his jackknife and suspenders to make a grating from his raft and put it in the whale’s throat. This grating stopped the whale from swallowing big things ever again.
The sailor went back to his family and lived happily ever after. But the whale was left with the grating in his throat, so he could only eat tiny fish from then on. That’s why whales today don’t eat people or big things.
And that’s the story of how the whale got his throat! The stoot fish stayed hidden, and the sailor enjoyed his freedom. The whale learned an important lesson about being too greedy. This story reminds us that sometimes, being clever can help us in tricky situations!
Whale’s Diet Exploration: Let’s think about what whales eat today! Go on a mini-research adventure with your family or teacher. Find out what real whales eat and how it’s different from the story. Draw a picture of a whale and its favorite foods. Share your drawing with the class and explain why whales can’t eat big things like in the story.
Create Your Own Clever Plan: Imagine you are the sailor inside the whale’s belly. What clever plan would you come up with to get out? Use your imagination to draw a comic strip showing your plan. Think about the tools you might have and how you would use them. Share your comic strip with a friend and talk about your creative ideas!
Observe and Report: Next time you visit a beach or aquarium, observe the different sea creatures you see. Can you spot any tiny fish like the stoot fish? Write a short story about a day in the life of a tiny fish and how it stays safe in the ocean. Share your story with your classmates and discuss how being small can sometimes be an advantage!
