Once upon a time, there were two mice who lived very different lives. One mouse lived in the busy city, and the other lived in the quiet countryside. This story is about how they learned what really matters in life.
One day, the town mouse decided to visit her cousin, the country mouse. The country mouse made a simple lunch with wheat, roots, and acorns, and they drank cool water. The town mouse didn’t like the plain food very much, but she ate it to be polite.
After lunch, they talked for a long time. The town mouse told exciting stories about her life in the city, and the country mouse listened with big, curious eyes. That night, they slept peacefully in a cozy nest.
That night, the country mouse dreamed about the fancy city life her cousin had described. She was so curious that she decided to visit the town mouse the next day.
When the country mouse arrived at the town mouse’s big house, she saw a table full of yummy treats like sweets, jellies, pastries, and cheeses. She was so excited to try them! But just as she was about to eat, a cat meowed loudly, scaring both mice. They quickly hid, shaking with fear.
After a while, they came back to the table, but then the servants and a big dog came in, causing more chaos. The country mouse felt scared and decided it was time to go home.
As she packed her things, the country mouse told the town mouse, “You have lots of fancy things, but I like my simple food and quiet life in the country where I feel safe.”
The lesson of this story is that it’s better to have a simple and safe life than a fancy one filled with danger. The tale of the town mouse and the country mouse reminds us that feeling safe and happy is more important than having lots of things.
City vs. Country Observation Walk: Take a walk around your neighborhood or a nearby park. As you walk, look for things that remind you of the city and things that remind you of the country. For example, cars and tall buildings might remind you of the city, while trees and birds might remind you of the country. Draw or write down what you see and share your findings with your class. Discuss which environment you prefer and why.
Create Your Own Mouse Story: Imagine you are a mouse living in either the city or the country. Write a short story or draw a comic strip about a day in your life. What do you eat? Where do you sleep? What adventures do you have? Share your story with a friend and talk about how your mouse’s life is similar to or different from the town mouse and the country mouse.
Safety and Happiness Discussion: Think about what makes you feel safe and happy at home. Is it your family, your toys, or maybe your pet? Draw a picture of your safe and happy place. Then, discuss with your classmates why feeling safe and happy is important, just like it was for the country mouse in the story.
