Tales of Aesop (Cover-To-Cover Timeless Classics: Fables, Folktales)
Cover-to-cover books Series
What’s inside...
Students will enjoy relating to the morals from ten of Aesop's most famous fables, including The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Miser and His Gold, and Belling the Cat. The collection also includes the play 'Androcles.'
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-8
Length
72 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What lesson did you learn from the story of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'? How can you apply this lesson in your life?
If you could be any character in one of Aesop's fables, who would you choose and why?
How do the animals in these fables behave like humans? Can you give an example?
Which fable was your favorite, and what did it teach you about how to treat others?
How do you think the problems in the fables could be solved differently? Let’s think of some alternative endings together.
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think deeply about the morals of the stories by relating them to their own experiences. Ask questions that connect the fables to your child’s everyday life, fostering a deeper understanding and personal connection to the themes. Praise your child's opinions and insights during the discussion to boost their confidence in expressing thoughts and emotions. Use the fables as a tool to discuss values and decision-making, encouraging your child to reflect on how they would act in similar situations. After discussing a fable, encourage drawing or writing a personal version of the story, which helps reinforce the message and allows creative expression.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Honesty is the best policy.
Explanation: In the fable 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', the boy's repeated lies about a wolf attacking his flock result in the villagers not believing him when the threat becomes real.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of being truthful so that others will trust and believe them when it matters most.
Example Lesson: Slow and steady wins the race.
Explanation: In 'The Tortoise and the Hare', the hare's overconfidence and erratic behavior contrasts with the tortoise's consistent and determined pace, leading to the tortoise's unexpected victory.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of perseverance and consistent effort, demonstrating that being steady can often be more effective than being quick but erratic.
Example Lesson: Prudence is better than recklessness.
Explanation: In the fable 'The Ant and the Grasshopper', the ant prepares for winter by working hard and storing food, while the grasshopper plays and ends up suffering in the cold months.
Real-World Application: This story encourages children to think ahead and prepare for the future, teaching them the benefits of planning and hard work over short-term pleasures.
Example Lesson: Kindness is rewarded.
Explanation: In 'The Lion and the Mouse', the lion spares the life of a small mouse, who later returns the favor by freeing the lion from a hunter's net.
Real-World Application: Children learn that acts of kindness, no matter how small the giver or the gesture, are important and can come back to benefit them in unexpected ways.