The Farmer's Wife: English-Dari Edition (Teaching Stories)
Teaching Stories Series
What’s inside...
(Bilingual English-Dari edition) This story narrates how a woman drops an apple into a hole and embarks on a series of attempts to recover it. Children delight in reciting the action sequence from memory. However, when the plot unexpectedly deviates, they gain valuable insights into problem-solving and discovery. Rose Mary Santiago's striking illustrations pay homage to the tale's Sufi origins, a story shared for centuries across the Middle East and Central Asia, while adding a distinctive whimsical touch to this entertaining tale.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-6
Length
38 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Farmer's Wife
Discussion points
What do you think the farmer's wife felt when she discovered the pot of gold?
How do you think the characters in the story show kindness or helpfulness?
What lesson can we learn from how the farmer and his wife made their decision?
If you were in the story, what would you have done with the pot of gold?
How do you think the story would change if it was set in today's world?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child to summarize the story in their own words, which can help reinforce their understanding.
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences, asking if they’ve ever faced a similar situation.
Discuss the moral of the story and what your child can learn from the farmer’s wife’s decisions.
Use predictive questioning to make the reading interactive—ask your child what they think will happen next before turning the page.
After reading, allow your child to express which character they liked the most and why, fostering personal connection to the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of perseverance
Explanation: The story showcases the farmer's wife repeatedly attempting to retrieve an apple from a cellar, teaching children the importance of trying again despite failures.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by continuing to practice challenging tasks at school or home, like learning to tie their shoes or mastering a new math concept.
Example Lesson: Importance of problem-solving
Explanation: Through the farmer's wife's creative methods to retrieve the apple, the story highlights how thinking outside the box can lead to solutions.
Real-World Application: Kids can use problem-solving skills during conflicts with peers, figuring out how to share toys or resolve a disagreement.
Example Lesson: Understanding consequences
Explanation: The narrative shows that the farmer's wife's actions impact others around her, teaching children that their actions have effects on others.
Real-World Application: Children learn to consider how their behaviors affect their friends and family, fostering empathy and thoughtful interactions.
Example Lesson: Cultural awareness
Explanation: Being an English-Dari edition, this book introduces children to Afghan culture, promoting diversity and inclusion.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to explore and respect different cultures in their community, enhancing social harmony.