Aesop's Fables, Wonders Unit 2, Week 2: 4th Grade

A Lion lay asleep in the forest. A tiny little Mouse came upon him, and in her fright ran across the Lion's nose. The Lion woke up, and laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her. "Please, do not kill me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Let me go, and some day I will surely repay you!" The Lion was amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go. Some days later, the Lion was caught in a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he roared and roared. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the large ropes of the net, she gnawed it until it broke, and soon the grateful Lion was free.

***

What is the theme or message of the story?

• Small acts of kindness can be repaid in big ways.

• It's easy to have an idea, but not always easy to do it.

• Lions are always mean.

• Slow and steady wins the race.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

The Mice called a meeting. They wanted a plan to help them avoid their enemy, the Cat. They lived in fear of being eaten, so they hardly left their homes at all. Many plans were discussed, but none of them were thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said: "I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will work. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know that our enemy is coming, and we can run away!" All the Mice were surprised that they had not thought of such a good plan before. But then an old Mouse arose and said: "The plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will put the bell on the Cat?"

***

What is the theme or message of the story?

• Small acts of kindness can be repaid in big ways.

• It's easy to have an idea, but not always easy to do it.

• People won't believe liars after they lie again and again.

• Slow and steady wins the race.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

One winter a Monkey found a deadly, mean Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He felt sorry for it, and picked it up and placed it near his furry chest to warm it. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and acting like a snake, bit the monkey. The injured monkey cried, "Why did you bite me, when I was kind to you?" The snake answered, "You knew I was a mean snake when you picked me up!"

***

What is the theme or message of the story?

• Slow and steady wins the race.

• It's easy to have an idea, but not always easy to do it.

• People won't believe liars after they lie again and again.

• You cannot always change a creature's nature by being kind to it.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9