DFA1.2.R.RL.03

Belling the Cat

Aesop Fable

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws and they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day. 

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was 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 be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat’s neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming.” 

All of the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said: 

“I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?”

It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it. 

What was the major problem that the mice were having in the Fable?

• The cat was always asleep.

• The mice couldn’t tell when the cat was coming.

• The mice didn’t know where to get a bell.

• The mice didn’t know how to get to the cheese.

Belling the Cat

Aesop Fable

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws and they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day. 

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was 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 be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat’s neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming.” 

All of the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said: 

“I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?”

It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it. 

What was the good decision that the mice came up with at the meeting to solve their problem?

• hang a bell around the cat’s neck

• poison the cat

• escape while the cat sleeps

• find a dog to help them out

Belling the Cat

Aesop Fable

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws and they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day. 

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was 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 be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat’s neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming.” 

All of the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said: 

“I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?”

It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it. 

What was the challenge that the mice were facing once they came up with a plan?

• Where would they find a bell?

• Who would go to get the cheese?

• Who would place the bell around the cat’s neck?

• How would they get the bell around the cat’s neck?

Tops and Bottoms

Stevens, Janet. Tops and Bottoms. New York: Harcourt, 1985. (1995)

Once upon a time, there lived a very lazy bear who had lots of money and lots of

land. His father had been a hard worker and a smart business bear, and he had given all of his wealth to his son.

Not far down the road lived a Hare. Although Hare was clever, he sometimes got into trouble. He had once owned land, too, but now he had nothing. He had lost a risky bet with a tortoise and had sold all of his land to Bear to pay off the debt. Hare and his family were in very bad shape. So Hare and Mrs. Hare put their heads together and cooked up a plan.

The next day Hare hopped down the road to Bear's house. "Hello, Bear, wake up! It's your neighbor, Hare, and I have an idea!" "We can be business partners!" Hare said. "All we need is this field right here in front of your house. I'll do the hard work of planting and harvesting, and we can split the profit right down the middle. Yes, sir, Bear, we're in this together. I'll work and you sleep." "So, what will it be, Bear?" asked Hare. "The top half or the bottom half? It's up to you ~tops or bottoms." "Uh, let's see," Bear said with a yawn. "I'll take the top half, Hare. Right~tops." Hare smiled. "It's a done deal, Bear."

When it was time for the harvest, Hare called out, "Wake up, Bear! You get the tops and I get the bottoms." Hare and his family dug up the carrots, the radishes, and the beets. Hare plucked off all the tops, tossed them into a pile for Bear, and put the bottoms aside for himself. Bear stared at his pile. "But, Hare, all the best parts are in your half!" "You chose the tops Bear," Hare said. "Now, Hare, you've tricked me. You plant this field again ~and this season I want the bottoms!" Hare agreed. "It's a done deal, Bear."

When it was time for the harvest, Hare called out, "Wake up, Bear! You get the bottoms and I get the tops." Hare and his family gathered up the lettuce, the broccoli, and the celery. Hare pulled off the bottoms for Bear and put the tops in his own pile. Bear looked at his pile and scowled. "Hare, you have cheated me again." "But, Bear," Hare said, "you wanted the bottoms this time."

How do the two main character’s life experiences make them different?

• The Bear was given everything by his dad, which made him lazy. The Hare liked to make bets, and he was clever.

• The Hare was given everything by his dad, which made him lazy. The Bear liked to make bets, and he was clever.

• The Tortoise was given everything by his dad, which made him lazy. The Bear liked to make bets, and he was clever.

• The Tortoise was given everything by his dad, which made him lazy. The Hare liked to make bets, and he was clever.

Tops and Bottoms

Stevens, Janet. Tops and Bottoms. New York: Harcourt, 1985. (1995)

Once upon a time, there lived a very lazy bear who had lots of money and lots of

land. His father had been a hard worker and a smart business bear, and he had given all of his wealth to his son.

Not far down the road lived a Hare. Although Hare was clever, he sometimes got into trouble. He had once owned land, too, but now he had nothing. He had lost a risky bet with a tortoise and had sold all of his land to Bear to pay off the debt. Hare and his family were in very bad shape. So Hare and Mrs. Hare put their heads together and cooked up a plan.

The next day Hare hopped down the road to Bear's house. "Hello, Bear, wake up! It's your neighbor, Hare, and I have an idea!" "We can be business partners!" Hare said. "All we need is this field right here in front of your house. I'll do the hard work of planting and harvesting, and we can split the profit right down the middle. Yes, sir, Bear, we're in this together. I'll work and you sleep." "So, what will it be, Bear?" asked Hare. "The top half or the bottom half? It's up to you ~tops or bottoms." "Uh, let's see," Bear said with a yawn. "I'll take the top half, Hare. Right~tops." Hare smiled. "It's a done deal, Bear."

When it was time for the harvest, Hare called out, "Wake up, Bear! You get the tops and I get the bottoms." Hare and his family dug up the carrots, the radishes, and the beets. Hare plucked off all the tops, tossed them into a pile for Bear, and put the bottoms aside for himself. Bear stared at his pile. "But, Hare, all the best parts are in your half!" "You chose the tops Bear," Hare said. "Now, Hare, you've tricked me. You plant this field again ~and this season I want the bottoms!" Hare agreed. "It's a done deal, Bear."

When it was time for the harvest, Hare called out, "Wake up, Bear! You get the bottoms and I get the tops." Hare and his family gathered up the lettuce, the broccoli, and the celery. Hare pulled off the bottoms for Bear and put the tops in his own pile. Bear looked at his pile and scowled. "Hare, you have cheated me again." "But, Bear," Hare said, "you wanted the bottoms this time."

How did the Hare respond when Bear found out he was being tricked?

• Hare felt bad and gave Bear all of the vegetables to say sorry.

• Hare tricked Bear again and then took all of the vegetables and ran away.

• Hare shared the vegetables evenly because he wanted to do the right thing.

• Hare tricked Bear again and planted vegetables that had good tops and bad bottoms.