The Bat, the Birds, The forest was buzzing with excitement.

and the Beasts

A great battle was about to begin. All
the beasts were on one side, and all
a retelling of an Aesop fable the birds were on the other. Right in
the middle was Bat. He sat on his perch
watching the action.
“You will join our side,” said the crow.
“You are a bird!”
“Come with us,” cried the other birds.
“I have wings,” said Bat. “This is true,
but I am not a bird. I am a beast.”
The birds flew away to make plans
for the battle. Some time later, a group
of beasts passed below him. Looking
up, they noticed Bat. DID YOU
KNOW?
“You will join our
Bats are the only
side,” said the bear. mammal that
“You are a beast!” can fly.

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 “Come with us,” cried the Later, he went to visit the beasts.
other beasts. “Congratulations! I am so happy
“I have fur,” said Bat. “This is true, to hear that there will be no fight.
but I am not a beast. I am a bird.” I have come to celebrate.”

The beasts moved on, leaving Bat The bear came forward shaking
alone. He waited to see who would his head. “This party is for beasts. I
attack first. remember that you are not a beast.”

Luckily at the last moment, peace “Ah, I see now,” said Bat. He flew
was made. No battle took place. home alone.
Instead each group planned The moral is: If you choose not to take
a great party to celebrate. sides, you may end up alone.
Bat flew to join the birds.
“Congratulations! There will
be no fight! I do love a party.
I would like to join you.”
The crow stepped forward.
“Thank you, but this party is
for birds. You are not a bird.”
Bat bowed his head and flew away.

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2
 The
Early one morning, Little Mouse
Lion and found himself awake in the jungle.

Mouse
He explored the leaves and fallen
the branches. Then he came upon the
a retelling of an Aesop fable biggest creature he had ever seen.
A lion was fast asleep under the trees.
Curious to learn more, Little Mouse
ran up and down, over and around
the sleeping lion.
Suddenly, a huge paw came down
on top of Little Mouse. He couldn’t
move a muscle.
“Pardon, O King,” cried Little Mouse.
“Forgive me this time. I did not mean
to bother you.”
“Bother me? You did far more than
bother me. You woke me up,” said Lion.
“Please let me go. If you do, I shall
never forget it. Who knows? Perhaps

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1
 DID YOU
KNOW?
one day I will be able to repay you Quickly, Little
An adult male lion can
with a favor,” begged Little Mouse. Mouse set to
weigh between 330 and
Lion laughed. “How could someone work. He ran up 550 pounds (150 and 250
as small and weak as you help and down, over kg). The average adult
mouse weighs about one
someone as big and strong as me?” and around Lion.
ounce (28 grams).
All the while,
“If you give me a chance, you will
he nibbled and
not regret it,” begged Little Mouse.
chewed at the ropes of the net.
Lion was so amused by the idea Soon a large hole opened up,
that he let Little Mouse go. He ran and Lion broke free.
far and fast.
“Was I not right?” asked Little
Some time later, Little Mouse was Mouse. “I repaid your favor.”
again exploring the jungle. This time
“You did, indeed. Thank you,
he heard a terrible noise. He found
Little Mouse. You are a true friend.”
Lion caught in a net. Some hunters
had captured him and planned to The moral is: Little
carry him away to a distant land. friends may prove
When Lion saw Little Mouse, he great friends.
remembered the promise.
“Help me!” cried Lion.

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 he Fox
Tand O ne summer’s day, Fox was walking
through an orchard. The sun was
the quite hot, and he had been walking

Grapes for some time. He spied a rabbit sitting

under a tree.
“Excuse me. Can you tell me where
a retelling of an Aesop fable
I might find something to drink? I am
hot and thirsty,” asked Fox.
“The stream is far from here. The
only drink you will find is in the juice
of those grapes,” said Rabbit as she
pointed to a vine hanging above them.
“Ah! Those look very plump and
juicy. They are perfect,” said Fox.
“They do look delicious, but they
are also very high. You will have
trouble reaching them,” said Rabbit.
“No. I think not. I can jump quite
high,” said Fox with a proud smile.

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 Drawing back three paces, he took Fox stood up and brushed
a run and a jump. He sailed through himself off. He shook his head
the air missing the grapes by a foot. and started walking away.
“Hmmm,” mumbled Rabbit. “Seems “What about the grapes?”
the grapes are quite out of reach.” asked Rabbit.
“I just needed to warm my legs a Lifting his nose to the air, Fox
bit. I am sure I can reach them now,” replied, “I’m sure they are sour.”
said Fox. He stretched, stepped back The moral is: It is easy to dislike
five paces, and made another running what you cannot have.
start. This time he missed the grapes
by only a few inches.
Rabbit shook her head. Fox grew
more determined. He took ten full
steps back and bent low to the ground.
Then he launched himself at full speed
toward the grapes. Jumping with all his DID YOU
KNOW?
might, Fox flew into the air. His paws
Grapes are a kind
just brushed the fruit before he landed of berry, with an
back on the ground with a thud. average of 100
berries on a bunch.

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 The Ant One bright summer day, a
grasshopper was hopping through
and the a field of flowers. He chirped and

Grasshopper sang as he played his violin. Right

in the middle of his favorite song,
a retelling he heard a terrible groaning sound.
of an
Aesop fable “Who has spoiled my music?” he
cried. Looking around, he spotted
a tiny ant struggling to carry a
plump kernel of corn. “Ant, you have
interrupted my singing. Where are
you going with that heavy load?”
“I am storing food for the winter,”
Ant puffed.
“Winter? Can you see the blue
sky? Can you feel the warm sun?
Winter is far from this field,”
laughed Grasshopper.
“Winter will be here before you
know it,” said Ant.

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 “Come play with me,” sang Grasshopper joined the line. When
Grasshopper. “There will be plenty of he reached the front, he bent low
time for storing food later.” He danced and begged in a weak voice.
around making fun of Ant, but she “Please, may I have some corn
continued on her way. Grasshopper to eat? I am so hungry.”
sang and danced for many more days.
“Did you store any food for the
Soon the weather turned cold. winter?” asked the Ant.
Grasshopper woke up one day to a
“I was too busy playing music. The
field of snow. All the food was buried
summer was gone before I knew it,”
deep. He could not dig through to
Grasshopper said.
reach it no matter how hard he tried.
Ant sadly shook
“What will I do?” he cried.
her head no. Then
DID YOU
KNOW?
Then he had an she continued
idea. Grasshopper handing corn
An ant can lift
20 times its own stumbled to Ant’s to her fellow ants.
body weight. That hill. A line of ants
means, if you The moral is: Prepare
stood waiting as his
were as strong as today for the needs
an ant, you would friend handed out
of tomorrow.
be able to pick up the delicious looking
a small car!
pieces of corn.

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 Wind and Sun were having
an argument. Each thought
he was the strongest.
“I am much DID YOU
KNOW?
stronger than Both the sun and the
you,” said Wind. wind can be used
to make electricity.
“You may puff We call them clean
and you may blow, energy sources.

The but I believe that I

am the stronger one of us,” said Sun.

Wind Just then, they saw a man traveling

down the road.
“I know how to solve our
and the disagreement,” said Sun. “We will

Sun
have a contest. The one of us who
can make the man take off his coat
will be the strongest.”
a retelling of “It’s a deal!” said Wind. “I want to
an Aesop fable go first. This contest will end quickly.”

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1
 “Whatever you say,” Sun peeked out
agreed Sun. He hid behind from behind the cloud.
a cloud and watched Wind He rose just a bit in
do his work. the sky. The man
First, Wind puffed just a little. A cool looked up and smiled.
breeze rushed past the man, who put Sun stretched his
his hands in his pockets. Wind frowned. rays. The man
He huffed and blew even harder. A unbuttoned his coat.
swirling blast of air nearly knocked Then Sun shone brightly
the man to the ground, making him in all his glory. The air warmed
button the coat from top to bottom. greatly. Soon the man found
Quickly, Wind followed with it too hot to walk with his coat
another gust. Each time Wind blew, on. He slipped it off and
the man pulled the coat closer and tossed it over his shoulder.
tighter around himself. At last, Wind Smiling and singing,
was out of breath. the man did a little dance
“I don’t imagine you will find as he walked out of sight.
this job any easier,” said Wind. The moral is: Kindness is
He became still and waited more effective than force.
for Sun to work.

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2
 Student Response Sheet Individual Reading

Name
Key Question
What makes a story a fable?

On Your Own
1. R
 ead the Key Question. Then read the story. Look for details in the story
that help you answer the Key Question. Circle or underline these details.
2. N
 ow look back at the story. Add the details you circled or underlined to
the Story Chart below.

Story Title Characters What Happened Moral

3. T
 hink about the Key Question. Write your answer to the Key Question
using the information you found in the story you read.

My First Answer

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 Student Response Sheet Team Discussion

Name
Key Question
What makes a story a fable?

Share Your Ideas

Meet with your team. Talk about each story your team read.
1. Tell the team what happens in the story you read. Show your Story Chart.
2. L
 ook at the charts your team made. Compare the details in each of your
stories by looking at all the charts. Answer these questions together.
• How are the details in the stories different?
• How are the details in the stories the same?
 ext, write the details that answer the Key Question on the Detail Web
N
below. Write only the details that are in every story your team read.

Fables

Answer the Key Question

Review the details on your team’s Detail Web. As a team, write an answer to
the Key Question. Use the details from the stories to support your answer.

What makes a story a fable?

Our Team’s Answer

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