Project Description
Aesop was a slave in ancient Greece and a story teller. His stories were not written down for 300 years and there were over 655 fables! They were written two and half thousand years ago for those of any age. They have become associated with children and moral instruction but are enjoyed particularly for their use of animals who remind us of the human lessons to be learned.
Please use this link below to get to a site called the ‘New Age kids site’ which has free access to video fairy tales, Aesops stories, Buddhist stories, animal stories, classic stories, bible stories, general stories, moral stories, Indian mythological stories, folk tales, Arabian tales, bedtime stories and Irish tales.
My Top Ten Aesops fables – each story is only a few paragraphs long so no large reserves of attention or patience needed! Ask your child if they can think of any examples of where these fables have happened in their life!
1. The Sun and the Moon
The message that force is not the best way to get someone to do something.
2. Mercury and the Woodman
The message that honesty pays and is recognised
3. The Fox and the Stork
The idea that making a joke at someone’s expense might lead to a payback which needs to be taken in good humour
4. The Lion and the Mouse
The idea that anyone whatever their strength or rank can be in a position to help someone else and that kindness is seldom wasted.
5. The Crow and the Pitcher
The illustration of the power of natural intelligence from a crow in saving a life.
6. The Fox and the Grapes
The expression ‘Sour Grapes’ comes from this one which illustrates how we are not always honest with ourselves when we reject something we have not got the power to reach.
7. The Wolf and the Lamb
An encounter illustrating that greed will find any weak excuse to justify itself.
8. The Hare and the Tortoise
Conveys the message of less haste and more speed and that the obvious winner might not be the real winner in a race.
9. The Fox and the Crow
A story that shows false flattery can make for stupid behaviour in the one who is flattered.
10. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The idea that not speaking the truth leaves a boy vulnerable to not being believed when he tells the truth.
