I have been using a couple of Aesop's fables recently, the Lion and the Mouse and the Tortoise and the Hare in oral storytelling, a story basket, storytelling mat and a storytelling suitcase. These invitations have provided opportunities to explore morals and virtues with the children.
I am sure you know of some of Aesop’s fables but may not realise they are Aesop’s fables or recall them even though there are around 150. Aesop, was a slave and storyteller who lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. These stories were told orally and were not collected and written down until three centuries after Aesop's death.
Initially the fables were addressed to adults and covered religious, social and political themes. Providing moral and ethical guidelines in the guise of a story. I have focused more on virtues as morals are culturally and contextually bound and dictate what is right and wrong
Morals and what they are.
Morals are a learned set of ‘rules’ set by society or what is ‘right and wrong’
Sharing stories with a moral can communicate or acknowledge ‘good’ behaviour and may help to instill moral values or morality in children
Examples
Be polite.
Have empathy.
Don't steal.
Tell the truth.
Treat others as you want to be treated (the golden rule)
‘Right’ and ‘Wrong’ can be problematic and this is why I am intentional about talking about virtues. For example, The Lion and the Mouse teaches the lesson that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a big impact, and is the basis for the 'golden rule', treat others as you want to be treated.
I like to pose questions to older children about how they can do this or how they have done this ('the golden rule').
Sam shared that “he always smiles at his friends because he like smiles from others as they make him happy”
Now, how to share or use Aesop’s fables with young children? It is best to use simple language and illustrations when sharing these stories with young children. I prefer to share them in a play-based way where they can explore being the characters and retell the story.
I find that puppets are a perfect way to Bring virtues to life and made 2 types:
a cardboard print and use with Velcro dots to use the spoon with different stories or rhymes (for the time poor) and
a felt ‘spoon hoods’ which are like finger puppets that slip onto a wooden spoon. I like both of these story spoons as the spoons can be used over and over again.
I also adapted the story and this is included in the e-pattern.
Puppets are a great way to model and introduce virtues. Exploring virtues builds children’s vocabulary and better express their feelings as well as understand how their actions impact others.
Some of the virtues expressed in Aesop’s fables are:
· Patience
· Honesty
· Respect
· Gentleness
· Generosity
· Courtesy
· Trust
· Kindness
· Flexibility
· Tolerance
Virtues can be defined as ‘those habits of the head, heart and hand that enable us to know the good, love the good, and do the good’ (Ryan et al,, 2011). Virtues are non-denominational, culturally inclusive and have no gender bias.
A tip when using puppets in oral storytelling is to use a large scarf or shawl wrapped around the front of your body. This acts as a backdrop or 'scene' for the the puppets and helps children to focus on the puppets.
You could also focus on character strengths with Aesop’s fables: courage, temperance, wisdom, justice, optimism, integrity, humility, and compassion.
I used the puppets in different invitations (a story basket, storytelling suitcase and moveable storytelling mat) to focus on a virtue or character strength.
The older children loved the felt puppets but I wasn't sure which ones the younger ones would like (I had thought the felt) and I was surprised to find the cardboard ones were more popular. This may have been because of the velcro dots on the back and being able to remove and reapply the lion and the mouse.
I had also introduced some 'choosing' or rhyme spoons with velcro dots where a child selects and image , places it on the spoon and we sing the song. They remove the image and the next child selects and image from the bag and the velcro noise was sometimes as popular as the song and 'choosing'. This is a $1 DIY resource.
Later I used 'Mousey' with the Lion. Mousey is a puppet I use and the children are familiar with. I share how I use Mousey in my storytelling mini-course - to grab and keep children’s attention (you get the pattern to make Mousey in the mini-course). Mousey was a perfect tool for talking about character strengths.
I also used the puppets and soft toys for children to practice kindness and rescue the Lion from the traps. This allowed the children to be the Mouse.
Once I had shared the Lion and the Mouse with puppets and props in a variety of ways I then shared the Tortoise and the Hare orally with none. It took a few times for the children to listen and I was able to adjust my storytelling without props or puppets and they were distracted at some points in the story. I adjusted the story and used techniques to drawn them into the storytelling. This fable the Tortoise and the Hare shows the value of perseverance and steady effort which was fitting based on telling it orally with no props to support.
You can share Aesop's fables in so many ways with young children from simply reading the stories together to using puppets or story spoons with the book or in a story basket, a storytelling suitcase, small world play, acting them out through play or discussing the lessons they teach. These timeless tales are a great way to help children to instill important values, character traits and if you wish develop their understanding of morals or right and wrong.
References
The virtues project, https://www.virtuesproject.com/the-five-strategies
Ryan, K., Lerner, B., Bohlin, K., Nakayama, O., Mizuno, S., Horiuchi, K. (2011). eds. Happiness and virtue beyond East and West: Toward a new global responsibility. Tuttle Publishing
Until next time.
Michelle
P.S. there are so many more Aesop’s fables you could choose from and here is a list:
The Frogs & the Ox
Belling the Cat
The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse
The Fox & the Grapes
The Wolf & the Crane
The Lion & the Mouse
The Gnat & the Bull
The Plane Tree
The Owl & the Grasshopper
The Oak & the Reeds
The Crow & the Pitcher
The Two Goats
The Wild Boar & the Fox
The Heron
The Fox & the Stork
The Stag & His Reflection
The Cock & the Fox
The Fox & the Goat
The Fox & the Leopard
The Frog & the Mouse
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
The Eagle & the Beetle
The Mother & the Wolf
The Hare & the Tortoise
The Dog & His Reflection
The Fox & the Crow
The Ant & the Dove
The Man & the Satyr
The Hare & His Ears
The Fisherman & the Little Fish
The Wolf & the Kid
The Tortoise & the Ducks
The Young Crab & His Mother
The Dog, the Cock, & the Fox
The Eagle & the Jackdaw
The Boy & the Filberts
Hercules & the Wagoner
The Kid & the Wolf
The Bundle of Sticks
The Ass & His Driver
The Oxen & the Wheels
The Shepherd Boy & the Wolf
The Farmer & the Stork
The Sheep & the Pig
The Travelers & the Purse
The Lion & the Ass
The Frogs Who Wished for a King
The Wolf & His Shadow
The Rat & the Elephant
The Boys & the Frogs
The Ants & the Grasshopper
The Ass Carrying the Image
A Raven & a Swan
The Ass & the Load of Salt
The Lion & the Gnat
The Leap at Rhodes
The Cock & the Jewel
The Monkey & the Camel
The Ass, the Fox, & the Lion
The Birds, the Beasts, & the Bat
The Lion, the Bear, & the Fox
The Wolf & the Lamb
The Wolf & the Sheep
The Hares & the Frogs
The Travelers & the Sea
The Wolf & the Lion
The Peacock
The Mice & the Weasels
The Wolf & the Lean Dog
The Fox & the Lion
The Dog & his Master's Dinner
The Vain JackDaw & his Borrowed Feathers
The Monkey & the Dolphin
The Wolf & the Ass
The Monkey & the Cat
The Dogs & the Fox
The Dogs & the Hides
The Rabbit, the Weasel, & the Cat
The Bear & the Bees
The Dog in the Manger
The Wolf & the Goat
The Ass & the Grasshoppers
The Mule
The Cat, the Cock, & the Young Mouse
The Wolf & the Shepherd
The Peacock & the Crane
The Farmer & the Cranes
The Farmer & His Sons
The Two Pots
The Goose & the Golden Egg
The Fighting Bulls & the Frog
The Mouse & the Weasel
The Farmer & the Snake
The Sick Stag
The Goatherd & the Wild Goats
The Spendthrift & the Swallow
The Cat & the Birds
The Dog & the Oyster
The Astrologer
Three Bullocks & a Lion
Mercury & the Woodman
The Fox & the Crab
The Serpent & the Eagle
The Bull & the Goat
The Old Lion & the Fox
The Man & the Lion
The Ass & the Lap Dog
The Milkmaid & Her Pail
The Wolf & the Shepherd
The Goatherd & the Goat
The Miser
The Wolf & the House Dog
The Fox & the Hedgehog
The Bat & the Weasels
The Quack Toad
The Fox Without a Tail
The Mischievous Dog
The Rose & the Butterfly
The Cat & the Fox
The Boy and the Nettles
The Old Lion
The Fox & the Pheasants
Two Travelers & a Bear
The Porcupine & the Snakes
The Fox & the Monkey
The Flies & the Honey
The Eagle & the Kite
The Stag, the Sheep, & the Wolf
The Animals & the Plague
The Shepherd & the Lion
The Bees & Wasps, & the Hornet
The Lark & Her Young Ones
The Cat & the Old Rat
The Ass & His Shadow
The Miller, His Son, & the Ass
The Wolf, the Kid, and the Goat
The Swallow & the Crow
Jupiter & the Monkey
The Lion, the Ass, & the Fox
The Lion's Share
The Mole & His Mother
The North Wind & the Sun
The Wolves & the Sheep
The Cock & the Fox
The Ass in the Lion's Skin
The Fighting Cocks & the Eagle
Read them here- https://read.gov/aesop/001.html
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