Aesop's Inference Activity

This is a first lesson inferring from text. Each fable is short and the student will only see the first part of the fable. Ultimately the students should use their prior knowledge and the clues in the text to infer the ending of the fable.

Objectives:

The students will use prior knowledge and clues to infer the ending of the fables.

Activities:

        1.  Give each student copies of the activity sheets. Click here for activity sheets.
        2.  Ask the student to infer the next part of the fable.
        3.  Ask the student to describe why they feel this is a correct inference.
        4.  Lead a class discussion on the endings and why they are good or incorrect inferences.

The whole text of each fable follows so the teacher will know the correct ending.

Source for text:

http://promo.net/cgi-promo/pg/t9.cgi
 
 

The Woodman and the Serpent

One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he saw something black lying on the snow. When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent to all appearance dead. But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm while he hurried home. As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth before the fire. The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again. Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but thc Serpent raised its head and put out its fangs and was about to sting the child to death. So the Woodman seized his axe, and with one stroke cut the Serpent in two. "Ah," said he,

"No gratitude from the wicked."
 
 

The Fox and the Stork

At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began. "I am sorry," said the Fox, "the soup is not to your liking."

"Pray do not apologize," said the Stork. "I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon." So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar. "I will not apologize for the dinner," said the Stork:

"One bad turn deserves another."
 
 

The Frog and the Ox

"Oh Father," said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, "I have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two."

"Tush, child, tush," said the old Frog, "that was only Farmer White's Ox. It isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see." So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out. "Was he as big as that?" asked he.

"Oh, much bigger than that," said the young Frog.

Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that.

"Bigger, father, bigger," was the reply.

So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he said: "I'm sure the Ox is not as big as

But at this moment he burst.

Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Woodman and the Serpent

One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he saw something black lying on the snow. When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent to all appearance dead. But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm while he hurried home. As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth before the fire. The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again. Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but the Serpent . . . .

Predict what will happen next in the story.

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List two clues, from the story or your own experience, that helped you reach this conclusion.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________
 
 
 
 

The Fox and the Stork

At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began. "I am sorry," said the Fox, "the soup is not to your liking."

"Pray do not apologize," said the Stork. "I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon." So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was . . . .
 
 

Predict what will happen next in the story.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

List two clues, from the story or your own experience, that helped you reach this conclusion.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Frog and the Ox

"Oh Father," said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, "I have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two."

"Tush, child, tush," said the old Frog, "that was only Farmer White's Ox. It isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see." So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out. "Was he as big as that?" asked he.

"Oh, much bigger than that," said the young Frog.

Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that.

"Bigger, father, bigger," was the reply.

So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he said: "I'm sure the Ox is not as big as . . . .
 
 

Predict what will happen next in the story.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

List two clues, from the story or your own experience, that helped you reach this conclusion.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________
 
 

Created at NCCAT on August 23, 2000 by teachers from Lee County Schools - Vicki Haislip, Kim Collazo, Christi Patterson, Callie Hammond, Beth Strickland and Chris Cobitz Ph.D. (NC A&T State University)
copyright 2000 Lee County Schools