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The Raven and the Swan (Aesop's Fable)

7/7/2015

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Picture
Picture
A Raven saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.

Introductory Brainstorming
The nature or characteristics of something are difficult to change. Can you think of examples of nature? Hint: gravity
What habits can be easily changed? 

Introductory Discussion Questions
What are things that we can change about ourselves?
What are some things that we cannot change about ourselves?
Have you seen a raven or swan? If so, where? 

Synonym Matching A
desired                                                                         feathers
secure                                                                          wonderful
beautiful                                                                      pretty
plumage                                                                      wanted
splendid                                                                      came from
arose                                                                           get

Synonym Matching B
washing                                                                     go out
left                                                                              died
neighborhood                                                          home area 
living                                                                           home
residence                                                                  cleansing
perished                                                                   characteristic
habit                                                                         change
alter                                                                          job
nature                                                                      routine


Listening Gap Fill
A Raven ______ a Swan and desired to secure for himself _______ same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid ________ color arose from his washing in the water _____ which he swam, the Raven left the _________ in the neighborhood where he picked up his _________, and took up residence in the lakes and ________. But cleansing his feathers as often as he ________, he could not change their color, while through _______ of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot ________ Nature.


Word Bank Blank Fill
A Raven saw a Swan and desired to 1. (    ) for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his 2. (    ) in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his 3. (    ), and took up residence in the lakes and 4. (    ). But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not 5. (    ) their color, while through want of food he 6. (    ).
Change of habit 7. (    ) alter Nature.


a. washing
b. cannot
c. secure
d. living
e. change
f. perished
g. pools


Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What are things you desire that seem impossible?
If you could have one impossible wish, what would it be?
When could desiring something be bad?
What was the first mistake the Raven made in its thinking? 
What advice would you give to someone wanting something impossible?

B
What habits do you wish you could change?

What habit change could be dangerous for you? 
When could desiring something be good?
What was the final mistake the Raven made? 
What advice would you give to someone who wants to change a habit? 

Writing
Rewrite this fable using different animals or humans.

Exercise Answers

Synonym Matching A: desired-->wanted, secure-->get, beautiful-->pretty,           plumage-->feathers, splendid-->wonderful, arose-->got up.
Synonym Matching B: washing-->cleansing, left-->go out, neighborhood-->home area, living-->job, residence-->home, perished-->died, habit-->routine, alter-->change, 
nature-->characteristic.   

Listening Gap Fill: and, the, white, in, altars, living, pools, would, want, alter. 
Word Bank Blank Fill: 1. b. secure, 2. a. washing, 3. d. living, 4. g. pools, 5. e. change, 6. f. perished, 7. b. cannot. 

Key Vocabulary
raven  乌鸦
swan 天鵝
desire 欲望
to secure  保险
him'self' 自己
same  一样
beautiful 美丽
plumage, feathers 羽毛
supposing   假如
splendid  灿烂
white color 白色
washing, cleansing  洗涤
swam 游泳
left  离开
altars    祭坛
neighborhood 邻里
living  营生
residence  住所
lakes 湖
pools   池
could not change, could not alter 不能改变
want of food  缺乏食物
perished 亡
habit  习惯
nature 性质

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The Kites and the Swans (Aesop's Fables)

5/6/2015

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Kites of olden times, as well as the Swans, had the talent of song. But having heard the neigh of the horse, they were so enchanted with the sound, that they tried to imitate it; and, in trying to neigh, they forgot how to sing. 

(Moral) The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss of present blessings. 

Match these animals.
Picture
Picture
swan

kite

horse
Picture

Introductory Discussion Questions
What talents do you have? What are you good at?
Do you know how to sing?
Do you sometimes forget things? What things do you forget?
Do you imitate some people? 
What kinds of people do you like to imitate?

Matching Words and Definitions
moral                                                                                      a wise teaching
neigh                                                                                       not real
imitate                                                                                    the sound horses make
talent                                                                                      to copy someone 
desire                                                                                     a special ability 
imaginary                                                                               to want something

Synonym Matching
blessings                                                                              benefits
enchanted                                                                           can't remember
forgot                                                                                    long ago
olden times                                                                         contains
involves                                                                                delighted

Listening Blank Fill
Kites of olden times, as well as the _______, had the talent of song. But having heard _____ neigh of the horse, they were so enchanted ______ the sound, that they tried to imitate it; _____, in trying to neigh, they forgot how to ______. 

The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the ______ of present blessings.

Word Bank Fill in the Blank
Kites of olden (1)____, as well as the Swans, had the talent of (2)____. But having heard the neigh of the horse, they were so enchanted with the (3)____, that they tried to imitate it; and, in trying to neigh, they forgot how to sing. 

The desire for (4)____ benefits often involves the loss of (5)____ blessings.

a. song
b. times
c. sound
d. imaginary
e. present

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:
Did you like this story? How did it make you feel?
In what ways can imagination be good?
What things are enchanting to you?
B: 
What do you think of the moral of this story? Is it true or not? Explain. 
Do you have any forgotten talents? What are they?
In what ways can imagination be bad?

Writing Activity
Use the internet to research your favorite bird. Write about your bird by describing its appearance and habits.

Exercise Answers
Picture Matching: brown bird-->kite, white bird-->swan, horse-->horse
Matching Words and Definitions: moral-->a wise teaching, neigh-->the sound horses make, imitate-->to copy someone, talent-->a special ability, desire-->to want something, imaginary-->not real
Synonym Matching: blessing-->benefits, enchanted-->delighted, forgot-->can't remember, olden times-->long ago,
involves-->contains
Listening Blank Fill: swans, the, with, but, sing, loss.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: (1)-->b. times, (2)-->a. song, (3)--> c. sound, (4)-->d. imaginary, (5)--> e. present

Key Vocabulary
moral  教训
swan 天鹅
kite  鹰科
horse 马
neigh 嘶叫
imitate 仿效
talent  天才
desire 希望
imaginary  假想的
blessings  幸事
enchanted 使心醉
forgot  忘记了
olden times 往昔的
involves  需要
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    Author

    My name is Paul. I am from Michigan, USA. I am a perpetual language learner and teacher, trading my time between two continents. I obtained my MA in TESOL from Cornerstone University. 

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