1️⃣ To Parents
This is a retelling of Aesop’s timeless fable, “The Lion and the Mouse.” In this extended version, students explore the values of kindness, second chances, and quiet courage. It’s ideal for building reading fluency through simple but expressive past-tense narrative and dialogue.
2️⃣ Today's Reading
The Lion and the Mouse
One afternoon, deep in the savannah, a mighty lion stretched out beneath a shady tree. His golden fur glowed in the sunlight as he yawned and closed his eyes.Suddenly—tickle! Something ran across his nose.
He opened one eye and growled. A tiny mouse froze on his paw.
“A snack?” the lion rumbled.
The mouse squeaked, “Please let me go! I didn’t mean to bother you. If you ever need help, I promise I’ll be there.”
The lion laughed. “You? Help me? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day.”
But something in the mouse’s wide eyes made him pause. He raised his paw. “Go.”
Days passed.
One morning, the lion chased a zebra too far from home. He didn’t notice the hunter’s trap hidden in the grass.
Snap! A net flew up, wrapping him tight. He roared and twisted—but the more he moved, the tighter it got.
The forest grew quiet. Then—scratch, scratch.
The mouse appeared. “I heard you calling.”
With sharp teeth, she chewed the ropes. Bit by bit, the net gave way. Soon, the lion was free.
He looked down. “You saved me.”
The mouse smiled. “Even small friends can do big things.”
And from that day, the king of beasts and the tiniest mouse shared the same shade under the tree—friends for life.
3️⃣ New Vocabularies
- savannah /səˈvænə/ – 稀樹草原
The lion rested under a tree in the savannah. - pause /pɔz/ – 停頓、猶豫
The lion paused before letting the mouse go. - net /nɛt/ – 網子
The lion was caught in a hunter’s net. - chew /tʃu/ – 咬、啃
The mouse chewed through the ropes. - shade /ʃeɪd/ – 陰影、蔭涼
They sat together in the shade of the tree. - second chance /ˈsɛkənd ʧæns/ – 第二次機會
The lion gave the mouse a second chance—and it saved him.
4️⃣ Hi, Kids!
Have you ever helped someone even if you felt small or unsure?
Why does being kind matter, no matter your size? “Even though I was small, I showed my heart by...”
5️⃣ Questions
- What did the mouse ask the lion for?
A. A piece of meat B. A place to hide C. A second chance D. A new home - Why did the lion laugh at the mouse?
A. He thought the mouse told a joke B. He didn’t believe she could help him C. He was trying to scare her D. He had never seen a mouse - What happened to the lion later?
A. He got lost B. He was caught in a net C. He fell asleep in the rain D. He chased a mouse - How did the mouse help the lion?
A. She scared away the hunter B. She found food C. She chewed the ropes D. She brought more lions - What lesson did the lion learn?
A. Don’t chase zebras B. Big animals don’t need help C. Even the smallest creature can be a hero D. Mice are noisy
6️⃣ 🌟 Good Job
You’re doing great! Like the lion and the mouse, always believe in kindness—and never doubt how big your actions can be, even if you feel small.
