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Crows are the most intelligent species on the planet, and studies reveal they are as intelligent as a seven-year-old child (1). The thirsty crow story for kids provides valuable lessons on problem-solving abilities, determination, and perseverance. It is an old and popular folklore that also teaches about the importance of intelligence, being clever, and working hard to overcome challenges. The beloved fable for children imparts essential life lessons and has been passed down through generations, making it a timeless story for learning. Here in this post, we tell you the story, along with some tidbits that you can consider looking at.
The Thirsty Crow – Origin And History
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The Crow and the Pitcher is an Aesop fable, which tells you the story of the thirsty crow. It is a simple tale of using logic to achieve the said goal. The story has been mentioned in several poems by Greek poets, in fable collections, and in other books. The simplicity of the story and the morals it gives kids is perhaps why it was into almost all the languages in the world.
So here is the story again, so that you can read it out to your kids.
TriviaThe Thirsty Crow Story In English
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It was a hot summer’s day. A thirsty crow flew into a village in search of water to quench its thirst. The crow flew over the houses, fields, and trees. But he didn’t find any water. Finally, after a long time, he came across a farm. Under one of the trees on the farm was a pitcher (container or jug used to hold and pour liquids) of water.
Happy that he found some water finally, he swooped down to the tree and then down to the ground. He quickly moved towards the pitcher and looked inside. There was very little water in the pot. The crow put his beak inside the pitcher but could not reach the water. The water level was too low, and the narrow opening prevented his neck from going all the way down.
He tried to push the vessel down to let the water out, but it was too heavy. The crow was disappointed. He was really thirsty and needed a drink of water badly. He could have given up and flown to another farm, looking for water.
But he didn’t. Instead, he looked around and thought, “What else can I do?” He saw that there were a lot of pebbles on the farm. And, he had an idea! He collected a pebble and put it into the pitcher. He collected another pebble and another and put them all in the pitcher. As he added more and more stones, the water level came up to the brim.
The crow drank the water and flew back home happily!
What Is The Moral Of The Thirsty Crow Story?
Every fable has a moral. And the moral of the thirsty crow story comes in several interpretations.
In the Latin verse collection of fables, Avianus follows this story with this moral – “Thoughtfulness is superior to brutal force or strength”.
In another edition of this story by Francis Barlow, the moral is – “Necessity is the mother of invention”.
Modern 20th – century writers chose a different moral – “Where there is a will, there is a way!”
So now you see why telling your kid the thirsty crow story is a good idea? Your kid will learn moral values and also the science of water displacement! That’s right! This animal story for kids is perhaps one of the few parables that also teach principles of physics to kids!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the Thirsty Crow Story for Kids considered a fable?
A fable is a short story that uses animals as characters to convey a moral lesson. It aims to impart wisdom and values, using animals representing certain behaviors, traits, or human qualities. Moreover, such inspirational stories with morals for kids
encourages children to reflect on their actions and choices to make balanced decisions. The Thirsty Crow story includes all these attributes and teaches children the importance of resourcefulness and problem-solving through an engaging short narration.
2. What other lessons can children learn from fables like the Thirsty Crow Story for Kids?
Fables like the Thirsty Crow Story for Kids teach children the value of patience, perseverance, and analytical thinking for effective problem-solving. They also educate children about morals like kindness, empathy, honesty, and integrity. Furthermore, they encourage children to imbibe these learnings and make wise decisions even in complex situations.
3. How can parents and teachers use the Thirsty Crow Story for Kids to teach children about morality and values?
Narrate the story using expressive gestures and voice modulation to captivate the child’s attention. Encourage active participation by asking questions and motivating the child to share their thoughts throughout the storytelling process. After completing the story, discuss the crow’s actions and outcomes to help the child learn different morals. You can also ask the child open-ended questions about what they learned from the story and how they would apply the learnings in their life. This exercise will boost their imagination, creativity, and analytical thinking.
4. How can The Thirsty Crow story be used in educational settings?
The Thirsty Crow story is a timeless tale that can be effectively used in educational settings to teach children problem-solving skills, perseverance, and the importance of creativity. By analyzing how the crow, faced with an almost unreachable water level, uses stones to raise the water and quench its thirst, students learn about resourcefulness and critical thinking. Teachers can use the story to encourage discussions on innovative solutions, science concepts like displacement, and moral values like determination. Additionally, the story can serve as a springboard for hands-on activities where children can explore similar principles through experiments or storytelling exercises.
Anytime Is Storytime!
The thirsty crow story has been told for many years. It is the simplistic brilliance of the plot that keeps one hooked. It also has many subtle moral lessons to teach to its readers, especially children. The crow in this tale is an embodiment of smart work and inventions. It is persistent towards its goal. In addition to these values, this story teaches your child the physics of water displacement. Overall, it is a wonderful tale to read to your child and acquaint them with several qualities.
Key Pointers
- Folklore teaches an important life lesson about problem-solving and determination.
- Children learn that challenges are a part of life and that one should not give up without trying.
- With persistence and cleverness, any problem can be solved.
Illustration: The Thirsty Crow Story For Kids
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
The Thirsty Crow is a timeless tale about a clever crow who finds a clever way to quench his thirst. Watch this video to find out how he does it which makes it a delightful addition to bedtime stories.
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