fox_and_the_stork_eslprintables.doc

Task 1. Improve the language of this fable by Aesop with the phrases below.

1. arranged
2. delicious
3. did you
4. do unto
5. I am grateful for
6. invite
7. lap up
8. lick
9. long-necked jar
10. placed
11. prankster
12. prepared
13. replied
14. shallow
15. snout

Once upon a time there was a Fox and a Stork who were good friends.

The Fox, who was a bit of a person who liked to play jokes on people, invited the Stork first to dinner. That evening he made nothing but soup. Pouring it into two flat bowls he put them on the table, one before the stork. “Here is some good soup made specially for you,” he said, “I hope you enjoy it.”

The Fox could now easily eat the soup but his poor guest could only wet the end of her long beak! The Stork finally came away at the end of the visit as hungry as when she started it.

“I am so sorry. You did not like the soup I made, right?” the Fox asked trying hard not to laugh.

“Please do not be sorry, my friend,” answered the Stork. “Thank you for your invitation. I would now like to ask you to come you to my house.”

So an evening was fixed when the Fox could visit the Stork for dinner. However on the appointed day, the Fox found himself at the Stork’s table with a tall jar before him.

All that the Stork had made was in that jar. And all that the Fox could do was touch with his tongue the outside of the jar with his short nose!

moral

Treat others as you would have others treat you!

Task 2. Create a playscript for a stage adaption of The Fox And The Stork. This means you’ll have a narrator and a lot of dialog between the fox and the stork. Here’s one way it could start like:

Narrator:  Once upon a time there was a Fox and a Stork who were good friends. First the Fox invited the Stork to dinner.

Fox:  Would you like to come to dinner?

Stork:  Sure.  What will you cook?

Fox:  It will be a surprise! 

Stork:  When and at what time shall I come?

Fox:  How about tomorrow night at seven?

Stork:  Sounds good for me.  See you tomorrow.

Fox:  See you… and be on time!

Stork:  I will!

Who was Aesop?

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the famous fables were written by a slave named Aesop, who lived in Ancient Greece during the 5th century BC. His fables [=stories] were about anthropomorphic animals [=animals who acted like humans]. He always added a moral [=conclusion] to his stories to teach us some

great truths about how

we should live and

treat each other.

a Playscript

Narrator:  Once upon a time there was a Fox and a Stork who were good friends. First the Fox invited the Stork to dinner.

Fox:  Would you like to come to dinner?

Stork:  Sure.  What will you cook?

Fox:  It will be a surprise! 

Stork:  When and at what time shall I come?

Fox:  How about tomorrow night at seven?

Stork:  Sounds good for me.  See you tomorrow.

Fox:  See you… and be on time!

Stork:  I will!

Narrator:  Next day the Stork arrived on time at the Fox`s house.

Fox:  Hello!  Come and sit down… dinner is ready.

Stork:  Tell me…what did you cook?

Fox:  I cooked a delicious soup…I`m sure you will like it!

Narrator:  But when the Stork sat down at the table, the fox served the soup in a very shallow dish.

Fox:  What`s wrong? 

Stork:  It`s just that I can`t eat it with my long beak. 

Fox:  Oh, really? Well at least you can wet the end of your long bill in it, right? 

Stork:  Well… yes, but… never mind…anyway I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon.

Fox:  Of course I will.

Stork:  How about tomorrow night?

Fox:  I`ll be there!

Narrator: So that night the Stork went home hungry.  Next day the Fox showed up on time  at the Stork´s home.

Stork:  Come in, my good friend… I was expecting you.

Fox:  What did you cook?

Stork:  Since you are my special  host, I cooked your favorite food… a delicious soup!

Fox:  Oh, really?

Stork:  Sure… come and sit down… dinner is served.

Narrator:  But the Fox was surprised to see that the soup was served in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth.

Fox:  The soup indeed looks delicious, but my good friend… I can`t even insert my snout in this jar!

Stork:  Oh, really? Well at least you can lick the outside of the jar, right?

Fox:  Well… yes… but… never mind.

Stork:  Listen, my good friend, I am not sorry to say this… but one bad turn deserves another. 

The End

Author: Aesop

Adapted by Kidsinco

http://www.kidsinco.com/2009/05/the-fox-and-the-stork/

Once upon a time there was a Fox and a Stork who were good friends. 

The Fox, who was a bit of a prankster, invited the Stork first to dinner. That evening he made nothing but soup. Pouring it into two shallow bowls he placed them on the table, one before the stork. “Here is some delicious soup made specially for you,” he said, “I hope you enjoy it.”

The Fox could now easily lap up the soup but his poor guest could only wet the end of her long beak! The Stork finally came away at the end of the visit as hungry as when she started it.

“I am so sorry. You did not like the soup I made, did you?” the Fox asked trying hard not to laugh.

“Please do not be sorry, my friend,” replied the Stork. “I am grateful for your invitation. I would now like to invite you to my house.”

So an evening was arranged when the Fox could visit the Stork for dinner. However on the appointed day, the Fox found himself at the Stork’s table with a long-necked jar before him.

All that the Stork had prepared was in that jar. And all that the Fox could do was lick the outside of the jar with his short snout!

Moral

Do unto other as you would have other do unto you!

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Task. Fill in the gaps with the phrases from the fable into the gaps. You can use the same phrase twice if needed.

arranged, delicious, grateful, invite, lap up, lick, long-necked, placed, prankster, prepared, replied, shallow, jar

1. "Where are you going?" I asked. "Home," he …………………………….
2. After the earthquake we felt …………………………….to be alive.
3. Lola …………………………….me to her party.
4. She told her children to stay in the …………………………….end of the swimming pool.
5. My mom …………………………….a delicious meal for us today.
6. …………………………….models are becoming trendy [=fashionable] this year.
7. She …………………………….the stamps and stuck them on the envelope.
8. She ………………………….her name on the list of volunteers [=people who work free to help].
9. We haven't yet …………………………….when to meet.
10. My girlfriend is such a …………………………….. Last time she phoned me in the name of my company to tell me I was fired.
11. The …………………………….smell of freshly-made coffee came from the kitchen.
12. The dog was …………………………….the spilled tomato sauce from the floor.
13. There’s a half …………………………….of jam left in the fridge.
14. The stream [=small river] was quite …………………………….so we were able to walk across it.
15. You were such a great help. I'm so …………………………….to you for all that you've done.
16. She …………………………….for her son to have swimming lessons.

Vocabulary Practice

Solutions

1. "Where are you going?" I asked. "Home," he replied.
2. After the earthquake we felt grateful to be alive.
3. Lola invited me to her party.
4. She told her children to stay in the shallow end of the swimming pool.
5. My mom prepared a delicious meal for us today.
6. Long-necked models are becoming trendy [=fashionable] this year.
7. She licked the stamps and stuck them on the envelope.
8. She placed her name on the list of volunteers [=people who work free to help].
9. We haven't yet arranged when to meet.
10. My girlfriend is such a prankster. Last time she phoned me in the name of my company to tell me I was fired.
11. The delicious smell of freshly-made coffee came from the kitchen.
12. The dog was lapping up the spilled tomato sauce from the floor.
13. There’s a half jar of jam left in the fridge.
14. The stream [=small river] was quite shallow so we were able to walk across it.
15. You were such a great help. I'm so grateful to you for all that you've done.
16. She arranged for her son to have swimming lessons.