Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 3: The Cat and the Fox

by Jean de La Fontaine

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

A cat and fox take things that don't belong to them. The fox brags about knowing many tricks, while the cat knows just one. When dogs chase the cat and fox, the cat's one trick of climbing a tree saves him, while the fox's many tricks fail him.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

• Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem. Instructors may need to prompt children line-by-line.

Activity 2: Study the Poem's Pictures

• Study the pictures and describe them in your own words.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

• After reading or listening to the poem, narrate the poem events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 6 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 5: Act Out the Poem

• Play the roles of the dogs and the cat. Play that the cat climbs a tree and gets away from the dogs.
• Next play the roles of the dogs and the fox. Play out the fox doing all of his tricks, but that the dogs still catch the fox.

Activity 6: Create Novel Artwork Based on the Poem

• One day this week, create artwork showing a cat safe up in a tree.
• Use paints, crayons, pastels, Legos, blocks, or Play-Doh to create the artwork.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'The Cat and the Fox.'

1 / 5

Question 2

What happens in the poem?

2 / 5

Answer 2

A fox brags to a cat about knowing many tricks. When dogs chase the cat and the fox, the cat's one trick of climbing a tree saves the cat, while the fox perishes despite knowing many tricks.

2 / 5

Question 3

Where does the poem take place?

3 / 5

Answer 3

The poem takes place outdoors.

3 / 5

Question 4

Who are the characters in the poem?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The cat, the fox, and the dogs.

4 / 5

Question 5

Does the poem teach us anything?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Knowing the right trick for a situation is far more important than the number of tricks someone knows.

5 / 5

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1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'The Cat and the Fox.'
2. What happens in the poem? A fox brags to a cat about knowing many tricks. When dogs chase the cat and the fox, the cat's one trick of climbing a tree saves the cat, while the fox perishes despite knowing many tricks.
3. Where does the poem take place? The poem takes place outdoors.
4. Who are the characters in the poem? The cat, the fox, and the dogs.
5. Does the poem teach us anything? Knowing the right trick for a situation is far more important than the number of tricks someone knows.