The Weasel in the Doctor's Coat
One day, a nasty cold swept through the henhouse. All the hens were sneezing and coughing, and feeling rather weak. The wise head hen, Henrietta, was taking care of everyone, trying to make them comfortable.
In the nearby woods, a sly weasel named Willow heard the sounds of sneezing. Her eyes lit up. "Aha!" she thought. "Sick chickens mean an easy dinner!" But she knew she had to find a clever way to get inside.
An idea struck her. She would disguise herself as a doctor! She found a doll's white coat, made a stethoscope from a vine and two acorns, and carried a bag filled with shiny pebbles as "medicine". Then, she walked slowly towards the henhouse.
She tapped gently on the door and said in a sickly sweet voice, "Hello! I am the doctor, I heard there are patients here. May I come in and offer you my cure?" Inside, everyone fell silent and peeked through a crack in the door.
They saw the white coat and the strange stethoscope. But Henrietta looked more closely. She noticed the sharp teeth under the fake smile, the pointy nose, and the long, furry tail sticking out from under the coat. She smiled calmly and answered through the closed door, "Thank you, 'Doctor'. We are feeling much better now. In fact, our health will be perfect... as long as you stay away from here." Willow knew her trick had been discovered. She stomped away angrily, while the hens learned that caution and wisdom are the best medicine.
Moral Values and Lessons
- Trust Your Instincts: Your gut feeling that something isn't right is often correct.
- Look Beyond Appearances: Don't be fooled by costumes or sweet words; look for true intentions.
- Wisdom is a Shield: Being observant and wise can protect you from danger.
- Be Wary of Strangers: It is important to be cautious when dealing with strangers, even if they seem friendly.
Comprehension Questions
- What was the problem with the hens at the beginning of the story?
- What disguise did the weasel, Willow, use?
- What were her "medical" tools?
- What clues revealed the weasel's true identity to Henrietta?
- What was the clever reply Henrietta gave to the weasel?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Why did Willow think her plan would work?
- Even though the hens were sick, why weren't they fooled?
- What is the difference between someone who truly wants to help and someone who is pretending?
Questions to Connect the Story to Daily Life
- Have you ever had a feeling that something wasn't right, even if you couldn't explain why?
- Why is it important not to talk to strangers or accept things from them?
- How can you tell if someone is being sincere?
Fun Activities
- Draw: Draw Willow the weasel in her funny doctor costume, with her acorn stethoscope and shiny pebble pills.
- Act it Out: Role-play the scene at the door. One person is Willow, using a fake sweet voice, and the other is Henrietta, using a calm, confident voice.
- Game: "Guess the Disguise": Play a game of charades where each person acts out an animal pretending to have a job (e.g., a lion pretending to be a barber), and others have to guess the animal and the job.