The Thirsty Crow Story
These printable versions of the thirsty crow story suit children aged 4 to 12 and are free to print at home or in your classroom. Children can read, colour, sequence events, answer simple questions and think about the story's lesson.
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At a glance
- Ages: 4 to 12
- Skills: Reading, sequencing, thinking
- You need: Printer, paper, pencils
- Time: 10 to 25 minutes
A crow finds a way
On a hot day, a thirsty crow flew around looking for water. At last, he saw a pot near a house. There was some water inside, but it was too low for the crow to reach with his beak. He tried to tip the pot, but it was too heavy. Then he noticed small stones on the ground. The crow picked up the stones one by one and dropped them into the pot. Slowly, the water rose higher. When it reached the top, the crow drank the water and flew away happily. Lesson: Patient thinking and steady effort can help us solve a problem.
Read, talk and retell
Read the story aloud once, then read it again while your child studies the pictures or follows the text. Pause to ask what the crow needs, why the first idea does not work and how the stones help. Ask your child to put the events in order and explain the lesson in their own words. Younger children can name the crow, pot, stones and water. Older children can compare the crow's different choices and write a short ending. You can also browse Moral Stories for Kids for another read-aloud.
Activities after the story
Use the sequencing pages to help your child retell the story from beginning to end. A younger child can trace key words, colour the crow and match pictures to simple sentences. An older child can complete a comprehension page, write speech bubbles for the crow or explain why each idea worked or failed. For a simple home activity, place a little water in a clear glass and add pebbles one at a time while your child watches the level rise. Talk about using safe objects and never drinking the activity water.
Lumi's tips
- Make it easier by reading each sentence aloud and giving your child picture cards to arrange before asking for a retelling.
- Make it harder by asking your child to write two other safe ways the crow could try to reach the water and explain which would work best.
- Keep it connected to daily life by talking about a time your child solved a small problem through patience instead of giving up.
How to download and print
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Questions parents ask
What is the moral of the thirsty crow story?
The story teaches that patience, careful thinking and steady effort can help us solve problems.
What did the crow put into the pot?
The crow dropped small stones into the pot. The stones made the water rise so he could drink it.
What age is the thirsty crow story suitable for?
The story suits children from about 4 to 12. Younger children can use the pictures and retelling pages, while older children can work on comprehension and writing.
How can I use the thirsty crow story in class?
Read it aloud, discuss the problem and lesson, then use sequencing, colouring, vocabulary or writing activities. Children can retell the story in pairs.
How do I download or print these story activities?
Create a free EarlyActivity account to download printables. Free accounts can download up to 20 printables a day, and the files can be printed at home or in your own classroom.
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