One warm summer’s day, a cheerful Grasshopper hopped about in a sunny meadow. He chirped and sang, enjoying the golden sunshine. Near him, an Ant marched back and forth, carrying heavy grains of wheat to his nest.
“Why work so hard, friend Ant?” the Grasshopper laughed. “Come and sing with me instead! The sun is shining, the air is warm, and life is wonderful.”
But the Ant shook his head. “I am storing food for the winter. You should do the same, Grasshopper. Cold days will come, and you will need something to eat.”
The Grasshopper waved his hand carelessly. “Winter is far away. There’s plenty of food everywhere. Why worry now?” And he leaped off, singing even louder.
Day after day, the Ant worked steadily. He gathered seeds, carried them to his nest, and made sure his family would be safe when the cold weather arrived. Meanwhile, the Grasshopper played, sang, and danced without a care.
When the leaves turned brown and the first snowflakes began to fall, the Ant rested in his warm home, his storehouse filled with food. But the Grasshopper shivered in the cold. The ground was frozen, and not a single grain of food could be found.
At last, weak and hungry, the Grasshopper knocked on the Ant’s door. “Dear Ant,” he begged, “please share your food with me. I am starving.”
The Ant looked at him kindly but firmly. “Grasshopper, I worked hard while you only played. Perhaps next summer, you will remember to prepare in time.”
The Grasshopper hung his head, realizing too late the importance of hard work and planning ahead.
📖 Introduction
The Ant and the Grasshopper is another famous fable by Aesop.
It shows the difference between those who work hard to prepare for the future and those who only think about pleasure.
The story is often told to children to encourage responsibility, planning, and the value of effort.
🎯 Moral / Lesson
- Work today to prepare for tomorrow.
- Laziness brings regret, but hard work brings safety and comfort.
🏡 How to Use This Story
🎤 Activity 1: Read Aloud
- Read with two different voices—one serious and steady for the Ant, one light and playful for the Grasshopper.
- Pause after the Ant’s warnings to let children guess what might happen next.
- Emphasize the contrast between summer joy and winter hardship.
❓ Activity 2: Ask Children
- “Why did the Ant keep working even when the sun was shining?”
- “What did the Grasshopper do instead of working?”
- “What happened when winter came?”
- “What lesson do you think the Grasshopper learned?”
🎭 Activity 3: Role-Play
- Assign roles: Ant, Grasshopper, and maybe other Ant helpers.
- Act out the summer scene with singing and dancing, then the winter scene with shivering and knocking on the Ant’s door.
- Let children exaggerate their movements—strong carrying for the Ant, playful hopping for the Grasshopper.
🎨 Activity 4: Creative Expression
- Drawing: Ask children to draw two scenes: summer with the Grasshopper singing, and winter with him cold and hungry.
- Writing: For older kids, let them write a new ending where the Grasshopper changes his ways.
- Music: Encourage children to make up a simple song or rhythm for the Grasshopper’s summer dance.
💡 Activity 5: Connect to Real Life
- “What chores or homework do you need to finish before you can play?”
- “How do you feel when you finish your work early?”
- “Why is it important to plan ahead?”