A Different Pond

Name: A Different Pond
Author: Phi

A story that explores responsibility and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Responsibility. owning your choices and their consequences.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: doing what needs to be done without complaining. In short: Do what needs to be done. Summary: A Vietnamese-American boy accompanies his father on a fishing trip early one morning. He helps his dad make a fire and net the fish. As they sit by the water, the dad shares about another pond where he fished when he was a boy in Viet Nam. They return home and both dad and mom go to work for the day. The boy feels proud that he was able to help provide his family with dinner that night. Lesson Objectives:

Students will be more inclined to find ways to help their parents and to ask them questions about their childhood.
This story can be linked to studies about Viet Nam and immigration.

Guiding Questions:

Why did the dad and his son leave the house so early in the morning?
What did the boy do to help his dad?
What did he learn about his dad’s life in Viet Nam?
Why do you think the boy enjoyed spending time with his father even though he had to get up early?
Locate VietNam on a map. Is it far from where you live or close? Do you know anyone from that country?
Describe how the boy felt when the family gathered together for dinner.
Share about a time when you helped your family. How did that make you feel?
The boy enjoyed helping his dad fish. Is there something special you’d like to do with a family member?
Ask a parent or grandparent about what it was like when they were children. Make a list of 5 questions to use when you interview them.
Do you think the boy's parents appreciated his efforts to help the family put a meal on the table?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Responsibility means owning what is yours, including your choices.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.