The Hare and the Tortoise

Name: The Hare and the Tortoise
Author: Aesop

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

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Patience. staying calm while something unfolds.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Patience means having self-control, waiting and enduring when one would rather not. In short: Stay calm while you wait. Summary: This classic fable is all about self-control, what it is and what it isn’t. A race between a hare (rabbit) and tortoise (turtle) illustrates this theme. The proud and confident hare is ahead from the start of the race, as was expected, but he unwisely chooses to take a nap along the way. Meanwhile the tortoise slowly and steadily plods toward the finish line and wins! Lesson Objectives:

Students will demonstrate more self-control when they have a task to accomplish because they realize that there are rewards for getting the job done (finishing the race).
Students who like to boast will be more respectful toward others.

Guiding Questions:

What does it mean to boast? Do you know anyone who’s boastful about something?
The hare was boastful when he talked to the tortoise. What did he say?
How did the tortoise respond to the hare’s boastful talk?
Who was in the lead at the beginning of the race?
Did the tortoise stop to rest?
The hare was faster than the tortoise so why didn’t he win the race?
“Slow and steady wins the race” - what does that mean to you?
How does it feel when someone is putting others down because they think they’re better at something?
It’s okay to feel good about what you can do without being boastful. Name three things you can do that make you feel proud of yourself.
Next time you win something, say nice things to the others with whom you competed, such as, “you tried really hard, congratulations!”

🌿 Virtue Connection: Patience means waiting without losing yourself.

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.