A crow beside a tall clay pot under a tree, with small pebbles on the ground and the sun shining.

It was a hot summer day. The sun was shining brightly, and there was not a single cloud in the sky. A crow had been flying for a long time, looking for water. He was very thirsty, and his throat was dry.

At last he saw a pot under a tree. He flew down quickly and looked inside. There was a little water at the bottom, but the pot was tall and its neck was narrow. The crow pushed his beak in as far as he could, but he could not reach the water.

He tried to push the pot over, but it was too heavy. Still, the crow did not give up. He looked around and saw some small pebbles lying on the ground. Suddenly he had an idea.

He picked up a pebble in his beak and dropped it into the pot. Then he dropped another, and another. Slowly the water began to rise. After many pebbles, the water came up near the top of the pot.

The crow drank the cool water happily and flew away. His clever idea and hard work had saved him.

Moral of the story

Where there is a will, there is a way.

New words

thirsty
wanting to drink water
narrow
not wide
beak
the hard, pointed mouth of a bird
pebbles
small, smooth stones
rise
to go up
give up
to stop trying

Questions and answers

  1. Why was the crow looking for water?
    Show answer

    He was very thirsty, because it was a hot day and he had been flying for a long time.

  2. Where did the crow find a pot?
    Show answer

    He found a pot under a tree.

  3. Why could the crow not drink the water at first?
    Show answer

    The water was at the bottom, and the pot was tall with a narrow neck, so his beak could not reach it.

  4. What did the crow drop into the pot?
    Show answer

    He dropped small pebbles into the pot.

  5. True or false: The crow gave up and flew away thirsty.
    Show answer

    False. He did not give up. He dropped pebbles until the water rose, and then he drank it.

  6. What does this story teach us?
    Show answer

    If we keep trying and think cleverly, we can solve our problems.

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