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Storytelling
for the Classroom 3
by Michael Berman
To
Storytelling for the Classroom 1
To Storytelling
for the Classroom 2
The
weight of the burden you carry on your shoulders is largely
dependent on your attitude. All of us feel like cracked pots
at some time in our lives. Perhaps we suffer from depression,
or have a physical challenge that limits our activity. Maybe
we have suffered losses, or are unable to work full time as
we think we should. But perhaps we need to honour the light
that has come to us as a result of those things that we or
others judge as flaws. Jung suggested something to the effect
that, it is not how we overcome our life challenges that is
in the end important, but how we live with them and perhaps
that is what this folk tale from India is all about.
The
Cracked Pot
1.
Pre-listening: What do you see when you look at the drawing
- a cup that's half full or a cup that's half empty? And what
does this say about the kind of person you are? Now listen
to the story.
2.
While-listening: Pause after the line 'As we return to
the Master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers
along the path' and ask the learners why the water carrier
said this to the pot. They can then listen to the rest of
the story to see whether their answers were correct or not.
3.
Post-listening: Now that you've listened to the story, look
at the drawing of the cup again. What do you see this time?
Do you see a cup that's half full or a cup that's half-empty?
Has your answer changed? And if it has, why do you think it
has?
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The
Cracked Pot
Once
upon a time there was a man whose job was to bring water
from the stream to his Master's house. The man carried
the water from the stream in two clay pots. He hung
the pots on each end of a pole, which he carried across
his shoulders, to and from the stream many times a day.
One
of the clay pots was perfect in every way for its purpose.
The other pot was exactly like the first one, but it
had a crack in it and it leaked. When the water bearer
reached his Master's house, the perfect pot was always
full, and the cracked pot was always half full.
The
perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, and it
boasted loudly. It criticized the cracked pot for its
failures, and reminded it that despite his efforts,
the water bearer could only deliver half a pot of water
due to his cracks. The poor cracked pot was ashamed
of its imperfections, and was miserable that it could
only accomplish half of what it was supposed to do.
One
day the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer. "I
want to apologize to you. Because of my cracked side
I've only been able to deliver half of the water to
your Master's home, and you don't get the full value
from your efforts."
The
water bearer smiled on the cracked pot, and in his compassion
he said, "As we return to the Master's house, I
want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed
as they climbed the path from the river to the Master's
mansion the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming
the beautiful flowers along one side of the path, and
it felt somewhat brighter. But when they reached their
destination and the water in the half-empty pot was
poured out, his sadness returned. "Thank you for
trying to cheer me up with the beautiful flowers, water
bearer," The pot spoke. " But I still must
apologize for my failure."
The
water bearer said, "Dear pot, you haven't understood
what I was trying to show you. Did you notice that the
flowers only grew on your side of the path? That's because
of your crack. I planted flower seeds on your side of
the path, and everyday as we walked from the stream
the water that leaks from your pot has watered them.
I could have got a new pot, but I preferred to gather
the flowers, and with them to bless many tables."
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Notes
for teachers:
Pre-listening:
What do you see when you look at the drawing - a cup that's
half full or a cup that's half empty? And what does this say
about the kind of person you are? Now listen to the story.
While-listening:
Pause after the line 'As we return to the Master's house,
I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path'
and ask the listeners why the water carrier said this to the
pot. They can then listen to the rest of the story to see
whether their answers were correct or not.
Post-listening:
Now that you've listened to the story, look at the drawing
of the cup again. What do you see this time? Do you see a
cup that's half full or a cup that's half-empty? Has your
answer changed? And if it has, why do you think it has?
To
the last part of the article
To Storytelling
for the Classroom 1
To Storytelling
for the Classroom 2
To Michael's
article 'Warrior, Settler or Nomad?'
To
'A Beginner's Guide To Storytelling lesson plan'
Back to the
articles index
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