Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach

milk were empty. But when he returned from the barn, he was smiling. He had had a wonder-
ful surprise. All of the pails were filled to the brim with milk or cream. As he walked back to
the field he was whistling. Never again did Mr. Fitzgerald interfere when his wife gave away
milk to the poor. The more milk she gave away, the more the family seemed to prosper.

QUESTIONS:

1. Why was Mrs. Fitzgerald well known?


2. What happened that surprised Mr. Fitzgerald?


3. What is the lesson or moral of this story?

LEARNING ACTIVITY: Working in teams, read and discuss “A Meal for a Stranger” and an-

swer questions 1–4.

A MEAL FOR A STRANGER

Near the village there lived an old woman and her husband. They lived on a small farm and
were very poor. One day the husband and a friend were working in a field not far from the
house. As dinner time approached, the old woman prepared a meal of porridge for them and
placed three plates on the table. Soon she went outside to call the men into the house to eat.
When she returned to her kitchen, she found a stranger. He had a wild, hungry look on his
face. He said that he was starving and asked the woman for something to eat. Even though
she only had a little bit of porridge herself, she told him he could have a meal. He quickly ate
one serving and then asked for more. She gave him another serving and he finished that one
also. Then he thanked the old woman and left.
As soon as he had gone the husband and his friend entered the house. She asked them if
they had seen the stranger, but they replied, “No.” She was puzzled and told them what had
happened. Her husband said, “You have done the right thing. One portion of porridge will be
enough for the three of us.” From that day on the family’s luck changed. The old woman and
her husband, their children and their grandchild all had plenty to eat and happy lives.

QUESTIONS:

1. Whom did the woman find in her kitchen?


2. What difficult decision did she make?


3. What is the lesson or moral of this story?


4. How are the two stories similar and different?

I.d. Outline for an Activity-Based Lesson

UNIT: _______________________________________________________________________

AIM QUESTION: ______________________________________________________________

GOALS/OBJECTIVES (STANDARDS): _____________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

MAIN IDEAS/UNDERSTANDINGS/CONCEPTS: ______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

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PLANNING 75