 Grab your notebook, a packet, and please have a seat.  On your packet, answer the following question: “What is a parable? Who writes them?”  Be prepared to share!

An interesting puzzle…

 Students will understand the purpose and nature of the parable  Students will apply reasoning skills in order to derive meaning from selected parables.  D.O.L- Students will complete a set of multiple choice and short answer questions to be checked before the end of the period.

 Parable/- a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson  Quick Discussion: What is another form of writing that attempts to teach a moral lesson

PARABLEFABLE  The meaning is very subjective  Meant for adults  The lesson is given as didactic  The meaning is very singular  Meant for children  The lesson is meant to guide learning.

A man who lost his axe suspected his neighbour's son of stealing it. To him, as he observed the boy, the way the lad walked, the expression on his face, the manner of his speech - in fact everything about his appearance and behaviour betrayed that he had stolen the axe. Not long afterwards the man found his axe while digging in his cellar. When he saw his neighbour's son again, nothing about the boy's behaviour nor appearance seemed to suggest that he had stolen the axe.  Take two minutes to discuss with your table group– What is the main message?

Once upon a time, a man walking along a beach saw a boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea. He asked the boy why he was throwing starfish into the sea. The boy replied, "The tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll dry up and die." The man smiled patronisingly and said, "But, there are miles of beach and thousands of starfish on every mile. You can't possibly make a difference!" The boy smiled, bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the sea. "Well," he said, "I made a difference for that one.“ How would MLK respond to this passage? How would Gloria Steinem

 Take five minutes to list everything you know about the Zen tradition  Be prepared to share!

 A form of Buddhism which focuses upon simplicity  Originated in East Asia (ca. 500 B.C.)  The goal is to move from confusion to clarity by learning from a master

 Read the four parables that you have been given  Answer the accompanying multiple choice and short answer questions  When we are close to the end of the period, we will discuss our answers.