Slide 1 Mama Mouse and El Gato A Tale from Cuba How do cats and mice usually feel about each other? What do you think might happen to young mice if they met a cat? Once upon a time there lived a mama mouse, una ratona, and three little mouse children, los tres ratoncitos. Mama Mouse was a gentle and loving mother. She never raised her voice, even when her children were naughty. This is a story about a time when the three little mice were very naughty indeed. One day Mama Mouse peeked out of their hole in the wall of the big house where they lived. She said, “I must go search for food for us to eat.” “Let us help search, Mama!” said one little mouse. “Yes, yes, sí, sí!” said the others. “No,” said Mama. “You are too little. The cat, el gato, who guards this house, is too big.”

Slide 2 Mama Mouse and El Gato A Tale from Cuba (Cont.) “We are not afraid of el gato!” declared the three little mice. “You should be!” Mama said. “El gato has teeth and claws as sharp as knives! If el gato sees you, he will grab you and eat you up!” To show the little mice what she meant, Mama Mouse imitated the cat’s actions. She showed her teeth and pretended to grab the little mice with her claws. “Now little mice, mind your mama! Stay inside!” she said. “Sí, Mama, we will stay inside,” said the three little mice. Then Mama kissed her children, poked her head out, and scampered out in search of food for her family. The little mice played quietly for a little while. But soon they were bored. Then one little mouse asked, “Why did Mama compare el gato’s teeth and claws to sharp knives?” The other little mice wondered too.

Slide 3 Mama Mouse and El Gato A Tale from Cuba (Cont.) Now the three little mice were feeling very smart and very brave. Can you guess what they did next? Uno, dos, tres little mice poked their heads out of their hole and looked around. When the coast was clear, they tiptoed out. They went towards the kitchen. “Shh, or el gato will hear us,” said one little mouse. “You shush!” whispered another. “You both shush!” said the third mouse. As the three little mice were busy shushing each other, el gato pounced! The little mice ran, as fast as they could, but el gato trapped them in a corner. “Mama, Mama, Mama!” they cried. They watched and trembled as el gato bared his teeth and raised his claws.

Slide 4 Mama Mouse and El Gato A Tale from Cuba (Cont.) Mama Mouse wasted no time. She scampered up behind el gato and stood up on her back paws. She raised her arms high. She opened her mouth, and can you guess what she said? She barked at the top of her voice, “Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!” “A dog!” thought el gato, who was as frightened of dogs as the mice were of cats. He turned and dashed out of the room. Back in their hole, the three little mice said, “We are sorry, Mama. You were right. El gato has teeth and claws as sharp as knives!” Mama Mouse smiled. She was content knowing that the little mice had learned an important lesson. She said gently, “Yes, but there is one more lesson for today.” “What is that, Mama?” asked the three little mice eagerly. “Learn to speak another language! You never know when you will need it,” Mama said. “Now, here is your first word in dog language—woof! Say it with me—woof!” “Woof!” said the three little mice. Unit 5, Week 1 1. What kind of actions does a bird make when it is flying? 2. What do you look for when you compare two books you might like to read? 3. What makes you feel content? Why? 4. Why do you have to be gentle with a baby? 5. What does a dog do when it guards a house? 6. Would you peek if you knew someone was wrapping a present for you? Why or why not? 7. What kinds of animals pounce? What do they pounce on? 8. If someone scampers away, do they move quickly or slowly? 9. Why do some pets tremble during a thunderstorm?