The Bear and the Bees
Based on a fable by Aesop · Adapted for children by YouAndWorld
One afternoon, a hungry bear found a beehive filled with golden honey.
As he reached toward it, a bee flew out and stung him on the nose.
— Ouch! How dare you sting me! — roared the bear.
Instead of stepping back and calming down, he struck the hive with his large paw.
The hive shook, and hundreds of bees rushed outside to protect their home. They buzzed around the bear and stung his ears, paws, back, and tail.
The bear ran through the forest and jumped into a pond. He hid beneath the water until the bees returned home.
When he climbed onto the bank, his whole body felt sore.
— One sting was unpleasant, but my anger brought me hundreds more, — he said sadly.
The next time something small upset him, the bear paused, breathed slowly, and thought before acting. He had learned that a moment of patience could prevent a great deal of trouble.
Moral of the Story
Anger can turn a small problem into a much bigger one.
Questions to Discuss
- What did the bear find in the forest?
- Why did one bee sting him?
- What did the bear do when he became angry?
- How did the other bees react?
- What could the bear have done differently?
- Why should we pause before acting in anger?
Video
The Hares and the Frogs
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