Leo Senex et Vulpes: A Fable fable tells the story of an old lion who pretends to be sick so that animals will come to him (so he doesn’t have to hunt). A fox, though, sees through the old king’s ruse. Teaching materials are available, including tiered readings and visuals, to support the reading of the fable.
The story is also available on No Dictionaries and Bestiaria Latina.
Materials:
- Leo Senex et Vulpes: A Fable – PowerPoint
- Individual whiteboards and markers (optional)
- Leo Senex et Vulpes Tiered Reading
Lesson Plan for Reading Leo Senex et Vulpes
- Provide whiteboards and markers to students.
- Project the PowerPoint Leo Senex et Vulpes.
- Circle the vocabulary and phrases by asking questions about the images. Encourage drawing at various moments in the activity. See notes for further suggestions.
- Do short picture talks of some of the images, circling the vocabulary. Here’s a great description of a picture talk.
- Read the simple sentences from the easiest tier of the fable in the PowerPoint. Use the pictures to expand upon and reinforce the targeted vocabulary.
- The next day, reproject the easier tier and review the story together.
- Next, choose another level of the tier, depending on your students’ ability. You could have students read in pairs the next tier. You could then regroup students to read the final tier. Or, choose another activity that’s low prep and fun for your students.
- Have students turn the final tier of the fable into a comic strip, including captions for the story and illustrating all the important elements of the story.
- Consider collecting and projecting some of the fables the next day.
The Tiers for Leo Senex et Vulpes: A Fable
Tier I:
Leo senex erat. Leo in spelunca recubabat, et aegrum simulabat (sed aeger non erat). Omnia animalia venerunt visitatum leonem regem. Et quid leo rex agebat? Leo subito animalia devoravit! Olim vulpes etiam venit visitatum leonem, sed vulpes cauta erat. Vulpes in speluncam non ivit, sed vulpes ante speluncam stabat. Vulpes salutavit regem, “Salve, rex!” “Cur in speluncam tu non is?” interrogavit leo. Vulpes respondit, “Quia video multa vestigia animalorum, sed nulla vestigia revenientium animalium e spelunca.”
Tier II:
Leo, senex annis, recubabat in spelunca et aegrum simulabat. Visitatum regem multae venerunt bestiae, quas bestias leo protinus (subito, statim) devoravit. Vulpes etiam venit et speluncam accessit, sed cauta ante speluncam procul (longe) stabat. Vulpes salutavit regem, “Salve, rex!” “Cur in speluncam non intras?” interrogavit leo. Vulpes respondit, “Quod video multa vestigia intrantium animalium, at (sed) nulla exeuntium (revenientium) animalium e spelunca.”
Tier III:
Leo, defectus annis, recubabat in spelunca sua et aegrum simulabat. Visitatum regem complures venerunt bestiae, quas protinus devoravit. Accessit etiam vulpes, sed cauta ante speluncam procul stabat, salutans regem. “Cur non intras?” interrogavit leo. Vulpes respondit, “Quod video vestigia intrantium multa, at nulla exeuntium.”
If you like fables, check out mures et cattus horribilis!
