Interactive Read Aloud
Unit 6 Week 1
The Cat’s Bell
Based on a Fable by Aesop
How can mice work together to keep a cat away?
A hungry little mouse peeked out of her hole. Her tummy rumbled.
She could see a table loaded with good things to eat. The people
Oral Vocabulary
fair
Define: Something is fair when
everyone is treated the same
way.
Example: When you play a
game, it’s fair to take turns.
Ask: Did you ever play a game
where someone did something
that wasn’t fair? What did the
person do? What did you do?
in her house had finished dinner.
“Look at all the lovely leftovers!” she squeaked.
The other mice sniffed and sighed. They were hungry, too.
“So much yummy food,” said the little mouse’s friend. “And we
can’t have any. It’s not fair !”
The hungry little mouse nodded. The food was there—but so was
Max, the cat. He was looking at the mousehole and swishing his tail
back and forth.
Her tummy rumbled again. “I’m going to get supper,” she said.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS
Identify Story Structure Say:
Many stories begin with a
problem that the characters
will try to solve. Who are the
characters in this story? What
problem do they have to solve?
How do you think the mice will
solve their problem?
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Anthony Lewis
“Don’t go!” squeaked her friend. “You could get hurt!”
Intensive Vocabulary Support
Introduce the underlined words
using the routine on How to Use
the Interactive Read-Aloud Cards.
1
Interactive Read Aloud
Unit 6 Week 1
“We have to do something about the cat, then,” said the first
Oral Vocabulary
risk
little mouse.
“But what can we do?” asked her friend.
The other mice were listening to them.
Define: When you risk
something, you take the chance
that you might get hurt.
“We need to find a dog to chase Max away,” one said.
Example: Don’t risk riding your
bike without a helmet.
“That’s silly,” said another. “Where are we going to find a dog?
Besides, what if the dog chases us, too? We can’t risk that.”
Ask: Have you ever read a story
in which a character risked
getting hurt? What happened?
“Let’s just wait until he goes outside,” said a timid mouse.
“But he could sneak back in,” said an older mouse. “That’s the
trouble. We never know when he’s coming.”
Soon the mice were in the middle of a big conflict . One mouse
after another shouted out ideas about what to do. Each mouse tried
to shout louder than the others.
The first little mouse couldn’t stand the noise. She put her paws
conflict
Define: A conflict is a struggle
or fight.
Example: My friend wanted to
play with dolls, but I wanted
to play on the swings. We had
a conflict.
Ask: Have you ever been in a
conflict with someone? How
did you resolve it?
over her ears.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Anthony Lewis
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS
The Cat’s Bell
2
Words with Multiple Meanings
Say: The last sentence says the
“mouse couldn’t stand the
noise.” What does the word
stand mean here? What else can
the word stand mean? What do
you do when you stand up?
Interactive Read Aloud
Unit 6 Week 1
Then the little mouse had an idea. “Noise! That’s the solution!”
she shouted, taking her paws from her ears. “Max sneaks up
on us because he’s so quiet. If we hear him coming, we can run
away safely.”
The other mice nodded.
“What we need to do,” said the first mouse, “is put a bell on
the cat.”
Oral Vocabulary
argument
Define: An argument is an
angry talk between two or
more people.
Example: The brothers had an
argument over who would ride
the bike first.
Ask: If you had an argument
with your best friend, what
would you do to make up?
All the mice jumped up and down in excitement. They twirled
their tails and clapped their paws. What a wonderful idea!
Then a wise old mouse spoke up. “Yes,” he said. “It’s a good idea.
But let me ask you this: Who will bell the cat?”
The mice stopped clapping. They looked at each other. Who
would take such a risk and put a bell on the cat?
“Not me!” said one, and another, and another.
“You do it! No, you!”
They pushed and shouted at each other. None of the mice
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Anthony Lewis
wanted to get close to the cat. Another argument was starting.
The Cat’s Bell
3
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS
Compare and Contrast. Point
to Cards 2 and 3 and guide
children to compare and
contrast the pictures of the
mice interacting. Ask: The
mice are showing their feelings
in both pictures. What is
different about the mice in the
illustrations? Is anything alike?
Interactive Read Aloud
Unit 6 Week 1
“Stop!” cried the little mouse. “There’s no need to quarrel. We
Oral Vocabulary
shift
must all work together.”
The mice got quiet and shifted their feet.
“I know where there’s a bell,” said the timid mouse. “It’s in the
children’s room.”
“When Max goes outside, I’ll get the bell,” offered a strong
mouse.
Define: When you shift, you
move or change position.
Example: Alex shifted in bed
all night. He could not find a
comfortable position.
Ask: Have you ever shifted
while standing in line for a
long time? Why?
“I can find a ribbon,” said the little mouse’s friend.
“We’ll string the bell on the ribbon,” said three young mice.
“And we’ll put it where the people will find it with a note that
says, ‘For Max,’” said two grown-up mice.
Early the next morning, all the mice were watching when the
people came into the kitchen for breakfast.
“Oh, look at the pretty ribbon with a bell,” said the woman. “And
it’s for Max!” She quickly tied it on Max. He looked very silly as he
ran to hide, the bell jingling with every step.
All the little mice were thrilled. They couldn’t wait for the people
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Anthony Lewis
to finish breakfast, so the mice could have theirs!
Retell
Help children use the pictures
to retell the story.
Card 1: What is the mouse
doing? What do the mice
want? What keeps them from
getting what they want?
Card 2: What are the mice
talking about? What are they
saying to each other? Do they
agree?
Card 3: What was the little
mouse’s idea? What did the
wise old mouse say? What did
the other mice do?
Card 4: What did the mice
make? Where did it come
from? What is it for? How will
this help the mice get what
they want?
The Cat’s Bell
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