History 1-32d—The Crow & the Pitcher
The Crow and the Pitcher
} If this fable is not the one you chose to use for your gospel principle, read the fable (below), let the
children guess the moral, read the moral the story has, discuss if desired, and go on to the next fable.
Gospel Principle: We accomplish good things in our life line upon line, little by little with
practice, effort, and the help of the Lord.
Reason
This is the last fable we will read today.
} Read “The Crow and the Pitcher”
The Crow and the Pitcher
A Crow, weak from thirst, came upon a Pitcher. It had once been full of water,
but now there was only a little water left. The Crow put its beak in the water and tried
to take a sip, but the water was too low for him to reach. He tried, and he tried, and
almost gave up in despair, when he had an idea. He took a pebble and dropped it
into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he
took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble
and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into
the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. At last, after
he had dropped many pebbles into the water, the water was almost high enough for
him to reach. He dropped in a few more pebbles, put his beak in the water, and drank.
It was enough to quench his thirst and save his life.
} Show the pitcher partially full of water.
Here is a pitcher. It has a little bit of water in it. I also have some pebbles (or other
object). Let’s see how many we need to put in this water to make the water rise high
enough to make it possible for a bird to get the water with his beak.
Reason
 What do you think the moral to this fable might be? (Answers will vary.)
The moral that was written with the story is “little by little does the trick.”

How does the story illustrate this moral? (The crow had to add one little pebble
after another into the pitcher in order to get the water high enough to drink.)
The Lord teaches us this same idea in the Doctrine and Covenants 98:11-12. Let’s read
this scripture together.
11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto
all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of
God.
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
History 1-32d—The Crow & the Pitcher
12 For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try
you and prove you herewith.

What do you think this scripture means? (As we try to forsake evil, the Lord will
teach us how to be good. He will do it line upon line or little by little. We will have
to always be listening for the new things He has to give us.)
Line upon line could mean something we need to do all the time, every day, day after
day, so we can learn, or it may mean that there are things we can learn only a little at
a time.

Can you think of some things we need to do every day so we can learn?
o We need to read our scriptures every day.
o We need to pray every day.
o We need to be kind to others every day.
o We need to practice every day.
o We need to keep our home clean every day.
o We need to obey every day.
o We need to take care of our bodies every day.

What are some things we can learn only a little at a time?
o How to play an instrument.
o How to do math.
o How to understand the scriptures better.
o How to teach the gospel.
o How to do some skill, like sweep the floor, or cook, or sew.
} Give the children a copy of 1-33g—Mormonad: Line upon Line

What goal is this picture showing? (Going to the temple.)

Do you think going to the temple requires little, daily steps? (Yes)
Relate
} Give the children a copy of 1-33h—Handout: Little Steps
Like the crow, each of us has things we need to do little by little in order to reach some
goal. Each of you think of something you would like to accomplish. Once you have
thought of something, share with us what you thought of.
On this paper are several footsteps. At the end of the row of footsteps, write the thing
you have thought of. For example: something you would like to make, a musical piece
you would like to learn, someone you would like to help, an area in your room you
would like to improve, a goal you would like to reach in scouting, etc.
Now let’s think about all the small things that will need to be done “little by little” in
order to reach your goal. There are twelve footsteps on this page. Let’s write these little
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
History 1-32d—The Crow & the Pitcher
things in order on the steps that lead toward our goals. } Help the children think of little steps
toward their goal.
Now you can reach your goals with this paper as a guide.
If you are prayerful and diligent in completing each little thing you will see that “We
accomplish good things in our life line upon line, little by little with practice, effort, and
the help of the Lord.” } Write this gospel principle on the board.
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.