The Cardinal and the Watering Can

I found this simple story online from the NY Public Library. I had to adapt it, since the original is a bluebird and a watering can and I only have a cardinal. Super-easy and quick. A good chance for little ones to practice listening skills.

Puppet:
Any bird you have on hand

Props:

A watering can
a nest
stones

(Pass one stone to each child to hold during the story. Tell them it's part of little cardinal's plan.)

One day a little cardinal was flying home. She was very tired and very thirsty. But she couldn't find water to drink anywhere! She flew high and low, looking for a stream or a puddle and there were none to be found. She stopped on a tree limb to rest. (Perch her on your arm. Pant.) She was so thirsty!

Just then, she spotted a green watering can next to the flower bed. Maybe it has water in it! she thought.
She flew down and perched on the edge of the can. Yes! There was water inside!
But little cardinal couldn't get all the way in the bottom where the water was--she might get stuck. So she thought and thought and came up with a plan:  if she could tip the watering can over, she may be able to pour water to the edge of the can and have a drink.
Little cardinal pushed and pushed and pushed, but she couldn't turn the watering can over! She was so thirsty!

So she thought and thought and came up with another plan. (One child interjected that little cardinal could go find a grown-up to pour the water out of the can; another child offered his stuffed bunny to help little cardinal push the can over!)
Next to the can, she saw a pile of stones. One by one, she dropped the stones into the can. (I let children help with this part and put their stone into the watering can.) Do you know what happened? Each stone she dropped in the can caused the water to rise a bit. With each stone, up and up the water rose until it was high enough in the can for cardinal to take a sip.

What a good plan! Little cardinal was no longer thirsty, and flew on to her nest.

So, when you encounter a problem, stop and take time to think. You CAN solve your problem, even if it's one small stone at a time.