Lessons Beyond the Stories

Every story has something to teach us. Behind every hero's journey or magical event lies a message about life. In this part, you will discover the moral values in folktales and learn to express your own ideas by retelling or creating meaningful stories.

Mission 1. The Tale and Its Hidden Words

Read the folktale below carefully. As you read, underline or highlight the words that seem new or difficult. Then, try to guess their meanings based on how they are used in the story. After reading, answer the vocabulary questions that follow.

The Honest Woodcutter

Once upon a time, there was a poor woodcutter who lived near a forest. Every day, he went to the river to cut trees and sell the wood in the market. One morning, while chopping a tree near the riverbank, his axe slipped from his hand and fell into the water. The river was deep, and the woodcutter was heartbroken because he had no money to buy a new one. Suddenly, a kind spirit appeared from the river. She asked, "Why are you sad, good man?" The woodcutter told her what had happened. The spirit smiled and dove back into the river. When she came up again, she held a golden axe and said, "Is this your axe?" The woodcutter shook his head and said honestly, "No, that is not mine." Then the spirit showed him a silver axe, but again he said, "No, that's not mine either." Finally, she brought out his old, rusty axe. The woodcutter smiled and said, "Yes, that's my axe!" The spirit was so pleased with his honesty that she gave him all three axes as a reward. When the woodcutter's greedy neighbor heard the story, he tried to do the same thing. But when he lied and claimed the golden axe was his, the spirit disappeared and he lost everything. Vocabulary list:

Word	Sentence (from the story)	Meaning

Mission 2. The Value Within the Tale!

Read the folktale carefully and try to understand the story's events and characters. While reading, underline or highlight any new or interesting words you find. After finishing the story, answer the questions that follow to check your understanding and think about the lessons you can learn.

The Legend of Dewi Sri — The Goddess of Rice (Indonesian Folktale)

Long ago, in the heavenly kingdom of Kahyangan, there lived a beautiful goddess named Dewi Sri, known for her kindness and wisdom. She was loved by all beings because wherever she went, peace and harmony followed. One day, a giant dragon named Antaboga, who was loyal to the king of heaven, felt lonely. He wished for a daughter he could love and care for. The king granted his wish and turned one of the dragon's tears into a baby girl. That child was Dewi Sri. As she grew up, Dewi Sri became a symbol of beauty and goodness. However, her beauty caught the attention of Batara Guru's evil brother, who became jealous and wanted to possess her. When he tried to harm her, the gods protected Dewi Sri by sending her to live on Earth in the form of a human. Although she missed her heavenly home, Dewi Sri brought her kindness and wisdom wherever she went. One day, she found people on Earth suffering from hunger because they did not know how to grow food. Dewi Sri felt pity and wanted to help. She taught them how to plant and harvest crops, to take care of the land, and to thank nature for its blessings. With her guidance, the fields became green, and people began to live happily and peacefully. Sadly, a greedy king from a neighbouring kingdom wanted to take control of the rich fields. He captured Dewi Sri and demanded that she make his land even more fertile. But Dewi Sri refused to use her power for someone's greed. Angered, the king killed her. After her death, something miraculous happened. From her body grew the first rice plant, along with other useful plants that became the source of food for all humans. When the people saw this miracle, they wept and promised to always respect the earth. From then on, Indonesians have worshipped Dewi Sri as the Goddess of Rice, believing that every grain of rice carries her blessing. Questions: 1. Who is Dewi Sri, and how did she come into existence? 2. Why did the gods send Dewi Sri to live on Earth? 3. What did Dewi Sri teach humans when she lived on Earth? 4. How did the people's lives change after Dewi Sri's teachings? 5. What did the greedy king want from Dewi Sri? 6. What happened after Dewi Sri refused to help the greedy king? 7. What miracle occurred after her death? 8. What lesson about greed can be learned from this story? 9. What lesson about gratitude and nature does the story teach? 10. If Dewi Sri were alive today, what message do you think she would give to modern people? (Answer in your own words.)

Mission 3. Match the Words of Wisdom

Below are ten words related to the story The Legend of Dewi Sri. Each word carries an important meaning about kindness, nature, and values. Choose the correct word from the box to match each meaning. Write your answers clearly in your notebook.

Words List

Matching table:

Meaning	Word

Mission 4. Moral Detective

Read each of the three folktales carefully. Every story teaches an important life lesson about human behavior and values. After reading, write down the moral message in your own words for each story.

No	Story	Moral Value

Mission 5. The Value Chart

In this mission, you will complete the table by filling in each column with the required information about two folktales. Use your understanding of the folktales you've read in this chapter or other stories you already know. Make sure to write clearly and provide accurate information for each part of the table.

No	Story

Value Chart

Elements	Malin Kundang (The Ungrateful Son)	The Golden Goose

Mission 6. If I Were in the Story

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were one of the characters in a folktale? In this mission, choose one folktale you've read in this chapter, it can be The Legend of Dewi Sri, Malin Kundang, The Golden Goose, or any other story you like. Example: Story Title: Malin Kundang (The Ungrateful Son) (Indonesian Folktale) If I were in the story of Malin Kundang, I would remind Malin to always be grateful and respect his mother. I would stay beside her and help her live a happy life. If I saw Malin denying her, I would speak up and tell him that wealth means nothing without love and respect. I believe the story would end happily if Malin realized his mistake earlier. It would teach that family is the greatest treasure in life.

Mission 7. Name That Part!

Read the story below carefully. Each paragraph represents one part of a folktale structure. Write the correct name, Orientation, Complication, Resolution, or Moral Value, beside each paragraph. The Golden Starfruit Tree (Indonesian Folktale)

Paragraph	Story Part

Mission 8. Complete the Magic Sentences!

Below are sentences about general folktales and life lessons. Read carefully and choose the correct word from the Word Box to complete each sentence. Use context clues to help you find the best answer.

Words List

Fill in the blank sentences: 1. The young boy was very brave — he saved the village from the wild beast. 2. The old woman gave the traveller a __________ bag that could make gold appear. 3. The kind girl made a __________ to visit her grandmother every week. 4. A greedy man received a __________ after stealing money from others. 5. The farmer stayed __________ even when he had no money. 6. The hunter lost his way in the deep __________ during the storm. 7. The princess was __________ enough to tell the truth in front of the king. 8. The fairy decided to __________ the honest woodcutter with a golden axe. 9. The fisherman was very __________; he tricked the giant to escape from danger. 10. The king gave a great __________ to those who protected the kingdom.

Mission 9. Share Your Folktale!

Think of one folktale you already know, it can be from Indonesia (Malin Kundang, Bawang Merah Bawang Putih, The Golden Starfruit Tree) or from another country (Cinderella, The Lion and the Mouse, The Golden Goose). Write your folktale again below, but this time organize it into the correct story structure:

No	Structure	Your Writing