Top 6 Best Lesson Plans for 'Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, Mouth' in Grade 6

A. KEY CONCEPTS

Fable: A type of prose literature that carries a deep educational message, offering essential life lessons that help awaken human consciousness and correct misunderstandings. Such stories are essential in guiding individuals toward recognizing human flaws.

Summary: The characters, Eye, Leg, Arm, and Ear, grew jealous of Mouth who only ate and did no work. They conspired to stop feeding Mouth, leaving Mouth bewildered and surprised. After a few days of exhaustion, they all realized their mistake. Ear, the first to recognize the error, suggested that they apologize to Mouth and resume feeding it. After doing so, everyone felt energized again. They understood that even Mouth had an essential role, critical for their survival.

From then on, Eye, Leg, Arm, and Ear lived in harmony with Mouth, each performing their duties without jealousy.

Lesson: This fable teaches that in any group, no member can function in isolation. Mutual support and cooperation are essential for survival, and everyone should respect each other's contributions.

B. EXERCISES AND SOLUTIONS

Question 1: (Page 116 - Grade 6 Literature Textbook) Why did Eye, Leg, Arm, and Ear feel envious of Mouth?

Answer:
They felt that they did all the hard work while Mouth did nothing but eat.
Eye was always watching.
Leg and Arm were constantly active.
Ear had to listen all the time.
They believed Mouth did nothing but eat, so they decided to stop working to see if Mouth could survive without food. They marched to Mouth's house to voice their frustrations.

Question 2: (Page 116 - Grade 6 Literature Textbook) The story uses human body parts as characters. The body can be seen as an organization or community where Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, and Mouth are the individuals. What lesson does the story convey?

Answer:
After Eye, Leg, Arm, and Ear decided not to do anything and leave Mouth to fend for itself, they quickly became exhausted and weak. On the seventh day, they could no longer bear it and held a meeting. Ear acknowledged the mistake and the importance of Mouth's role. Mouth's job, chewing food, was crucial for everyone’s well-being.
The story conveys several important lessons: The human body, like any organization, depends on all its parts working together. Each individual in an organization or community has a vital function, and cooperation is necessary for survival and prosperity. This lesson encourages the wisdom of working as a team, contributing, and not letting jealousy or laziness take over. For example, in a family, everyone needs to contribute to keeping the home in good condition for the happiness and well-being of all.

EXERCISES
Question 1: (Page 116 - Grade 6 Literature Textbook) Define 'Fable' and name the fables studied.

Answer:
A fable is a story, usually written in prose or verse, that uses animals, objects, or plants as metaphors to convey life lessons. Fables often aim to teach moral principles or guide behavior.
The fables studied include: The Frog at the Bottom of the Well; The Fortune Teller and the Elephant; The Cat and the Bell; Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, Mouth.

I. Genre Overview

The text 'Hands, Feet, Eyes, Ears, Mouth' is a fable. Fables often use animals, objects, or humans to subtly deliver lessons to guide and teach individuals about life.

Fables have a long history, dating back to ancient times. Aesop, a famous Greek poet, is known for writing fables in verse. Later, La Fontaine became a renowned fable author.

II. Summary

The story is about the characters Eyes, Feet, Hands, and Ears who, out of jealousy toward Mouth for only consuming and not contributing, decided to stop allowing Mouth to eat. Despite Mouth's confusion, the group left after announcing their decision.

After a few days, everyone felt exhausted and incapable of working. By the seventh day, they could no longer bear the consequences. Ears were the first to realize the mistake and, after understanding the importance of Mouth’s role, gathered to apologize and allow Mouth to eat again. Once Mouth was fed, everyone felt rejuvenated, realizing that each part of the body has its vital function. From then on, they all lived in harmony, no longer envying one another.

III. Structure

The text can be divided into three sections:

Section 1: From the start to “they left,” where the characters are in conflict with Mouth.

Section 2: From “they gathered to discuss” onward, showing the consequences of their wrong decision.

Section 3: The remaining part, where the characters realize their mistake and reconcile.

IV. Guide to Analysis

Question 1:

Eyes, Feet, Hands, and Ears envy Mouth because, according to their reasoning, Eyes must see, Hands must work, Feet must walk, and Ears must listen, all serving Mouth while Mouth does nothing but enjoy.

Question 2:

The story uses the human body parts as a metaphor for individuals in a community or organization. It suggests that every individual is vital for the group’s function and existence. The story teaches that:

Each individual cannot exist in isolation; communities and organizations are interdependent, with each member contributing to a shared goal.
The ideal principle of community life is “each for all, all for each.”

I - ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE TO MASTER

1. Definition of fables (see section 1.1, Lesson 10).

2. The story 'Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, Mouth' is a fable that anthropomorphizes the human body parts. The story uses these body parts to illustrate each individual's important role within the community.

II - READING GUIDELINES AND INTERPRETATION

1. The Eyes, Legs, Arms, and Ears argue with the Mouth because they feel they work hard all year, while the Mouth just sits and eats. The reasoning stems from their external observations: the Eyes must see, the Arms must work, the Legs must walk, and the Ears must listen. They all seem to serve the Mouth, while the Mouth only enjoys without doing anything.

2. The story uses the body parts to symbolize people. One can liken the human body to an organization or community, where each part—Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, and Mouth—represents individuals. From this relationship, the story offers advice:

- No individual can survive in isolation; they need to be interconnected within a community. Every community has an organized structure with specific functions.

- In a community, the principle of 'each for all, all for each' is crucial, as the poet To Huu says:

A single star cannot light up the night

A lone ear of rice cannot make a harvest

III - EXERCISES

Review the definition of a fable from Lesson 10, and recall the names of the fables studied: 'The Frog at the Bottom of the Well,' 'The Blind Men and the Elephant,' 'The Cat and the Bell,' and 'Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, Mouth.'

IV - REFERENCES

Fables use metaphors that are more about the idea than the story itself, as the plot serves to express concepts in a vivid way. The use of fantastical elements, when present, helps bring abstract ideas to life. Like proverbs, Vietnamese fables are a unique collection of folk philosophy. These tales convey the idea that a complete understanding of a phenomenon is necessary for true knowledge (e.g., 'The Blind Men and the Elephant'), actions that defy the natural order will fail ('The Foolish Farmer'), and a dialectical perspective on the development of things is essential ('The King and the Monkey'). They represent the wisdom of the people, with many fables illustrating the cleverness of ordinary people.

I. Overview of the work: 'Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, Mouth'

Question 1 (Page 116, Vietnamese Literature Textbook, Volume 1)

The Eyes, Legs, Arms, and Ears argue with the Mouth because:

- They feel they are overworked all year, while the Mouth just eats and does nothing.

- This argument comes from their superficial observation: the Eyes must see, the Arms must work, the Legs must move, and the Ears must listen, all of which serve the Mouth.

Question 2 (Page 116, Vietnamese Literature Textbook, Volume 1)

The story uses the human body parts to discuss human relationships:

+ One can think of the whole body as a community or organization, with each body part as an individual in the system.

- No individual can survive outside of their relationship with the community. Every community has a structured, interdependent relationship that determines each individual's function.

- Living in a community requires the spirit of 'each for all, all for each.'

Practice

- Definition of a fable: Refer to the notes in the textbook on page 100.

- Fables studied: 'The Frog at the Bottom of the Well,' 'The Blind Men and the Elephant,' 'The Cat and the Bell,' and 'Legs, Arms, Ears, Eyes, Mouth.'

Answer to Question 1 (Page 116, Literature Textbook Grade 6, Volume 1):

Why do the Eyes, Legs, Hands, and Ears complain about the Mouth?

Detailed Answer:

- The Eyes, Legs, Hands, and Ears complain about the Mouth because, one day, they realize that they have to "work hard all year round, while the Mouth does nothing, just sits and eats all the time."

- This argument stems from a narrow perspective: the eyes see, the hands work, the legs walk, the ears listen, all for the Mouth’s enjoyment.

Answer to Question 2 (Page 116, Literature Textbook Grade 6, Volume 1):

This story uses parts of the human body to talk about people. It compares the human body to an organization or community, with each body part representing an individual in the group. What lesson does this story aim to teach?

Detailed Answer:

From the inseparable relationship between the characters – the body parts – the story teaches us a lesson:

- No individual can exist independently from their connection with the community. Every community has an organization, interrelated roles, and self-regulated functions.

- Living in a community requires a spirit of cooperation, where everyone supports each other for the benefit of all.

EXERCISE

1. Recollect the definition of a fable and the titles of the fables you have studied.

Answer:

- Definition: A fable is a type of story, told in prose or verse, that uses animals, objects, or humans to indirectly comment on human behavior, offering moral lessons or advice.

- Fables studied:

+ The Frog in the Bottom of the Well

+ The Blind Man and the Elephant

+ Legs, Hands, Eyes, Ears, Mouth.

Summary

The Eyes, Legs, Hands, and Ears complained about the Mouth for just sitting and eating. They decided not to work so the Mouth wouldn’t have anything to eat. But after a few days, everyone became exhausted because when the Mouth didn’t eat, everyone became weak. The Mouth’s job was to chew food and provide energy. Realizing their mistake, the Eyes, Legs, Hands, and Ears apologized and allowed the Mouth to eat and regain strength. From then on, they lived harmoniously together.

Structure

Structure: 3 parts

- Part 1 (From the beginning … to “they all went back”): The Eyes, Legs, Hands, and Ears decide to go against the Mouth.

- Part 2 (The following … to “they decided to meet and discuss”): The consequences of their complaints and jealousy.

- Part 3 (The rest): The way to resolve the consequences.

Main Message

In any group, each member cannot exist separately and must rely on and connect with each other to thrive. Cooperation and mutual respect are essential for everyone’s well-being.

Lesson 1, Page 116, Vietnamese Language Book 6, Volume 1

Why do Eyes, Legs, Arms, and Ears argue with Mouth?

Answer:

- Because they feel they work hard all year round just so Mouth can sit and eat without doing anything.

Eyes have to constantly watch.

Arms and Legs must always be active.

Ears have to always listen.

They feel Mouth does nothing but eat.

Therefore, they decided to stop working and see if Mouth can survive. They eagerly went to Mouth's house to express their dissatisfaction.

Lesson 2, Page 116, Vietnamese Language Book 6, Volume 1

The story uses parts of the human body to represent human interaction. One can view the human body as a community, where Legs, Arms, Eyes, Ears, and Mouth are the individuals within that community. From this relationship, the story offers a moral lesson.

Answer:

- After deciding to stop working, Eyes, Ears, Arms, and Legs quickly became exhausted, and by the seventh day, they could not continue. They realized their mistake and acknowledged the importance of Mouth's role in digestion. They realized that by eating, Mouth provided energy for the whole body.

- From this relationship, the story encourages several valuable lessons:

The story uses human body parts to reflect human interaction, discussing social organizations.

Every organization and individual has a unique role and is interconnected. No organization can function without others. To survive and thrive, organizations and individuals must cooperate and be connected to the group.

The story serves as a wise and practical piece of advice: "One for all." Every action and behavior of an individual not only affects themselves but also impacts the entire community.

For example, in a family, everyone must contribute to maintaining a clean and happy home. People should not be envious or shift their responsibilities to others.

Practice Exercises
Practice Question, Page 116, Vietnamese Language Book 6, Volume 1

Define a fable and list the fables studied so far.

Answer:

A fable is a story, in prose or verse, using animals, objects, or humans to subtly convey lessons or advice about life.

The fables we've studied include:

– The Frog at the Bottom of the Well

– The Blind Men and the Elephant

– The Mice Who Wear Bells

– Legs, Arms, Eyes, Ears, Mouth.

Summary of the Story: Legs, Arms, Eyes, Ears, Mouth

Eyes, Legs, Arms, and Ears, jealous of Mouth's constant eating and lack of work, decide to stop working and let Mouth fend for itself. But soon, everyone becomes weak and exhausted. On the seventh day, they admit their mistake and realize Mouth’s vital role in keeping the body healthy by digesting food. They apologize and return to working together in harmony.

Conclusion

This story teaches us that no one can live in isolation. To survive, everyone must cooperate, respect each other’s contributions, and work together in unity.