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      Prince Llywelyn lived near Snowdon in Wales long ago. He married Princess Joan, daughter of John, King of England. Princess Joan brought a gift from England for Llywelyn, a wolf-hound. Llywelyn named him Gelert. He became his favourite dog, and they used to hunt wild wolves together in the hills near the castle. Meanwhile Joan gave birth to a son. Llywelyn loved his son and was very proud of him. Gelert also loved his master’s son and used to guard the baby as he slept in his cradle. One day, when Llywelyn went out hunting, Gelert was missing. When Llywelyn returned that night, he found Gelert next to his son’s cradle. The dog was panting and covered in blood. The cradle had been knocked over; the baby’s blankets were torn and lying all over the floor. Llywelyn thought that the dog had attacked the baby. He drew his sword and killed the dog. But the dog’s dying cry was followed by the cry of a baby. Llywelyn searched under the blankets and found his son alive and unharmed. Next to the baby was the body of a wolf. Llywelyn realised that Gelert had fought and killed the wolf which had been about to attack the baby. Llywelyn buried Gelert’s body in a meadow near his house. He placed two large stones on the grave. He also built a church near the grave to thank God for his son’s life. It was said that Llywelyn never smiled again for the rest of his life. In later years, a village was built around the church and grave: it was named Bedd Gelert, which, in the Welsh language means ‘the grave of Gelert’. Today, many tourists visit the village and Gelert’s grave.

      2. Use this information to tell the story in your own words. Try to show the sadness of the story in the way that you tell it.

      Formal assessment: If your teacher wishes to use this activity for formal assessment, you will work entirely on your own. Here is a rubric your teacher may use.

      Peer assessment: If your teacher does not take your story in for assessment, your partner will first comment on it, and then your teacher will ask some of you to read the story out loud for the class for general comment.

      3. Imagine that you are Prince Llywelyn. How did you feel when you found your baby alive and realised what a terrible mistake you had made? Write an entry for your personal diary, describing what happened and your feelings about what you have done.

      4. Prince Llywelyn acted without thinking. He thought he knew what had happened, and took action without making sure that he was right. Later he realised his mistake, but by then it was too late. Think of a time when you behaved in the same way. Write about it.

      5. How would you behave if the same thing happened to you again? Write about this also.

      Formal Assessment: Your teacher may take these two pieces of writing for assessment.

      Listen to a story

      Yet another skill that you will use and need for the rest of your life is listening well. Practise this skill by listening to the story your teacher will read you in the next activity.

      If your teacher wishes to use this activity as Formal Assessment you must work alone. You will answer questions 2(i) and 2(k) in writing.

      1. Listen to a story about a donkey who is not treated very well but who shows that he is cleverer than his master. Many people think that donkeys are stupid animals but this story makes us think again!

      2. Now discuss the following questions with your partner:

      (a) The story is a parable. Explain what this means. Can you think of examples of other parables?

      (b) Describe the donkey’s health at the beginning of the story. What problems did he have and in what ways was he still healthy?

      (c) What verb describes the sound that a donkey makes? Can you think of any others?

      (d) Tell your partner, in your own words, what the farmer decided to do after the donkey fell into the well. What was his reason? Would you have done the same thing? [You will need to decide which of you answers question d) and which question e)]

      (e) Your partner can now describe, in own words, the donkey’s plan to save himself.

      (f) Explain the phrase ‘put him out of his misery’. Can you think of other situations when people might use these words?

      (g) What do you think the donkey’s feelings were when he climbed out of the well at the end of the story? Explain your answer.

      (h) How do you think the farmer and his friends felt at the end of the story? Explain your answer.

      (i) What are your feelings at the end of the story? Tell your partner.

      (j) What lesson does the parable teach us about life?

      (k) Think of a situation in your own life when you could behave just like the wise old donkey. Tell your partner.

      Animals in comic strips

      In previous activities, you wrote stories in words. Another way of telling a story is through words and pictures, such as we find in comic strips. There are many comic strips about animals, such as Snoopy, Garfield and Fred Basset, where the animals behave and think like people. Your teacher will show you some examples of these.

      Here’s how to plan a comic strip:

       • Choose your animal.

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