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The seed of kindness
Textbook: Part 4, pp. 14–17
GoalUnderstand that kindness enriches a person; explain the figurative meaning of a legend.
New words
kindness, affection · mehrseed · urug‘root · ildizshade · soya
Explanation
Kindness is an invisible seed; if we sow it in our heart and care for it, it grows into a big tree. The textbook has a legend called “Mehr urug‘i” (The seed of kindness) in which a rich man enters a shop in his dream. We do not repeat it; we read our own legend. In a legend the seed has a figurative meaning of good intention and kindness, and the tree is its result.
Worked examples
“Grandfather’s seed”. Long ago a grandfather gave a small seed to his grandchild and said: “Plant it and water it every day with one good deed.” The child planted the seed and did one good deed every day: gave grain to birds, helped a neighbour, forgave a friend. Years passed, and a big tree grew from the seed. Travellers rested in its shade. “This is how the seed of kindness grows,” said grandfather.
Figurative meaning: seed – kindness; watering – good deeds; tree – the result.
Class activity
“Tree of kindness”: a tree is drawn on the class wall, and each child sticks a leaf with their good deed.
Practice
1
What did grandfather give his grandchild?
A small seed
2
What was the seed to be watered with?
One good deed each day
3
What good deeds did the child do?
Fed birds, helped a neighbour, forgave a friend.
4
What grew from the seed?
A big tree
5
What does the tree stand for in the legend?
The result of good deeds