The Badger Who Could Not Stop Sorting: discussion sheet

Part Two: The Muddles · about 6 minutes to read aloud · Theme: knowing when to stop

An iron badger was told to sort acorns and never stop. When the flood rises, a family must learn to pause an old order and look at it again.

Choose a question to talk over, or try the activity with words and pictures.

Start here

Why does the Badger keep sorting acorns while the water climbs to its knees?

Go further

Hannah tells her father that Grandfather’s instruction is his responsibility now. Is she right? Who owns a rule when the person who made it is gone?

Make something

Write a new card to hang above the Badger’s acorns. Include the sorting job, when to pause, and who will answer the bell. Would the old farmer recognise his instruction?

Read The Badger Who Could Not Stop Sorting online: youngmachines.org/read/fables/the-badger-who-could-not-stop-sorting/