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106 · 8 panels

When the Paper Bird Grew

They switched on the lamp before opening the worksheet. The same paper bird cast two different-sized shadows.

Inspired by a source · Creative adaptationNo sign-up · All stories free
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They usually opened the worksheet before starting the experiment.
Story

At the evening science workshop, Jin was getting the worksheets ready.

They usually opened the worksheet before starting the experiment.

A bird-shaped shadow appeared on the screen.
Ara

I'll switch on the lamp while you sort the papers.

A bird-shaped shadow appeared on the screen.

Its shadow on the screen suddenly grew.
Story

To make room for the papers, Jin slid the bird a little closer to the lamp.

Its shadow on the screen suddenly grew.

Ara looked back and forth between the little bird and the large shadow.
Ara

Wait. It's the same bird, so why did its shadow get bigger?

Ara looked back and forth between the little bird and the large shadow.

Jin set the worksheets aside and pointed to the bird's stand.
Jin

Want to try moving it yourself?

Jin set the worksheets aside and pointed to the bird's stand.

Ara slid the stand away from the lamp and toward the screen.
Ara

Farther from the lamp, it's small again.

Ara slid the stand away from the lamp and toward the screen.

Ara moved the bird back to see if the same change would happen again.
Ara

And closer to the lamp, it gets big again!

Ara moved the bird back to see if the same change would happen again.

Ara drew both shadows on a blank sheet and told Jin where she had put the bird.
Ara

These two shadows are my first notes for today.

Ara drew both shadows on a blank sheet and told Jin where she had put the bird.

A thought from the Talmud

When the table was taken away early, Abaye asked why. Rabba took that question as it came.

The source idea in our own words · Not a direct quotation

Pesachim 115b:7–9 · Read the source ↗

A lesson for today

While the worksheets were being sorted, Ara noticed that the same paper bird could cast a larger shadow. Jin set the papers down and gave her time to move the bird herself. Ara recreated what she had seen and drew the two sizes. When someone notices something they want to understand, we can pause the plan and follow their question.

A modern interpretation for this story

A question to take with you

When we're learning together, how can we make time for someone to look more closely at what they've just noticed?

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About the source and this adaptation

Pesachim 115b:7–8 discusses how food and tables are set out and removed at the Passover ritual meal, the seder. In segment 9, the school of Rabbi Yannai explains that removing the table is meant to get children to notice what is different and ask about it. Young Abaye asks why the table is being taken away before they have eaten. Rabba replies that the question has already been asked, so there is no need to repeat the prescribed opening question about what is different. The wisdom line paraphrases segment 9. Jin, Ara, the science workshop, the paper bird, the experiment and the dialogue are AI-assisted fiction inspired by this scene.

Read the source ↗

AI-generated artwork · Creative adaptation

For your next little pause

A Place on the Bench →