Where can I find simple stories to explain popular sayings?

[Chloe636]

I am a primary school teacher and we have realised our children know very few sayings (and understand even less!) so for our assemblies this term we will be doing a saying a week. I have been volunteered to find stories for them all and it is proving a mammoth task writing from scratch. Does anyone know of any books or specific internet sites (I have already searched quite extensively) where I could find some stories to explain or give examples of popular sayings?

Thanks

[blu3wave]

Aesop's fables might be a good start... ?

[dr john]

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable has the derivation of just about every old saying you can think of. You can search it online at Bartleby.com.

[hippyhoppy]

How about going to Wikipedia and typing in the saying you're looking for. That might give you what you need. If you give us an example of the saying you're looking for we might be able to help...

[Chloe636]

Thanks for those suggestions, I hadn't thought about Aesop's fables! I tried Brewer's dictionary and Wikipedia and they have some stuff too so thanks.

I was thinking of simple 5-10 minute stories really. My first few weeks are 'the early bird cathces the work', 'look before you leap' and 'too many cooks spoil the broth'. They need to be relative to the children and easy enough for them to understand. That's the tricky part!

Thanks again.

[Clanad]

Try these:

http://www2.bitstream.net/~bakken/answers.html

http://www.wordorigins.org/

http://www.phrases.org.uk/

http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOrigins.h tm

http://www.backroadstouring.co.uk/phraseorigin s.htm

More, if you require them...

[bednobs]

isnt it the early bird catches the worm?

[jno]

the early bird may catch the worm... but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese!

[Chloe636]

AGH! So, we're back to school tomorrow and I can't find anything half decent. I still need stories for:
A stitch in time saves nine
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
A friend in need is a friend indeed
Expect the unexpected...
Too many cooks spoil the broth
To give is better than to receive

Anybody??