Problem solving story: When a crow had to think outside the box to survive

One hot day, a thirsty crow flew across the fields in desperate search of water. The sun blazed down, making the land dry and lifeless. The crow had been flying for what felt like hours, scanning the ground below, but not even the smallest puddle appeared. With each passing moment, its wings grew weaker, and its hope began to fade. Just as the crow was about to give up, convinced it would never find water, something caught its sharp eye—a jug sitting in the shade of a large tree. With renewed energy, the crow swooped down and perched on the rim of the jug. Peering inside, it saw a wonderful sight, fresh, cool water! But there was a problem. The water was too low, far out of reach of its beak. The crow tried the most obvious solution first. It stretched its neck as far as it could into the jug, but the narrow opening made it impossible to reach the water. Frustrated but determined, the crow decided to push the jug over, hoping to spill the water onto the ground. But the jug was heavy, and no matter how hard it pushed, it wouldn’t budge.

The crow refused to give up just yet. It tapped the jug with its beak, hoping to break it, but the sturdy clay did not crack. Every idea seemed to fail. Exhausted and thirsty, the crow slumped down beside the jug, feeling utterly defeated. Is this how it ends?” the crow thought. “Water so close, yet completely out of reach.” It stared blankly at its surroundings, taking in what might be its last view of the world, there were some scattered trees, the dry grass, and a few small pebbles lying nearby. And then, in that moment of despair, an idea flashed in the crow’s mind. “Pebbles!” the crow thought. “What if I drop them into the jug?” With renewed energy, the crow picked up a pebble in its beak and dropped it into the jug. Then another. And another. Slowly but surely, the water level began to rise. The crow worked tirelessly, gathering more pebbles and dropping them in one by one. It took patience, effort, and determination, but at last, the water rose high enough for the crow to reach. With a relieved sigh, the crow dipped its beak into the water and drank deeply. It had solved the problem by thinking creatively, by refusing to give in to despair, and by using the resources around it. As the crow flew away, feeling refreshed and victorious, it carried with it an important lesson. Problems may seem impossible at first, but with patience, creativity, and determination, even the most difficult challenges can be overcome.