The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
A professor stood before his child development class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes.”
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents the mind of each student as they enter your classroom on the first day of school. The golf balls are the important things — God, family, friends, health, home, and the children’s favorite passions — and if everything else was lost and only they remained, their life would still be full.
The pebbles represent the knowledge they have acquired up until now. Unfortunately, each child will have a different amount of pebbles.
The sand is your responsibility! It is your job to fill their minds as tight as you possibly can in the short time that you have them. At the end of each year, the sand comes together as pebbles, ready to be sent off to the next teacher.
The professor paused…
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, “I’m glad you asked.”
He replied, “The coffee is CARE and LOVE.”
~Author Marcey Gaitan~
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May 19th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
That is a good story. I’m going to have to copy that.
May 20th, 2008 at 5:05 am
Very cool, I have heard something similar before. Kids can really grasp analogies also.
May 20th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Great share !!Thanks !!
keep them coming !!
May 20th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Thats a really thought provoking story. Thanks for sharing Marenda. Keep these kind of post coming! =)
May 20th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Awesome story : ]
Thanks for sharing it!
May 20th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
That a nice one. I guess we all like to learn this way, its much easier to grasp what person has to say. I wish I had professors like this one teaching.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:24 am
I heard a different version of this story. It ended up with two cans of beer and the tagline was, “no matter how hectic life can be, there is still time for a couple of beers”
May 21st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
One of the best and inspiring stories! Thanks for sharing this nice story.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 am
Hi. I love this story.
Its very inspiring and a great way to teach kids.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 am
Thanks for your good informations..Keep it up. It;s really a good work..
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 am
Aww!! Such a heartwarming story =) I wonder if it’s a real story itself. Kudos whoever who is able to thought this up.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Very nice post. Thanks for that. My step mom is a teacher, she retired and then went back to teaching. Not many people will have that much patients and love for kids. Thanks for the post.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Great story Marenda!
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 am
I guess there’s all alike to learn this way, its much easier to grasp what person has to say. I wish I had professors like this one teaching. It would really be great.
May 31st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I wish I had professors like this one teaching.Not many people will have that much patients and love for kids.Thanks for sharing this nice story
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 am
Thanks for sharing the story. Indeed, nowadays it’s hard to attract children ateention most of the time. The professors had use his way of teaching to teach the kids. A very heartwarming story. Thumb up!
September 18th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Every time I read or hear this story, it fills me with so many different thoughts. I remember that when I think something is done, or I have done all I can, there is always a little bit more I can do.
I like this version with the coffee, and I like that you are finally surrounding everything in the story with care and love!
September 24th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I’ve heard this before, but I like this one better (the other one used a glass of beer). This one has a more profound meaning. I think this is a lesson that all teachers should use because of the visual aid. It’s something I’d never forget, that’s for sure!
September 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Very meaningful story…I couldn’t agree more that the ball golf represent God, family, friends. Those are the most important in our life.
“And the coffee is CARE and LOVE”… It can fill every empty place in our life!