Prose: The Spider and the turtle

Let us learn

The Spider and the turtle

One evening, Spiky the spider, was ready to eat.

A turtle came to his door.

Spiky: Come in turtle.

You are just on time for dinner.

The turtle went to sit near the bowl of yams.

Spiky: You can’t sit down to eat with dirty hands.

Please go, wash them.

Turtle: Oh! You’re right Spiky. I’ll be back.

Turtle slowly crawled off to wash his hands. Spiky gulped the food quickly.

Turtle came back and found the nearly empty plates.

Turtle: Spiky, you ate all the food.

Spiky: I had to eat it before it got cold.

But there’s plenty left.

Turtle reached for the glass of juice.

Spiky: Wait! Your hands are still dirty.

Turtle: Yes. They are dirty again, as I crawled across the dirty floor. I’ll be right back.

The turtle went back to the pond to wash his hands.

The turtle used slippers to keep his hands and feet clean.

Now, Turtle got back to find all the plates empty.

Spiky: I could not wait.

The food was getting very cold. Poor Turtle was still hungry.

The next day…

Turtle: Spiky, come for dinner.

Spiky: Oh!

That will be nice.

He reached the pond.

Turtle: I’m here, Spiky. Come down.

Your dinner is almost ready.

Spiky jumped into the water, but he could not reach the bottom. He just floated on the top.

He filled the pockets of his coat with heavy stones and jumped into the pond. He went deep down to turtle’s house.

He reached for a bowl of food.

Turtle: Wait. You cannot have your dinner with your coat on. Please take off your coat.

Spiky: I could not do that.

Turtle: You must take it off before you eat.

Spiky slowly took off his coat. He floated up and saw turtle eat the feast. He climbed out of the water and went home sad.

Note to the teacher: Focus on the words related to food. Encourage children to practise the words in context.