Vishnu Sharma
|
India

The Tortoise And The Geese

Geese help tortoise move to new lake, but he dies after opening his mouth trying to respond to children's insults.
Ignorance
Patience
Trust
Featured in Fable Book
The Tortoise And The GeeseThe Tortoise And The Geese
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Once upon a time, there was a tortoise and two geese who lived near a lake in a beautiful valley. They had been good friends for many years. However, one day, the lake was hit by a drought, and it started to dry up. The animals knew they had to find a new home.

The geese decided to fly off and search for a new lake. After flying a long distance, they found another lake that was perfect for them to live in. They returned to the old lake and shared the news with the tortoise. The tortoise was excited but soon realized that he would not be able to travel such a long distance or survive the drought.

The geese then came up with a plan to transport the tortoise to the new lake. They warned him that he must not open his mouth during the journey, or he would risk losing his life. The geese brought a stick and asked the tortoise to grasp it firmly using his mouth. The geese then took hold of the two ends of the stick and flew off with him. They traveled safely for several miles.

During the journey, the tortoise noticed a group of villagers and children on the ground. The children started to shout insults at the tortoise, which made him feel insulted and unable to bear the teasing any longer. In an attempt to explain the situation to the children, he opened his mouth, but tragically fell to the ground and died before he could say anything.

Despite their grief at their friend's tragedy, the two geese were unable to do anything to help and continued on to their new home.

Once upon a time, there was a tortoise and two geese who lived by a lake in a beautiful valley. They had been friends for many years. One day, the lake started to dry up because there was no rain. The animals knew they needed to find a new home.

The geese decided to fly and look for a new lake. After flying a long way, they found a perfect lake to live in. They went back to the old lake and told the tortoise. The tortoise was happy but worried because he couldn’t travel that far.

The geese had a plan to help the tortoise. They told him not to open his mouth during the trip, or he would fall. They brought a stick and asked the tortoise to hold it tightly with his mouth. The geese held the ends of the stick and flew off with the tortoise. They traveled safely for many miles.

During the trip, the tortoise saw some people and children on the ground. The children started to shout at the tortoise. He felt upset and wanted to explain. When he opened his mouth to speak, he let go of the stick and fell to the ground, dying before he could say anything.

The two geese were very sad about their friend’s death but couldn’t do anything. They continued on to their new home.

A tortoise and two geese live near a small lake. They are good friends. One day, the lake is dry. There is no water. The tortoise and the geese need a new home.

The geese fly to find a new lake. After some time, they find a nice lake. They come back to tell the tortoise. The tortoise is happy but worried. He cannot fly.

The geese have a plan. They bring a stick. They tell the tortoise to hold the stick with his mouth. The geese hold the ends of the stick. They say, "Do not open your mouth. If you open your mouth, you will fall."

The geese fly with the tortoise. They fly for many miles. The tortoise holds the stick tight. He is safe.

They fly over some people. The people see the tortoise. They shout and laugh, "Look at the tortoise!" The tortoise feels sad. He wants to tell them to stop. When he opens his mouth, he lets go of the stick. The tortoise falls down. The tortoise is hurt.

The geese are sad. They cannot help their friend. They continue to fly to the new lake.

Once upon a time, there was a tortoise and two geese who lived by a lake in a beautiful valley. They had been friends for many years. One day, the lake started to dry up because there was no rain. The animals knew they needed to find a new home.

The geese decided to fly and look for a new lake. After flying a long way, they found a perfect lake to live in. They went back to the old lake and told the tortoise. The tortoise was happy but worried because he couldn’t travel that far.

The geese had a plan to help the tortoise. They told him not to open his mouth during the trip, or he would fall. They brought a stick and asked the tortoise to hold it tightly with his mouth. The geese held the ends of the stick and flew off with the tortoise. They traveled safely for many miles.

During the trip, the tortoise saw some people and children on the ground. The children started to shout at the tortoise. He felt upset and wanted to explain. When he opened his mouth to speak, he let go of the stick and fell to the ground, dying before he could say anything.

The two geese were very sad about their friend’s death but couldn’t do anything. They continued on to their new home.

Once upon a time, in a beautiful valley by a serene lake, lived a tortoise and two geese who had been friends for many years. However, one day, a severe drought caused the lake to dry up, and the friends realized they had to find a new place to live.

The geese decided to search for a new lake. They flew over mountains and forests, and after a long journey, they found a perfect lake with plenty of water. Excited, they returned to the dry lake and told the tortoise about their discovery. The tortoise was happy to hear the news but worried because he couldn’t travel such a long distance.

The clever geese came up with a plan to help their friend. They found a strong stick and explained to the tortoise that he needed to bite onto it tightly with his mouth. They warned him not to open his mouth during the journey, or he would fall. The geese grabbed the ends of the stick with their beaks and began to fly, carrying the tortoise between them. They soared over valleys and rivers, covering many miles safely.

As they were flying over a village, some people and children noticed the unusual sight. The children began to shout and laugh, pointing at the tortoise. Feeling upset and wanting to explain himself, the tortoise forgot the geese’s warning. He opened his mouth to speak, releasing the stick. Tragically, he fell to the ground and died before he could say a word.

The two geese were heartbroken over the loss of their dear friend but knew they had to continue their journey. They flew on to their new home, carrying the sad memory of their friend.

Once upon a time, in a really pretty valley—seriously, it looked like a painting—there was a tortoise and two geese who were best pals. They all hung out by a beautiful lake. But guess what? The lake started to dry up, like a puddle in the sun. "Oh boy," said the geese, flapping their feathers. "We need more than a puddle to splash in."

The geese put on their thinking caps—or thinking feathers? Anyway, they had an idea. They flew over mountains and meadows, until they found a new lake that was even better than the first one. "Hey, we found a new hangout!" they told the tortoise when they came back.

The tortoise said, "That's cool and all, but I can't fly. And walking? Ha! I'd get there in a hundred years."

"Don't worry, we've got a super-duper plan!" the geese said. "But you've got to promise to keep your mouth closed. No talking. Zip!"

The geese grabbed a stick, and the tortoise bit down on it. One goose on one end, the other goose on the other end, and—vroom—they lifted off. It was like they turned into an airplane, and the tortoise was flying first class!

Everything was peachy until they flew over a small village. Kids down there started pointing and yelling, "Hey look, a flying tortoise! What's he doing up there?"

Now, the tortoise really wanted to shout back, "Hey, I'm not a bird, but I've got style!" But remember the rule about keeping his mouth shut? He forgot. He opened his mouth to speak, and—yikes—down he fell, like a stone from the sky.

The geese looked at each other. "Aw, why'd he have to go and forget the one rule? Just one rule!"

So, the geese kept flying to the new lake, really wishing their friend could've remembered that sometimes, not saying anything is the best thing to say. But they knew they couldn't turn back time, so they continued on, forever missing their friend who spoke when he should've kept quiet.

In a valley, lush and great,
Lived two geese and tortoise mate.
Friends they were, as true can be,
By the side of a shimmering spree.

But one day, to their dismay,
The water began to fade away.
The geese flew high and far to see,
A new home, as it had to be.

They found a spot, oh so fine,
A sparkling new lake, just divine.
They hurried back to share the cheer,
With their tortoise friend, whom they held dear.

"But how will I cross land and sky?"
Tortoise wondered with a sigh.
The geese had a clever plan in tow,
With a stick and some teamwork, off they'd go!

"Hold tight, and keep your mouth closed so neat,
Or to the ground, you'll face defeat."
The tortoise nodded, holding the stick so tight,
And off they flew, a marvelous sight!

But as they soared through the blue,
Villagers below came into view.
Laughing children, pointing high,
Mocked the tortoise, oh my oh my!

To tell them his grand tale so high,
The tortoise opened his mouth, oh my!
Down he went, a tragic fall,
Silencing the laughter, once and for all.

The geese flew on, heavy of heart,
Wishing their journey had a different start.
They remembered their friend, brave and true,
And in their new lake, their memories grew.

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Word Finder

  1. Tortoise

    Slow-moving animal with a hard shell.

  2. Geese

    Large birds that fly and swim.

  3. Valley

    Low area between hills or mountains.

  4. Dry

    No water; not wet or moist.

  5. Perfect

    Ideal; exactly what is needed.

  6. Worried

    Anxious; feeling concern about something.

  7. Plan

    Idea or method for doing something.

  8. Safely

    Without danger; securely.

  9. Upset

    Unhappy; feeling bad about something.

  10. Explain

    Make something clear or easy to understand.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why did the tortoise and the geese need to find a new home?
  2. What did the geese do to find a new lake?
  3. How did the geese plan to help the tortoise travel to the new lake?
  4. What was the tortoise supposed to do during the trip to stay safe?
  5. Why did the tortoise fall to the ground and die?
Word Finder
  1. Tortoise

    Slow animal with hard shell on its back.

  2. Geese

    Birds that can fly, often found near water.

  3. Lake

    Large area of water surrounded by land.

  4. Dry

    When something has no water.

  5. Worried

    Feeling scared about what might happen.

  6. Stick

    Long thin piece of wood.

  7. Mouth

    Part of the face used to eat and talk.

  8. Shout

    To say something very loudly.

  9. Laugh

    To make sounds when something is funny.

  10. Hurt

    To feel pain or injury.

  1. Tortoise

    Slow-moving animal with a hard shell.

  2. Geese

    Large birds that fly and swim.

  3. Valley

    Low area between hills or mountains.

  4. Dry

    No water; not wet or moist.

  5. Perfect

    Ideal; exactly what is needed.

  6. Worried

    Anxious; feeling concern about something.

  7. Plan

    Idea or method for doing something.

  8. Safely

    Without danger; securely.

  9. Upset

    Unhappy; feeling bad about something.

  10. Explain

    Make something clear or easy to understand.

  1. Serene

    Very calm and peaceful.

  2. Severe

    Very bad or serious.

  3. Drought

    A long time with no rain.

  4. Discovery

    Finding something new.

  5. Journey

    Traveling from one place to another.

  6. Unusual

    Not normal or common.

  7. Explain

    To make something clear or easy to understand.

  8. Soared

    Flew high in the sky.

  9. Tragically

    In a very sad or terrible way.

  10. Heartbroken

    Very sad because of a loss.

Understanding Questions
  1. Where do the tortoise and the geese live at the beginning of the story?

    1. In a big forest
    2. Near a small lake
    3. On a mountain
    4. In a desert
  2. Why do the tortoise and the geese need a new home?

    1. The lake is too big.
    2. The lake is dry.
    3. The lake is too crowded.
    4. The lake is too cold.
  3. How do the geese help the tortoise fly?

    1. They carry him on their backs.
    2. They bring a stick for him to hold.
    3. They teach him to fly.
    4. They use a basket.
  4. What do the geese tell the tortoise not to do while flying?

    1. Do not look down.
    2. Do not open your mouth.
    3. Do not close your eyes.
    4. Do not let go of the geese.
  5. Why does the tortoise fall down?

    1. He gets tired.
    2. He laughs too much.
    3. He opens his mouth to talk.
    4. He sees a new lake.
  1. Why did the tortoise and the geese need to find a new home?
  2. What did the geese do to find a new lake?
  3. How did the geese plan to help the tortoise travel to the new lake?
  4. What was the tortoise supposed to do during the trip to stay safe?
  5. Why did the tortoise fall to the ground and die?
  1. Why did the tortoise and the two geese need to find a new place to live?
  2. How did the geese discover the new lake, and what were its characteristics?
  3. Describe the plan the geese devised to help the tortoise travel to the new lake.
  4. What was the tortoise warned about before the journey, and why was this warning important?
  5. What caused the tortoise to fall during the journey, and what were the consequences?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the tortoise chose to open his mouth even when he knew it would cause him to fall?
  2. How do you think the geese felt when their friend, the tortoise, did not heed their advice and fell?
  3. Can you think of a time when you did not listen to advice, and it led to an unfortunate outcome?
  4. What does this story teach us about the importance of listening to advice and thinking before reacting?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our own lives to better understand the importance of patience, control over our reactions, and trust in our friends' advice?
Fable Quotes
In the face of wisdom's warning, the ignorant stumble into their own downfall.
Endurance paves the path to victory, as patience conquers all obstacles.
Trust in the guidance of those who have your best interests at heart, for they may devise plans to ensure your safety.
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