The Busy Ant and the Lazy Grasshopper
A hardworking ant and a carefree grasshopper learn valuable lessons about preparation, friendship, and balance.
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Once upon a time, in a sunny meadow, there lived a tiny ant named Andy and a bouncy grasshopper called Gus. It was a beautiful summer day, and the warm sun made everything feel cozy and lazy.
Andy the ant was working super hard, carrying bits of food back and forth to his home. He was sweating and puffing, but he kept going. Gus the grasshopper was having a blast, jumping around and singing silly songs.
Gus saw Andy working and called out, “Hey Andy! Why are you working on such a nice day? Come play with me!”
Andy wiped his forehead and said, “I can’t, Gus. I’m getting ready for winter. You should do the same!”
Gus just laughed. “Winter? That’s ages away! I’d rather have fun now!”
Andy shook his head and kept working. He knew winter would come sooner than Gus thought.
Days passed, and soon the leaves turned orange and red. The air got chilly. Gus started to worry. He hadn’t saved any food!
When the cold winter came, poor Gus was shivering and his tummy was rumbling. He hadn’t prepared at all! But Andy? He was snug in his warm home with lots of yummy food to eat.
Gus learned a big lesson that day. He realized that having fun is great, but it’s also important to work hard and plan ahead.
From then on, Gus always remembered to balance fun with getting ready for the future. And you know what? He found out that working could be fun too, especially when he did it with his new friend Andy!
Moral:
It’s important to work hard and plan for the future, but it’s also good to help friends in need.
Parenting Tip: This story offers a chance to teach your child about the importance of balancing work and play. Discuss how preparing for the future, like Andy the ant, helps us stay safe and comfortable during challenging times. At the same time, emphasize the value of helping others, as friends can support each other in hard times.
Fun Questions For Curious Kids:
Here are some fun and thought-provoking questions to discuss with your child after reading “The Busy Ant and the Lazy Grasshopper”:
- Why do you think Andy the ant worked so hard during the summer?
- What do you think Gus the grasshopper was feeling when winter came?
- If you were Andy, would you have helped Gus during the winter? Why or why not?
- What do you think Gus learned from this experience?
- Do you think working can be fun? What kind of work do you enjoy doing?
- If you were preparing for winter like Andy, what food or supplies would you gather?
- Why is it important to balance work and play in life?
- Can you think of a time when you helped a friend who needed something? How did it feel?
Did You Know? Fun Animal Facts!
- Did you know that ants are some of the strongest creatures on Earth? They can carry objects up to 50 times their own body weight!
- Ants work together in teams called colonies, which can have thousands of members, all helping to gather food and take care of their home.
- Ants communicate using chemicals called pheromones, which they leave as trails to guide their friends to food or warn of danger.
- Grasshoppers have super strong legs that allow them to jump up to 20 times their body length in a single hop!
- These insects are also talented musicians! Male grasshoppers “sing” by rubbing their hind legs against their wings to attract mates or warn other grasshoppers.
- Grasshoppers are herbivores, which means they eat plants, but they can munch through a whole field of crops in no time if there are enough of them together!
Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story
Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!
Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!