True friends show their colors in tough times. This is an exciting story about how two small friends used their cleverness and teamwork to save their big friend from certain danger.
Uncle Wiggily and the Frogs' Clever Catapult
One day, Uncle Wiggily, the kind rabbit gentleman, was hopping happily through the forest. When he reached a pond, he saw two young frog boys, Benny and Billy, jumping from a diving board. "Ah, that reminds me of my youth!" he thought. "I'll jump in for a swim too."
"Hooray, it's Uncle Wiggily!" croaked Benny. "Come on in, the water's lovely!" Uncle Wiggily stood at the end of the board, swayed a little, and then jumped! But his jump was a bit too strong. He dove so deep that his head got stuck in the soft mud at the bottom of the pond.
"We have to get him out!" cried Billy. The two frog boys grabbed his legs and pulled with all their might until he was free. After they rescued him, they made a small wooden raft for him to rest on.
But as Uncle Wiggily floated peacefully, a sly fox named Fuzzy Fox was creeping quietly to the edge of the pond. "Mmm, what delicious ears he has!" the fox thought to himself. "I'll wait for him to get to shore."
When the frog boys pushed the raft to the shore, Fuzzy Fox pounced on Uncle Wiggily and grabbed him. "I'm going to take you to my den and nibble on your ears!" the fox growled. He tied a vine around the rabbit's neck and started dragging him into the woods.
But Benny and Billy didn't give up. They had a clever idea. "We'll use the diving board as a catapult to launch a rock at the fox!" they said.
Quickly, they placed a large, smooth rock on one end of the board. Then, together, they jumped with all their strength onto the other end. The board bent down and then sprang back up with tremendous force.
The rock flew through the air like a cannonball and... THUMP! It hit Fuzzy Fox right in the ribs. The fox yelped in pain, dropped Uncle Wiggily, and ran away as fast as he could.
Uncle Wiggily laughed and said, "You two were so clever and brave! Thank you for saving me." The three friends went home happily, and no one saw Fuzzy Fox in that part of the woods again.
🎯 Enrichment & Learning
Values and Lessons Learned
- Teamwork makes the dream work: The two small frogs were able to defeat the big fox because they worked together as a team.
- Quick thinking is a powerful tool: In times of danger, a clever and creative plan can be more effective than physical strength.
- True friends help in times of need: The frogs didn't hesitate to help their friend when he was in trouble, even though it was risky.
- Even the smallest heroes can make a big difference: Despite their small size, the frogs had the courage and intelligence to save the day.
Comprehension Questions
- Why did Uncle Wiggily get stuck in the mud?
- Who rescued him the first time?
- What did the fox want to do to Uncle Wiggily?
- What was the frogs' clever plan to save their friend?
- How did they use the diving board?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Do you think it was a good idea for Uncle Wiggily to try diving even though he wasn't good at it? Why?
- What makes Benny and Billy good friends?
- If you were the frogs, what other plan could you have come up with?
Practical Application Questions
- Think of a time you worked with friends to solve a problem. What did you do?
- How do you help a friend who is in trouble or feeling scared?
- What is an everyday object you could use in a clever new way to solve a problem (like the diving board)?
🎨 Interactive Content
Fun Activities
- Build a Catapult: Using a popsicle stick, a bottle cap, and an elastic band, try to build a small catapult that can launch a piece of paper.
- Physics Fun: Talk about how a diving board works (levers and potential energy).
- Drawing Game: Draw the exciting moment the rock is flying through the air from the diving board towards the fox.