Ant illustration

The Ant and the Grasshopper

All summer long, Ant works hard while Grasshopper plays. What happens when winter comes?

Ages 5–7⏱ 2 min readAesop's Fables
πŸ“ Worksheet

It was a hot summer day. Grasshopper was hopping in the grass, singing and playing his fiddle.

Ant walked by, carrying a heavy seed on her back. She was taking it to her nest.

"Why are you working so hard?" asked Grasshopper. "Come and sing with me!"

Ant in the Garden
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"I am storing food for the winter," said Ant. "You should do the same."

"Winter is so far away!" laughed Grasshopper. "There is plenty of food now." And he went back to his music.

Ant
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All summer, Ant carried seeds and grains. All summer, Grasshopper played.

Then the days grew short and cold. Leaves fell from the trees, and soon snow covered the ground. Grasshopper could not find a single thing to eat.

Shivering and hungry, he knocked on Ant's door. "Please," he said, "may I have a little food?"

Ant at a Picnic
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Ant looked at the cold, hungry grasshopper. She thought for a moment. Then she opened the door wide. "Come in," she said. "I have enough to share. But next summer, you will help me gather food."

Grasshopper nodded. "I promise. And I will play music while we work!"

⭐ The End ⭐

πŸ’¬ Talk about it

  1. What was Ant doing all summer?
    Show answerGathering and storing food for winter.
  2. Why was Grasshopper hungry in winter?
    Show answerHe played all summer and did not save any food.
  3. What did Grasshopper promise?
    Show answerTo help gather food next summer.

πŸ“– New words

storeto keep something to use later
shiverto shake because you are cold
🦊 The moral: Work hard today and plan ahead for tomorrow.
πŸ”¬ Real-life fact: An ant can carry things many times heavier than its own body.

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