Imagine you’re in a forest with two paths in front of you. You can only choose one. You stand there, thinking about which path to take. One path looks like it hasn’t been walked on much, and the other looks the same. You decide to take the less traveled path, wondering if you’ll ever come back to try the other one. In the future, you’ll look back and realize that choosing the less traveled path made a big difference in your life.
Blobs are mysterious creatures that like to hide. They’re quick like chipmunks and shy like mice. People rarely see them. Blobs are scared of big creatures that stomp through the forest. They live near mossy stumps, feeding their babies and enjoying their meals. They love eating burgers, waffles, and pies, even more than animals much bigger than them. Blobs have a special way of talking with just one word for everything. They think big creatures are bullies who don’t understand them.
Trees are amazing! They give us food like apples, cherries, and nuts. Animals like koalas and giraffes love eating from trees too. Trees provide wood for building and making furniture, giving us comfort. They help create music with instruments like cellos and drums. Trees are also used for art, making paper for drawing and writing. They offer fun with things like paper kites and boats. Trees are homes for many animals and give us shade. They keep our air clean and make the Earth beautiful. We should always be thankful for trees!
Sweet people can be found all over the world—in places like Turkey, the United States, Mexico, South Africa, and many more. In almost every home, there’s at least one kind person you’d be happy to meet. It’s important to remember how wonderful people can be and to keep kindness alive.
I am a wind bird,
Sky skipper, diamond dipper,
Dancing on your string.
My fluffy seeds drift,
Tiny puffs lift in the breeze
And land who knows where.
We are knitted twins,
Softest kittens, warm as hugs,
Waiting to hold hands.
A dreaming dog,
A purring cat,
A bird on a limb,
A mouse on a mat.
The evening glows in twilight,
And all is quiet at the stroke of good night.
If you love stories, check out a kid-safe, ad-free library full of exciting storybooks. You’ll find many more fun stories to enjoy. Thanks for reading!
Imagine you are in a forest with two paths in front of you, just like in “The Road Not Taken.” Write a short poem about a choice you have made or will make in your life. Think about how this choice might change your future. Share your poem with the class and discuss the different paths we all take.
Draw your own version of a Blob creature based on the description in “What Are Blobs?” Write a short story about a day in the life of your Blob. What adventures do they have? What do they eat? Share your drawing and story with the class.
Create a collage that shows all the wonderful things trees provide us, as described in “Be Thankful for Trees.” Use magazines, newspapers, or draw your own pictures. Present your collage to the class and explain why trees are important to you.
Research a country mentioned in “Sweet People Are Everywhere” and find a story about a kind act that happened there. Share the story with the class and discuss how kindness can be found everywhere, no matter where you are.
Choose your favorite season and write a haiku about it, inspired by “Haiku for All Seasons.” Remember, a haiku has three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Share your haiku with the class and explain why you chose that season.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, removing any unnecessary or repetitive elements while maintaining the essence of the content:
—
**The Road Not Taken**
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler. Long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
—
**What Are Blobs?**
Blobs are a secretive bunch;
They hunker in hideouts except when it’s lunch.
They’re faster than chipmunks and timid as mice;
I’ve only caught sight of them twice in my life.
Blobs hide because they fear the bigs,
Who trample through forests and frighten their kids.
They dwell in the woods around mossy old stumps,
Feeding their babies and plumping their rumps.
Blobs eat burgers, waffles, and turkey pot pies;
They eat more than animals ten times their size.
Some say they only use one word to talk,
For hello and goodbye, and please, they are sweet.
Bigs are just bullies who don’t have a clue;
They make me so mad!
—
**Be Thankful for Trees**
First, a tree is food.
Would life be satisfying without trees? It would not.
Sweet sap, pecans to pick, nuts, berries, bark to crunch,
Leaves for a koala, bamboo shoots for a bear,
A giraffe stretches up for an acacia tree’s fare.
Apples and cherries for you and me,
People and animals are fed tree by tree.
Second, a tree is comfort.
What gives you a seat, a floor for your feet,
A place to sit with your family to eat?
A tree is lumber.
Third, a tree is music.
Would life be melodious without trees? It would not.
The moan of a cello, the pom-pom of a drum,
Tree wood makes music zing, ping, and hum.
Fourth, a tree is art.
Would life be beautiful without trees? It would not.
Paper for drawing, recipes for cooks,
Signs, magazines, glorious books.
Fifth, a tree is recreation.
Would life be fun without trees? It would not.
Paper kites swirling, boats floating by,
Tall trees reaching up help us see the sky.
Sixth, a tree is home.
Would life be comfy without trees? It would not.
Branches to swing from, a perfect forked branch,
Habitat for a frog, a burrow in roots.
Seventh, a tree is life.
Trees need protection from man-made destruction.
No place for a bird, no shade, and no cream,
Trees make the Earth rich and keep our air clean.
Explore a cool forest with its pine-scented breeze,
Just remember forever to be thankful for trees.
—
**Sweet People Are Everywhere**
Sweet people are everywhere.
In Turkey, Afghanistan, the United States,
Mexico, Sudan, South Africa, Iceland, Russia,
Korea, China, Japan, Congo, Egypt, Australia,
Norway, Spain, Ghana, Kenya, Guam, the Philippines,
Cuba, Iran, Libya, Colombia, Vietnam, England,
Ireland, France, Syria, Iraq, Venezuela, Brazil,
Israel, Palestine—
In almost every house on the planet,
There is at least one very sweet person
That you would be happy to know.
Sweet people are everywhere.
Being sweet, they must not disappear.
We are lost if we can no longer experience
How sweet human beings can be.
—
**Haiku for All Seasons**
**Spring:**
I am a wind bird,
Sky skipper, diamond dipper,
Dancing on your string.
**Summer:**
My fluffy seeds drift,
Tiny puffs lift in the breeze
And land who knows where.
**Winter:**
We are knitted twins,
Softest kittens, warm as hugs,
Waiting to hold hands.
**Good Night:**
A dreaming dog,
A purring cat,
A bird on a limb,
A mouse on a mat.
The evening glows in twilight,
And all is quiet at the stroke of good night.
—
**Books App Promotion**
If you don’t have books, what are you waiting for?
It’s a kid-safe, ad-free library full of storybooks brought to life.
Explore more fun stories like these—you’ll be glad you did!
Thanks for watching!
—
This version maintains the core messages and themes while removing extraneous elements and ensuring clarity.
Poetry – A type of writing that expresses ideas and feelings in a creative way, often using rhythm and rhyme. – Emily enjoyed reading poetry because it painted beautiful pictures in her mind with just a few words.
Stories – Written or spoken accounts of imaginary or real people and events, designed to entertain or inform. – The teacher asked the students to write stories about their summer adventures.
Trees – Large plants with a trunk and branches made of wood, often used as symbols in literature to represent growth or life. – In the novel, the old oak tree stood as a symbol of strength and wisdom.
Kindness – The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate, often highlighted in literature as a valuable trait. – The character’s kindness towards others made her a beloved figure in the story.
Writing – The act of forming letters and words to communicate thoughts and ideas, often used to create stories, poems, and essays. – Writing in her journal every day helped Maria improve her storytelling skills.
Animals – Living creatures that are often featured in literature as characters or symbols, representing various traits or themes. – The animals in the fable taught the children important lessons about friendship and honesty.
Paths – Routes or tracks that are often used in literature to symbolize journeys or choices in life. – The hero had to choose between two paths, each leading to a different adventure.
Books – Collections of written or printed pages bound together, containing stories, information, or poetry. – Sarah loved visiting the library to discover new books filled with exciting tales.
Haiku – A form of Japanese poetry with three lines, following a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, often focusing on nature. – For her assignment, Lily wrote a haiku about the beauty of the cherry blossoms in spring.
Creatures – Living beings, often used in literature to refer to animals or imaginary beings in stories. – The fantasy novel was filled with magical creatures that captured the readers’ imaginations.
