On a very hot day, two friends were walking in the dry, brown hills. They had been walking for a long time and were feeling very tired and hungry. As they walked, they saw a tree far away.
“I’m so hungry!” said one friend. “Do you think that tree has apples? I really want a big, crunchy, red apple!”
“No way, that’s not an apple tree,” said the other friend. “It’s a pear tree! Pears are my favorite. I want a sweet, juicy, yellow pear!”
When they finally got to the tree, they saw that there were no apples or pears at all.
“Oh no!” said one friend. “It’s just a plain old oak tree!”
Suddenly, the sky turned gray, and it started to rain. The two friends quickly ran under the oak tree to stay dry. The rain kept falling, but the oak tree was like a big umbrella, keeping them dry. They waited under the tree for the rain to stop. Day turned into night.
“I’m cold,” said one friend. “Let’s make a fire. Help me find some wood!”
Luckily, there were lots of old branches under the oak tree. The two friends gathered the branches and made a nice, warm campfire. They sat beside the fire to warm up.
“I’m sleepy,” said one friend. “Let’s make a bed and sleep here tonight.”
The friends made a bed out of soft, green oak leaves. They snuggled into the leaves and fell asleep. The rain kept falling, and the wind blew, but the friends were cozy, warm, and dry under the “useless” oak tree.
Sometimes, the best gifts aren’t what we first think they are. The oak tree didn’t have apples or pears, but it gave the friends shelter, warmth, and a place to sleep. Isn’t that wonderful?
Tree Observation Walk: Take a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby park with an adult. Look for different types of trees. Can you find an oak tree? What does it look like? Are there any other trees that provide shade or shelter like the oak tree in the story? Draw a picture of your favorite tree and share what makes it special.
Leaf Collection and Art: Collect different leaves from the ground (make sure they are not from protected plants). Once you have a variety of leaves, use them to create a leaf collage. Arrange the leaves on a piece of paper to make a picture or pattern. What do you notice about the different shapes and sizes of the leaves? How do they feel?
Story Time Reflection: Think about a time when something unexpected turned out to be helpful or special for you. Share your story with a friend or family member. How did it make you feel? What did you learn from that experience, just like the friends learned from the oak tree?
**The Oak Tree**
(A version of the tale by TheFableCottage.com)
One hot day, two hikers are walking in the dry, brown hills. They have been walking all day, and they are tired and hungry. They see a tree in the distance.
“I am so hungry!” says one hiker. “Do you think that’s an apple tree? I want a big, crunchy, red apple!”
“Nah, that’s not an apple tree,” says the other. “It’s a pear tree! Pears are my favorite. I want a sweet, juicy, yellow pear!”
But when they arrive at the tree, there are no apples or pears at all.
“Aw, boo!” says one hiker. “It’s a useless oak tree!”
Just then, the sky turns grey and it starts to rain. The two hikers run under the oak tree to stay dry. It rains and rains, but the oak tree is like a big umbrella. The hikers don’t get wet. They wait under the oak tree for the rain to stop. Day turns into night.
“I’m cold,” says one hiker. “We should make a fire. Help me collect some wood!”
Luckily, there are many old branches under the oak tree. The two hikers collect the branches and make a nice campfire out of them. They sit beside the fire to warm themselves.
“I’m tired,” says one hiker. “We should sleep here tonight. Help me make a bed!”
The hikers make a bed out of soft, green oak leaves. They snuggle into the leaves and fall asleep. The rain falls and the wind blows, but the hikers are comfortable, warm, and dry under the “useless” oak tree.
**Moral:** Sometimes the best gifts aren’t what we originally hoped for.
