Slide 1 The Three Friends A Tale from India Do you think a deer, a woodpecker, and a turtle could be friends? What could they do together? How could they help each other? Once upon a time, three friends lived by a lake. Deer lived in the woods near the lake. Woodpecker lived in a tree next to the lake. And Turtle made his home in the mud at the edge of the very same lake. The three were very fond of each other and spent their days happily playing. One day, a hunter came to the lake. Seeing Deer’s footprints, he said, “I will set a trap to catch this deer!” He put out a strong leather trap and then went home. That very evening Deer stepped into the trap. “My friends!” he cried out. “I am caught fast in this trap!”

A Tale from India (Cont.) Slide 2 The Three Friends A Tale from India (Cont.) Woodpecker and Turtle heard their companion’s cry. Woodpecker flew down from her treetop. Turtle hurried out of the water. They saw Deer trapped by the leather straps. “We must find a way to help our friend!” cried Woodpecker. “I agree,” said Turtle. “My teeth are as sharp as a saw. I will use them to cut the straps.” “And I will fly to the hunter’s hut,” said Woodpecker. “I will keep him away until you cut through the straps.” All night long, Turtle worked on the straps with his teeth. “Thank you, my kind friend,” said Deer trembling. Turtle smiled up at Deer and then continued to work. Meanwhile, Woodpecker waited at the hunter’s hut. In the morning, the hunter came out the front door. Woodpecker gave a loud cry and flapped her wings wildly at him. “What is that!?” cried the hunter, hurrying back inside. Next, the hunter came out the back door. But Woodpecker was waiting for him. She flew at him and flapped her wings frantically. Once again the hunter rushed back inside. But the third time, the hunter ran past Woodpecker.

A Tale from India (Cont.) Slide 3 The Three Friends A Tale from India (Cont.) Woodpecker flew back to her friends as fast as she could. “The hunter is coming!” she warned them. By this time, Turtle had bitten through all the straps but one. The leather was hard, and Turtle was very tired. “I don’t think I can do it,” thought Turtle. But he was a loyal friend and did not give up. Then Deer saw the hunter coming through the forest. “There is no more time!” he cried. And using all his strength, Deer broke the last strap and ran off as fast as he could. Woodpecker swiftly flew up to her nest in the treetop. But Turtle was so weak that he could not crawl away. He lay quietly where he was. When the hunter saw Turtle and the broken trap, he said, “I have lost the deer, but at least I will have this turtle.” With that, he picked Turtle up, put him in a cloth bag, and tied the bag up tight.

A Tale from India (Cont.) Slide 4 The Three Friends A Tale from India (Cont.) Deer saw that his friend Turtle was in trouble. “I appreciate how Turtle saved my life,” he said. “Now I must do the same for him!” So Deer stepped into the open to let the hunter see him. “Now I will get you, Deer,” cried the hunter. He hung the cloth bag with Turtle in it on a tree and chased after Deer. Down flew Woodpecker. She pecked a hole in the bag. “Jump out, Turtle!” she said. “It’s too far to jump,” cried Turtle. “My shell will break!” By this time, Deer had led the hunter far into the forest. Then, swift as the wind, he turned and galloped back to Turtle. With his long horns, Deer lifted the bag down from the tree and put it on the grass. Turtle crept out through the hole that Woodpecker had made. When the hunter returned, all he found was his torn bag. Deer, Woodpecker, and Turtle had gone to the other side of the lake. There the three loyal friends and companions lived happily for the rest of their lives. Unit 1, Week 2 1. What are some things you and your friends agree about? 2. What has someone done that you appreciate? 3. Do you have a companion you like to spend time with? What do you like to do together? 4. What are some things that you are fond of? 5. When might a bird flap its wings frantically? 6. What animal gallops? When does it gallop? 7. What makes you a loyal companion to your friends? 8. What do you do when you need to get something done swiftly? 9. What kind of container could be used as a trap for caterpillars? 10. What might make you tremble?