Once upon a time, there was a tiny atom named Albie. Albie lived in a beautiful world called the Crystal Kingdom. The kingdom was filled with gorgeous crystal formations that sparkled in the light. One day, Albie was walking through the kingdom when he stumbled upon a pearl. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen! The surface was smooth and white, and it shimmered in the light like a rainbow.

Albie was curious and asked the pearl, "What are you?" The pearl replied, "I am a cultured pearl. I was formed inside a mollusk, and layers of nacre were embedded around a grain of sand." Albie was amazed and asked, "What's nacre?" The pearl explained, "Nacre is a material that the mollusk secretes to protect itself from irritation. It's what makes me so beautiful and strong."

Albie was fascinated by the pearl's story and decided to explore more. He traveled to the beach and found a lot of different pearls. Some were round, while others were oval. Some were white, while others were pink, blue, or even black! Albie realized that every pearl was unique, with its own set of facets and colors.

Just then, Albie remembered that he lived in a world of crystal. He decided to compare the two. He found that crystal was opaque, meaning light couldn't pass through it, while pearls were translucent, meaning that light could pass through them, creating a beautiful shine. Albie was grateful for the opportunity to learn about both the crystal kingdom and the world of pearls. He returned home, filled with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the world around him.

The end.

Reflections

1. What was Albie's world called?
2. What did Albie find on his adventure that was very unique and beautiful?
3. What is nacre and how is it related to pearls?
4. What are some of the differences between crystals and pearls?
5. What did Albie learn about the world on his adventure?
6. Why was Albie grateful for his adventure?
7. Can you think of any other items that are formed in a similar way as pearls?