Once upon a time, there was a horseshoe crab who lived by the jetty near the ocean. Every day, he would burrow in the sand and wait for the current tide to bring in fresh algae for him to eat.

One day, while searching for food, he met a tiny arthropod who was also an invertebrate like him. The arthropod told him that she was a larva and was going to molt soon. The horseshoe crab was fascinated by this and asked what molting meant.

The larva explained that molting was the process of shedding their old exoskeleton and growing a new one. The horseshoe crab was amazed by this and decided to watch the process.

Days went by and the jetty started to erode slowly. The horseshoe crab was worried that his home would be destroyed. But then he remembered the larva's molting and how it allowed her to grow and become stronger. He realized that he too could molt and grow stronger to withstand the waves and protect his home.

And so, the horseshoe crab molted and grew a new, stronger exoskeleton. From that day on, he was able to protect his home from the eroding jetty and live happily ever after. The end.

Reflections

1. What is the horseshoe crab's problem at the start of the story?
2. How does the horseshoe crab learn about molting?
3. Why does the horseshoe crab decide to molt?
4. What happens to the jetty near the ocean?
5. How does the horseshoe crab feel after molting into a stronger exoskeleton?