Once upon a time, there was a little tree named Timmy. Timmy lived by the side of the highway and loved to watch the cars drive by. But one day, Timmy realized that all the cars and traffic were making it hard for him to get the nutrients he needed from the sun.
He decided he needed to protect himself, so he started to make more chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps trees like Timmy turn sunlight into food. Timmy also grew a thicker seed coat to protect his seeds from the traffic.
One day, a big truck drove by and knocked Timmy over. Timmy was worried that he would never grow again, but then he remembered his strong seed coat. Sure enough, a few days later, Timmy started to grow again from his seed coat.
Timmy was now even stronger and better able to protect himself from the traffic. He also learned that even though he was a deciduous tree, and lost his leaves in the winter, he could still make food from the sap in his trunk.
And so Timmy lived happily ever after, protected and well-nourished by his own strength and smarts. The end.

Reflections

1. How does Timmy protect himself from the traffic?
2. How does chlorophyll help Timmy?
3. Why does Timmy grow a thicker seed coat?
4. How does Timmy make food in the winter?
5. How does Timmy become stronger?