Once upon a time, there lived a wise old tortoise. He lived in a lush, fertile land that was surrounded by rivers and streams. The land was so fertile that it produced plenty of food for all the creatures that lived there. One day, a terrible flood swept through the land, causing widespread damage and destruction. The tortoise knew that he needed to survive, so he climbed to the highest point he could find. From his vantage point, he could see that the water was now covering almost everything that was once visible.

As he looked around, the wise old tortoise started to think about all the creatures that he loved and respected. He knew that many of them would not be able to survive the flood, and he felt sad. But then he remembered that he was wise, and he had a plan. He decided to use his wisdom to help all the creatures in the land survive the flood.

So, the clever tortoise started to gather all the animals and plants that he could see and brought them to the highest point where he was standing. There, he created a small island of safety where they could all survive. He made sure that everyone had enough food and water to last through the flood. And, as the days passed, the wise old tortoise taught the other creatures how to respect each other and work together to build a better world.

Eventually, the floodwaters receded, and the land was once again visible. The creatures all returned to their homes, but they never forgot the wise old tortoise and the lessons he taught them about survival, wisdom, and respect.

Reflections

1. Why do you think the tortoise climbed to the highest point he could find?
2. How did the tortoise help all the creatures survive the flood?
3. What lesson did the tortoise teach the other creatures?
4. What did the creatures learn from the tortoise?
5. How was the land different after the flood?