Once upon a time, there was a sap named Sappy who lived in a deciduous forest. Sappy was always worried about the fast-moving traffic on the nearby highway. One day, he decided to take action. He gathered all the chlorophyll from the leaves of the trees to form a shield to protect the young seedlings that were growing on the side of the road.

Sappy painted the shield green, so it looked like a big wall of leaves. The seedlings were so happy and grateful to have a safe place to grow. They soaked up all the nutrients they needed, and their seed coats became strong and shiny.

But one day, a car drove off the highway and crashed into the shield. To everyone's surprise, the shield didn't break! Instead, it absorbed the impact, and the car bounced back onto the highway. The driver was shocked but relieved that he wasn't hurt.

From that day on, Sappy became known as the hero of the forest. The young seedlings continued to grow strong and tall, and the highway became a safer place for all. The end.

Reflections

1. What was Sappy's problem in the beginning of the story?
2. How did Sappy solve the problem?
3. What happened when a car crashed into the shield?
4. Why did Sappy become known as the hero of the forest?
5. How do you think the seedlings felt about the shield?
6. What would you have done if you were in Sappy's place?