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In a cozy nest tucked amongst the reeds, Mama Duck proudly watched her eggs crack open. Out popped fluffy yellow ducklings, paddling excitedly in their tiny pond. But one egg remained. With a final crack, a larger duckling emerged, his feathers were dull grey, his legs clumsy and long.
This was the Ugly Duckling. He longed to join his siblings, but they, along with the other farmyard animals, mocked him. "Look at those ugly feathers!" the chicks would peep. "He waddles like a lost goose!" the pig would snort. The Ugly Duckling felt alone and different.
One day, unable to bear the taunts anymore, he ran away. He journeyed through fields and forests, seeking a place to belong. He spent lonely nights huddled with grumpy geese, who shooed him away at dawn. A kind old dog offered him shelter, but the farm children chased him away with shouts.
Winter arrived, harsh and unforgiving. The Ugly Duckling struggled to find food, his grey feathers offering little warmth. Exhausted and frozen, he wished for an end to his misery.
Then, spring brought a magical change. As the ice melted, the Ugly Duckling felt a strange tingling. His awkward body stretched and transformed. When he looked in the reflection of the water, he gasped. A magnificent swan, with feathers of pristine white, glided back at him.
The other swans welcomed him with graceful bows. They had always seen his beautiful potential, hidden beneath the grey feathers. Finally, the Ugly Duckling, now a graceful swan, had found his place. He soared through the sky, his heart filled with joy and belonging. His journey, though difficult, had led him to discover his true beauty and his place in the world.
Vocabulary and Meaning
Reeds: Tall, thin plants that grow in water or wet areas.
Cracked open: Broke open with a sharp sound.
Fluffy yellow ducklings: Baby ducks with soft yellow feathers.
Paddled excitedly: Moved their feet back and forth in the water to swim happily.
Dull grey: A dark, uninteresting shade of grey.
Clumsy and long: Awkward and difficult to control, with long legs.
Mocked: Laughed at someone in a mean way to make them feel bad.
Peep: Made a high-pitched sound like a baby chick.
Snort: Made a loud, blowing sound through the nose (referring to the pig).
Taunts: Insults or teasing words meant to hurt someone.
Journeyed: Traveled from one place to another.
Grumpy geese: Annoyed and bad-tempered geese.
Shooed: Chased someone away gently.
Harsh and unforgiving: Severe and cruel, with no mercy.
Exhausted: Extremely tired.
Miserable: Very unhappy and uncomfortable.
Tingling: A prickly sensation on the skin.
Transformed: Changed completely into something different.
Gasped: Took a sudden, sharp breath in surprise.
Magnificent swan: A large, beautiful white bird with a long neck.
Pristine white: Perfectly clean and bright white.
Graced: Showed respect and kindness with a slight bow of the head (referring to the swans).
Potential: The ability to develop or become something great in the future.
Soared: Flew high in the air with ease.
Comprehension Questions for "The Ugly Duckling"
Remembering the Story:
How was the Ugly Duckling different from his siblings when he hatched?
Why did the Ugly Duckling run away from the farmyard?
What challenges did the Ugly Duckling face during his journey?
What happened to the Ugly Duckling in the spring?
How did the other swans react to the transformed Ugly Duckling?
Thinking About the Story:
How do you think the Ugly Duckling felt when the other animals made fun of him? (Use clues from the story)
Why do you think the Ugly Duckling kept searching for a place to belong, even though it was difficult?
The story says the other swans "always saw his beautiful potential." What do you think this means?
Learning a Lesson:
The Ugly Duckling's story is about finding your true self. Can you think of a time when you felt different from others, but eventually found something you were good at or something that made you special? 1
Sometimes things can seem difficult before they get better. The Ugly Duckling's journey was hard, but it led to a happy ending. Can you think of another story where a character faces challenges but overcomes them in the end?
Bonus Question:
Imagine you are a tiny spider who befriended the Ugly Duckling during his travels. Write a short story about your encounter and how you felt when he transformed into a swan
ANSWERS
ANSWERS
Comprehension Questions and Answers for "The Ugly Duckling"
Remembering the Story:
How was the Ugly Duckling different from his siblings when he hatched?
The Ugly Duckling was bigger and clumsier than his siblings. He also had dull grey feathers instead of fluffy yellow ones.
Why did the Ugly Duckling run away from the farmyard?
The Ugly Duckling ran away because the other animals made fun of his appearance and he felt lonely and unwanted.
What challenges did the Ugly Duckling face during his journey?
The Ugly Duckling faced many challenges during his journey. He struggled to find food and shelter, was chased away by other animals, and endured the harshness of winter.
What happened to the Ugly Duckling in the spring?
In the spring, the Ugly Duckling underwent a magical transformation. He grew into a beautiful swan.
How did the other swans react to the transformed Ugly Duckling?
The other swans welcomed the transformed Ugly Duckling with graceful bows. They had always known he had beautiful potential hidden beneath his grey feathers.
Thinking About the Story:
How do you think the Ugly Duckling felt when the other animals made fun of him? (Use clues from the story)
The text tells us the Ugly Duckling felt alone and different. Being mocked for his appearance likely made him sad, hurt, and confused.
Why do you think the Ugly Duckling kept searching for a place to belong, even though it was difficult?
Even though it was hard, the Ugly Duckling never gave up hope of finding a place where he would be accepted for who he was. He had a natural desire to belong and feel connected to others.
The story says the other swans "always saw his beautiful potential." What do you think this means?
This means that the other swans, even though they looked different, could see that the Ugly Duckling had the potential to be beautiful too. They knew his appearance didn't define him, and they recognized his inner beauty.
Learning a Lesson:
The Ugly Duckling's story is about finding your true self. Can you think of a time when you felt different from others, but eventually found something you were good at or something that made you special?
This is an open-ended question that encourages students to reflect on their own experiences. Answers will vary depending on the student.
Sometimes things can seem difficult before they get better. The Ugly Duckling's journey was hard, but it led to a happy ending. Can you think of another story where a character faces challenges but overcomes them in the end?
There are many stories where characters face challenges but overcome them! Here are a few examples:
The Tortoise and the Hare: The slow and steady tortoise wins the race against the arrogant hare, showing that perseverance pays off.
The Three Little Pigs: The third pig, who worked hard to build a strong brick house, is the only one who survives the Big Bad Wolf, demonstrating the importance of hard work and preparation.
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