Reading and Math

The Fox and the Fruit

Reading and Math Puzzle

What did the Fox say

Fern was a fox
who lived in the forest.
The forest was quiet
But Fern the fox was not.

Her tummy rumbled.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

“I am hungry,” said Fern.
“I want to eat something now.”
So she walked down the trail
to find something new.

She sniffed the grass.
Sniff! Sniff! Sniff!

She sniffed the trees.
Sniff! Sniff! Sniff!

She sniffed the trail.
Sniff! Sniff! Sniff!

Then,  Woof! Woof! Bark! Bark!
A sound came from near the trail ahead.
Then, Bark! Bark! Woof! Woof!
A dog barked near the path ahead.

So she walked down the trail
to find something new.

Fern looked at a dog.
“This bone is tasty, try some if you like”, said the dog.
Then Fern looked at a bone.
“No thanks,” said Fern.
“I do not want to eat bones.”

So she walked down the trail
to find something new.

Then,  Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!
A sound came from near the trail ahead.
As Fern waled slowly to see what was ahead.
She saw a cat that sat on a rock, drinking milk.
Slurp! Slurp! Lick! Lick!

“This milk is tasty, try some if you like”.
Said the cat with a smile on her face.
“Too warm,” Fern said as she sniffed the bowl.
“Too warm, too hot, not just right”. Said Fern

So she walked down the trail
to find something new.

Then, Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!
A bird flew past her head.
Then, Flap! Flap! Flap!
Fern looked up to see a nest high in a tree.

Fern looked up.
“Eggs?” she asked..
“Eggs?” she thought.
“Eggs?” she wondered.

But the nest was too high.
She could not reach.
She could not climb up to the nest in the tree.
The nest was too hight and hard to see.

So she walked down the trail
to find something new.

Then, Moo! Moo! Moo!
A cow chewed grass in the field next the trail.
Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!
“Try this grass”. Said the cow with a smile.
“It is nice and fresh and it is tasty too”.

Fern tried a bite.
Munch! Munch! Munch!“ Too chewy,” she said.
She chewed and chewed and chewed.
“It’s too chewy to chew” she said.

So she walked down the trail
to find something new.

Then, Croak! Croak! Croak!
A frog on the trail gave her a bug.

Croak! Croak! Croak!
“They are nice and they are tasty” said the frog..
It wriggled in her paw.
Wiggle! Wiggle! Wiggle!

It squirmed in her paw.
Squirm! Squirm! Squirm!
Fern’s nose wrinkled.
“Too wiggly, wiggly, wiggly”.

Fern’s nose wrinkled.
Wrinkl…, wrinkle… wrinkle…
“I don’t think worms are for me,” she said.

So she walked down the trail
to find something new.

Then, Blub! Blub! Blub!
A fish jumped in the stream.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Fern stepped back.
Step! Step! Step!

“Too wet,” Fern said. Squelch… Squelch… Squelch…
“Far too wet for me,” she said.

Her paws went Pitter Patter!, Pitter Patter!
as she walked down the trail again to find something new.

The forest was quiet again.
Shhh… Shhh… Shhh…
Not a sound could be heard.

Then, Rustle! Rustle! Rustle

Leaves whispered softly.

Then, Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
Fern turned her head.

A squirrel sat under a tree. He was holding a shiny red apple.

Nibble! Nibble! Nibble!

“Want a bite,?” asked the squirrel.
“It’s sweet, it’s juicy and I have plenty!” Said the squirrel.

Fern blinked and her eyes lite up.
Blink, blink, blink.
She stepped closer.
Tap! Tap! Tap!

She took a bite.
Nibble! Nibble! Nibble!
She chewed and she chewed and chewed
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

“Hmm…”
Munch! Munch! Munch!
“Yum!”

“It’s sweet!” said Fern.
“It’s juicy!”
“It’s just right!”

Fern’s eyes lit up again.
Her eyes widened and sparkled.
Wide! Wide! Wide! Sparkle! Sparkle! Sparkle!
Her tail wagged.
Wag! wag! wag!
Her paws tapped the dirt.
Tap! Tap! Tap!

“I like this,” she said.
“I really like this!”

“Fruit is fun to eat,” said the squirrel.
“And you can find it in all kinds of places.”

From that day on, Fern looked for fruit.

Red fruit.
Green fruit.
Round fruit.
Small fruit.

She shared with the bird.
Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!

She shared with the cat.
Meow! Meow! Meow!

She shared with the cow.
Moo! Moo! Moo!

She even shared with the frog.
Croak! Croak! Croak!

“Try fruit,” she told them.
“Fruit is sweet.
Fruit is juicy.
Fruit is good.”

And every time she took a bite, she said,
“I like to eat fruit.”

And every time she took a bite, she said,
“I love to eat fruit.”

Fern was happy and all her friends smiled too.
She found the food she liked through friends.
She found the food she loved through kindness.

Let’s talk about the story!

Q1. Why was Fern looking for food?
A. She wanted to find her friend.
B. She was hungry.
C. She lost her home.
D. She wanted to play.

Answer

B – She was hungry.

Q2. What did Fern do when she met the dog?
A. She ate a bone.
B. She ran away.
C. She said she did not eat bones.
D. She barked.

Answer

C – She said she did not eat bones.

Q3. Why didn’t Fern eat the bird’s eggs?
A. She was not hungry.
B. They were too small.
C. She could not reach the nest.
D. The bird flew away.

Answer

C – She could not reach the nest.

Q4. What food did the squirrel share with Fern?
A. An orange
B. Cheese
C. An apple
D. A nut

Answer

C – An apple

Q5. What happened after Fern tasted the apple?
A. She threw it away.
B. She decided she liked fruit.
C. She went home.
D. She gave it back to the squirrel.

Answer

B – She decided she liked fruit.

Q6. What lesson did Fern learn?
A. Always eat with friends.
B. She likes fruit and found it through kindness.
C. Squirrels can climb trees.
D. Animals make funny sounds.

Answer

B – She likes fruit and found it through kindness.

Q7. Which foods did Fern try before finding the fruit?
A. Bone, milk, bug
B. Meat, nuts, cheese
C. Bread, seeds, fish
D. Apple, cheese, bug

Answer

A – Bone, milk, bug

Q8. How did Fern feel when she tasted the apple?
A. Angry
B. Tired
C. Happy and excited
D. Sleepy

Answer

C – Happy and excited

Q9. What did Fern do after she found out she liked fruit?
A. She went to sleep.
B. She looked for more fruit and shared it.
C. She chased the squirrel.
D. She went home without eating.

Answer

B – She looked for more fruit and shared it.

Q10. How do you think the squirrel felt when he shared his apple?
A. Angry
B. Friendly and kind
C. Scared
D. Lonely

Answer

B – Friendly and kind

Q11. Which sounds did Fern hear in the forest?
A. Woof and Meow
B. Ring and Buzz
C. Bang and Beep
D. Ding and Honk

Answer

A – Woof and Meow

Q12. What is the main idea of this story?
A. Fern learns to climb trees.
B. Fern learns that fruit is her favorite food through kindness.
C. Fern becomes the fastest fox in the forest.
D. Fern gets lost in the forest.

Answer

B – Fern learns that fruit is her favorite food through kindness.

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きつねのフェーンは なんて言ったの？

フェーンは きつね。
もりに すんでいました。
もりは しずか。
でも フェーンは しずか じゃありません。

おなかが ぐ〜。
ぐ〜！ ぐ〜！ ぐ〜！

「おなか すいた」と フェーン。
「いま なんか たべたいな」

だから フェーンは
みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

くさを くんくん。
くんくん！ くんくん！ くんくん！

きを くんくん。
くんくん！ くんくん！ くんくん！

みちを くんくん。
くんくん！ くんくん！ くんくん！

その とき…

わん！ わん！
バウ！ バウ！

みちの さきから おとが きこえました。

バウ！ バウ！
わん！ わん！

いぬが ほえていました。

だから フェーンは
みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

フェーンは いぬを みました。
「この ほね おいしいよ。 よかったら たべてみて」と いぬ。

フェーンは ほねを みました。
「いいえ、いらない」と フェーン。
「ほねは たべたくないの」

だから フェーンは
みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

にゃお！ にゃお！ にゃお！ にゃお！
みちの さきから おとが きこえました。

フェーンは ゆっくり あるいて さきを のぞくと
いしの うえに ねこが すわって
ミルクを のんでいました。

ごくごく！ ペロペロ！

「この ミルク おいしいよ。 よかったら のんでみて」
にこっと わらう ねこ。

「ぬるい」と フェーンは おちゃわんを くんくん。
「ぬるい、あつい、ちょうど よくない」と フェーン。

だから フェーンは
みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

チュン！ チュン！ チュン！
ことりが あたまの うえを とびました。

パタパタ！ パタパタ！

フェーンは みあげました。
そこに たかい きに すが、おやが ありました。

フェーンは みあげました。
「たまご？」と フェーン。
「たまご？」と フェーンは かんがえました。
「たまご？」と フェーンは ふしぎに おもいました。

でも おやは たかすぎて とどきません。
のぼることも できません。
おやは たかすぎて よく みえません。

だから フェーンは
みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

モー！ モー！ モー！
みちの よこで うしが くさを たべていました。

むしゃむしゃ！ むしゃむしゃ！

「この くさ たべてみて。 しんせんで おいしいよ」と うし。

フェーンは ひとくち かじってみました。
もぐもぐ！ もぐもぐ！

「かたすぎる」と いいました。
かみかみ かみかみ かみつづけました。
「かたくて かめないよ」と フェーン。

だから フェーンは
みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

ケロ！ ケロ！ ケロ！
みちの かえるが むしを くれました。

ケロ！ ケロ！ ケロ！
「おいしいんだよ。 たべてみて」と かえる。

むしが あしの うえで うごきました。
にょろにょろ！ にょろにょろ！
ごそごそ！ ごそごそ！

フェーンの はなは しわしわ。
「うにょうにょ うにょうにょ うにょうにょ」

フェーンの はなは また しわしわ。
「しわしわ… しわしわ… しわしわ…」

「むしは わたしに あわない」と フェーン。

だから フェーンは
みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

ぷくぷく！ ぷくぷく！
かわで さかなが はねました。

ぱしゃん！ ぱしゃん！ ぱしゃん！

フェーンは うしろに さがりました。
トコトコ！ トコトコ！ トコトコ！

「ぬれてる」と フェーン。
びちゃびちゃ… びちゃびちゃ… びちゃびちゃ…
「ぬれすぎて いや」

フェーンの あしは
ぱたぱた ぱたぱた！
また みちを とことこ あるいて
あたらしい ものを さがしました。

もりは また しずか。
しー… しー… しー…

そのとき…
カサカサ！ カサカサ！
はっぱが ささやきました。

バリバリ！ バリバリ！

フェーンは ふりむきました。
きの したで りすが
あかい りんごを もって いました。

カリカリ！ カリカリ！

「たべる？」と りす。
「あまくて、ジューシーで、たくさん あるよ」

フェーンの めが ぱちぱち！
ぱちぱち！ ぱちぱち！

ちかづいて…
トコトコ！ トコトコ！

かじりました。
カリカリ！ カリカリ！
シャク！ シャク！

「んー！」
もぐもぐ！ もぐもぐ！
「おいしい！」

「あまい！」と フェーン。
「ジューシー！」
「ちょうどいい！」

フェーンの めは また きらきら！
ぱあっ！ ぱあっ！ きらきら！

しっぽは ぶんぶん！
ぶんぶん！ ぶんぶん！

あしは トントン！
トントン！ トントン！

「これ すき！」と フェーン。
「ほんとうに すき！」

「くだものは たのしいよ」と りす。
「いろんな ところで みつかるんだ」

その ひから フェーンは くだものを さがしました。

あかい くだもの。
みどりの くだもの。
まるい くだもの。
ちいさな くだもの。

ことりと わけました。
チュン！ チュン！ チュン！

ねこと わけました。
ニャオ！ ニャオ！ ニャオ！

うしと わけました。
モー！ モー！ モー！

かえるとも わけました。
ケロ！ ケロ！ ケロ！

「くだもの たべて」と フェーン。
「くだものは あまい。
くだものは ジューシー。
くだものは いいものだよ」

ひとくち かじるたびに フェーンは いいました。
「くだもの たべるの すき！」
ひとくち かじるたびに フェーンは いいました。
「くだもの だいすき！」

フェーンは しあわせ。
ともだちも みんな にっこり。

ともだちと いっしょに
すきな たべものを みつけました。
やさしさで
だいすきな たべものを みつけました。

---

Sight Words

a   all   am   an   and   any   are   at   be   but   

by   day   do   down   for   from   he   her   him   

his   I   in   is   it   like   looked   look   me   my   

no   not   of   on   one   said   see   she   so   

that   the   them   then   there   they   this   to   

was   we   what   when   with   you   your

Teaching Guide: Grammar in The Fox and the Fruit

Level Target

• Reading Level: Level 5 (approx. Grades 4–5 reader)
• EIKEN: Grade 4 (Upper beginner / early intermediate English)

1. Simple Present Tense

Explanation:
The story mostly uses the simple present to describe actions, habits, and general truths. This tense is the easiest for learners to master and is key at EIKEN Grade 4 and 3.

Examples from the story:

• “She sniffed the grass.” (past for action narrative – note that simple past is used consistently in storytelling)
• “A dog barked near the path.”
• “I like this,” she said.

Teaching Tip:
Remind students that in stories, we often use simple past even for things happening “now” in the narrative. This is called the past narrative tense.

Activity:
Ask students to find 5 sentences in the story that describe what Fern did.
Then have them change one into the present tense, e.g.,
“Fern sniffs the grass.”

2. Direct Speech (Quotations)

Explanation:
Direct speech uses quotation marks (“…”) to show what characters say, plus a reporting verb like said or asked. This helps students read with expression.

Examples from the story:

• “I am hungry,” said Fern.
• “Want a bite?” asked the squirrel.

Teaching Tip:
Point out punctuation: comma before closing quotation mark, reporting verb lowercase (said Fern). Show where question marks and exclamation marks go inside the quotes.

Activity:
Students write one new line of dialogue between Fern and the squirrel, using quotation marks correctly.

3. Repetition & Parallel Structure

Explanation:
The story uses the same sentence structure with small changes. This helps learners predict and understand new information.

Examples from the story:

• “She sniffed the grass. She sniffed the trees. She sniffed the trail.”
• “It’s sweet! It’s juicy! It’s just right!”

Activity:
Students write 3 lines of their own using the pattern:
“She looked at the ___.” She looked at the ___. She looked at the ___.

4. Expressing Likes, Dislikes, and Preferences

Explanation:
Simple statements about preferences use like, don’t like, or do not eat.

Examples from the story:

• “No thanks. I do not eat bones.”
• “I like this. I really like this!”
• “Fruit is good.”

Activity:
Ask learners to give two sentences about foods they like and two about foods they do not like.

5. Imperatives (Commands/Invitations)

Explanation:
Short commands often use the base verb:

• “Try fruit.”

Activity:
Students give an imperative sentence to a classmate suggesting a food or activity from the story (“Eat the apple.”, “Listen to the bird.”).

6. Compound Sentences with “and”

Explanation:
and connects two related ideas in one sentence.

Examples from the story:

• “Fruit is sweet and it is juicy.”
• “She found the food she liked through kindness.”

Activity:
Students join two short sentences from the story with and.

7. Onomatopoeia & Exclamations

Explanation:
Sound words (Woof!, Moo!, Crunch!) add excitement. Often followed by an exclamation mark.

Examples:

• “Woof! Woof! Bark! Bark!”
• “Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!”

Activity:
Students list 3 animal sounds from the story, then think of another animal sound not in the story.

8. Questions and Question Words

Explanation:
Uses short questions or wh- questions to show curiosity.

Examples:

• “Eggs?”
• “Want a bite?”

Activity:
Students write one question they would ask Fern if they met her.

9. Adjectives for Description

Explanation:
Adjectives describe nouns.

Examples:

• “shiny red apple”
• “sweet,” “juicy”

Activity:
Students choose a fruit and describe it with 2 adjectives.

10. Time & Sequence Words

Explanation:
Words that tell the order of events.

Examples:

• “Then…”
• “From that day on…”

Activity:
Students retell the story orally, starting each new event with “Then…” or “After that…”