unity

quarrel

twig

The Happy Ant Hill

The Happy Ant Hill

Folktale by Pat Nelson

Retold by Leah N. Bautista

Luis is a quiet little ant. He stays in his room most of the time. Bernie is the opposite of Luis.

He likes to go around and make fun of other ants. They quarreled most of the time.

One August morning, Father Ant called everybody.

“The rainy season begins soon. Wemust find food together.

If we work together, wecan have enough food before the rain comes.”

Alas, the boys were not listening.Bernie made fun of Luis. Luis went back to hisroom. So, Father Ant called them back.

Father Ant showed them a bundle of twigs. He asked each ant to break the bundle. Each one tried but the bundle did not break.

Then, he gaveeach one a piece of twig. The twig broke easily.

Father Ant spoke, “See, my sons, this is what it means to work together as one. Work with

brotherly love and we will always have a happy ant hill.”Luis smiled at Bernie, and they understood Father Ant’s lesson.

1. What did the father ant show his sons? What symbolizes the bundle of twigs? 2. What did the father ant beg from his sons?

3. What does it mean when you say “to live in brotherly love”? 4. How would you describe a family living in love?

5. What did the father ant do next? Were the sons able to break the sticks easily?

6. What does the old man mean when he said, “See my sons, the power of unity.”

7. Do you think the sons changed? If not, what will the old man do? If you were one of the sons, what will you do?

Remember This

Unity is to work together with brotherly love.

From the bundle of twigs below, color those twigsthat show unity in the family.

Gabriel helps his sister clean the yard.

Dennis and Sheryl fight over a petty thing.

Leo and Vien obey their parents.

Marian respects her older brother’s idea.

What do you think will the children do?What do you think will happen to the seeds?