THE CARING LITTLE RIVER

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Before we jump into the story, let’s warm up with a few fun questions. Read the questions and answer.
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One sunny morning, Eli and I  visited the small river near Bainbridge. The air was fresh, and I could hear the gentle rustling of leaves as the breeze passed through the trees. I loved being near the river.

The water sparkled in the sunlight, and I could see tiny fish swimming just below the surface. Birds chirped happily in the branches above, and every so often, a butterfly would flutter by. Everything felt peaceful.

I noticed something unusual as we walked along the riverbank, enjoying the view. There were bits of trash scattered along the edge of the water. Plastic bottles, food wrappers, and even a rusty can lay among the rocks and plants.

I felt surprised and a little sad. I asked Eli, “Why is there so much garbage here?” Eli chirped softly and explained, “People sometimes come here for picnics but don’t take their trash back with them. When it rains, the litter gets washed into the river.”

I thought about what Eli said. We walked a bit farther and soon saw a family of swans swimming in the water. I noticed that some pieces of plastic were floating nearby.

Eli looked worried and said, “If the swans or fish eat plastic, it could make them very sick.” The idea of animals getting hurt because of the trash made me feel upset.

Suddenly, I noticed a small swan chick struggling in the water. It was tangled in a piece of plastic! The poor bird flapped its tiny wings, trying to break free, but the plastic was wrapped tightly around its leg. I cried, “Oh no, Eli, we have to help it”.

Eli and I quickly found a long stick. I leaned carefully, trying to reach the trapped chick. My hands shook with worry. Eli warned, “Be careful, Riri”. I stretched out as far as I could and managed to hook the plastic with the stick.

With one gentle pull, the plastic came loose, and the chick swam free to its family. Eli and I sighed with relief.

After rescuing the chick, Eli had a bright idea. She said, “Riri, we need to clean up all this trash before animals get hurt. I nodded eagerly, feeling ready to help. We found a couple of bags and put on gloves to pick up the litter safely. We worked together, carefully collecting plastic bottles, wrappers, and even an old shoe that had washed up on the shore.
Little by little, the riverbank began to look cleaner and more beautiful. As I picked up a shiny, colorful wrapper, I noticed a glimmering stone underneath it. “Look at this, Eli!” I said, holding up the stone. It was smooth and round, sparkling in the sunlight. Eli chirped happily, “See, nature has treasures to share when we take care of it.”

When we finished, I looked around and felt proud. The river looked so much better without all the garbage. I felt happy knowing we had helped protect the animals and plants

Eli chirped joyfully and said, “Remember, Riri, keeping nature clean helps everyone: the animals, the plants, and us.” I smiled and replied, “Next time, we should invite our friends to help keep this place beautiful.” Eli agreed, and we walked home, feeling proud and hopeful that more people would join us.
Now that we’ve read the adventure, read each question and answer
Well done! Continue to the gate.