By: Lu-Ann Deysel, Carla van Tonder & Natasja Botha UNLIKELY FRIENDS By: Lu-Ann Deysel, Carla van Tonder & Natasja Botha

One morning deep under the see, Puffer the fish got out of bed and started to get ready for school.

Puffer the fish does not have any friends at school because he is the only puffer fish there and no one really understands him. I’m a Fish I’m a Stingray I’m a Dolphin I’m a Jellyfish I’m an Octopus

On the way to school, Puffer started to get scared because there are a group of eels at his school who always tease him.

Eddie the eel is the only eel that does not pick on puffer and puffer really wants to be his friend. I’m a Turtle I’m an Eel I’m a Shark I’m a Whale I’m an Squid

When Puffer got to school, the group of eels were not there and Puffer felt relieved.

The day went by and the eels never came to school The day went by and the eels never came to school. Puffer felt so happy that he decided he would go to the plankton market after school to buy lunch.

When Puffer got to the plankton market, he saw Eddie the eel standing with the other eels by the stall. He got so scared and wanted to swim away but decided that he would be brave and then swam in their direction.

When puffer got to the stall, the eels started pushing him around and teasing him.

Eddie the eel felt sorry for Puffer and wanted to be his friend, but was scared that his eel friends would reject him. I’m a Shrimp I’m a Weed I’m a Sea Urchin I’m a Sea Anemone I’m an Sea Snail

The eels kept on teasing Puffer and all the other fish at the plankton market started to laugh at Puffer. hahaha haha hahaha haha hahaha haha hahaha haha

Eddie the eel got really upset and told the eels that they are bullies and that he would rather be friends with puffer than with a group of bullies.

The crowd went quiet and listened to Eddie. I’m a Seahorse I’m a Lobster I’m a Prawn I’m a Crab I’m an Starfish

The eels were so shocked, they didn’t know what to say. I’m a Bluebottle I’m a Sea Cucumber I’m a Sea Snake I’m Plankton I’m Coral

Eddie the eel told Puffer that he was sorry for the way the eels treated him and that he should have stood up for him a long time ago.

Puffer and Eddie walked away and from that day forward they were best friends forever.

THE END

Questions What type of fish is Puffer the fish? (Knowledge) Give three facts about a dolphin? (Comprehension) Why was Puffer the fish scared to go to school? (Comprehension) What will you do if you were in Puffer the fish’s situation (Application) Make a table and draw next to the pictures how many of the animals you saw in the story. (Analysis) What do you think would have happened to Puffer the fish if the eels were at school? (Synthesis) Do you think it was right that the eels pushed and teased Puffer the fish? Why do you say so? (Comprehension) Name two animals that laughed at Puffer the fish? (Knowledge) How would you feel if other children laughed at you and what would you do? (Evaluation) Make another slide of the story and show what happened next, make sure you include Puffer and Eddie. (Application)

CAPS, integration & implementation CAPS: Life Skills: Term 2, Grade 2, Page 43 The story can be read at the end of the day just for fun. It can be read in any grade because the words that occur in the story are not difficult and the story will be flexible for multiple grades to understand (also depending on the hyperlinks used in the story). The questions that have to be answered is intended for Life Skills, Grade 2, Term 2 and is under the topic: Animals and creatures that live in water > saltwater animals Bullying is also a theme in the story and can form part of the hidden curriculum.

CAPS, integration & implementation CONTINUE The story “Unlikely Friends” can be integrated in a lot of different ways: Language can be implemented in the story; the story can be used to teach new words, the pronunciation of words and as well as sentence structures. Writing can also be implemented with the story; learners can do activities where they can write another scenario in the stories that is similar, or they can use the pictures, but just change the story. Reading can be implemented; learners can do shared reading activities and help each other with words that are difficult. You can implement Role-playing into the story; learners can act out scenarios that relate to the story and use props to do the role playing. Arts and crafts can be used; learners can make something creative with a variety of materials that are linked to the theme, sea animals.