The story is about an ant and a grasshopper, where the ant works hard all summer collecting food for winter while the grasshopper plays. When winter comes, the grasshopper is hungry with no food while the ant has stored enough to last through the cold months. The grasshopper asks the ant for food but is refused because the ant prepared for winter while the grasshopper did not. The overall lesson is to work and plan ahead for difficult times.

1. Reader’s Theater: The Ant and the Grasshopper
Parts
-Reader 1
-Reader 2
-Reader 3
-Grasshopper
-Ant
Reader 1
There once was a grasshopper.
Reader 2
And, there once was an ant.
Reader 3
The ant spent all summer working hard and collecting food for winter.
Ant
If I don’t prepare for winter, I will be hungry!
Reader 4
All summer, lazy Grasshopper laughed at hardworking Ant.
Grasshopper
Life is too short to work so hard!
Reader 1
Soon, summer turned to fall.
Reader 2
And fall turned to winter.
Reader 3
Now, Grasshopper was weak with hunger.
Grasshopper
I didn’t collect food for winter and now I am hungry.

2. Reader 1
Ant was warm and safe at home.
Reader 2
Ant had lots of food.
Reader 3
Grasshopper went to Ant’s house.
Grasshopper
Ant! Will you share your food with me? I am hungry!
Ant
I’m sorry, but there isn’t enough food for both of us.
Reader 1
The lesson of the story is to plan ahead!