Example - How Turtles Got Their Shells

A very long time ago there was no such animal as a turtle. There were only lizards. Lizards were fast and agile but hunted by birds of equal speed. The birds were knowledgable compared to the dumb lizards. They knew how to trick the lizards into coming out of hiding. Lizards very much like to hear birds’ songs and to dance about to the sweet trills and chirps. When they dance about, they move from under the rocks which they hide, and the singing birds scoop them up and carry them away to be eaten.

One lizard who’s name was Turtle was not as dumb as his fellow lizards. He thought to himself, “I do like to dance about to the birds’ songs, but if I do, I shall certainly be eaten, for I will dance right out from under my hiding rock and into their sharp claws.” and he was right. He spent many days deciding whether to dance or resist the temptations to dance. “I must find a way I can do both.” he concluded. “I shall find a hiding rock that will move with me while I dance.”

The lizard went out of his hiding rock and ran as fast as he could to another hiding rock and then to another, checking each one to see if they moved with him while he danced. Soon he neared a tide pool where a very kind and wise hermit crab lived. The crab noticed the lizard was in danger of being taken by birds, so he gave the lizard his shell. The lizard squeezed into the shell but it did not fit well. His legs had no place to go and he was terribly large for the tiny shell. His legs burst through the shell as the whole thing stretched. “I am so sorry,” the lizard cried to the crab, “I have ruined your shell.” “Do not worry, I have plenty more spares. Now you are safe and you can dance at the same time.”

The lizard tried dancing, but the shell slowed him down so he could not dance. “Oh this will not do.” he cried, “I cannot dance in this shell of yours. I must give it back to you and find a new hiding rock.” He tried desperately to leave the shell, but he was stuck. “Oh no, oh no, oh no! I am stuck and cannot leave this shell!” The crab, only trying to comfort the poor lizard, pointed out that while he could not dance, the birds could not eat him with his shell on, and he could still walk even though it was only a very slow pace.

The lizard walked slowly home. He was very glad he did not have to scramble from rock to rock, but was angered by the slow pace at which he had to walk. Lizards peered out at him as he passed their hiding rocks to look at the brave lizard who had got himself a hiding rock that he could carry with him. “Turtle has a moving hiding rock” was the news of the day. All the lizards wanted a hiding rock like Turtle’s. They ran to his old hiding rock to ask him where he got it.

When Turtle got home, he pushed and squeezed, but he was too big to fit under with his shell. He then noticed the many many lizards under his old hiding rock. When they asked him where he got the shell, he told them all of the crab. The lizards were jealous of his handy home which moved with him as he went from place to place, but they did not know they wouldn't be able to dance or run.

The lizards ran from rock to rock to get to the crab’s tide pool and begged him for shells. He gave the shells he had to give and kept one for himself. Many lizards did not get shells. The ones who did were shocked to find they couldn’t dance or run, but when they tried to leave their new homes behind they were sad to find they couldn’t. The other lizards laughed and jeered and mocked them saying, “You cannot run about like us. You cannot even dance. You cannot walk about more briskly than a tiny snail can. You are just a turtle now, and we are happy how we are.” They ran off to dance and play while the Turtles walked slowly home.

This is how turtles got their shells.

Other examples of stories you could write:

How the raccoon got its mask.

How the giraffe got its neck.

How the lion got its mane.

How the elephant got its ears (or trunk).

HAVE FUN!!