KidsAges 6–8ReadingReading

Bayu Plants a Forest

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Bayu lived in a fishing village on an island in Indonesia. One day, his grandfather took him to the beach with a bucket full of small green plants.

“These are baby mangrove trees,” said Grandfather. “Mangroves grow where the sea meets the land. Their roots look like long legs standing in the water.”

“Why are we planting them?” asked Bayu.

Grandfather pointed at the shore. “When big waves come, the mangrove roots hold the sand in place. They protect our village. And little fish, crabs and shrimp hide between the roots, safe from bigger animals.”

Bayu pressed each tiny plant into the soft mud. It was sticky, and soon his feet were brown. He planted twenty little trees in a long line.

Every month, Bayu went back to check on them. Most of them grew new leaves. A few did not survive, so he planted new ones in their place.

Two years later, the mangroves were taller than Bayu. One morning, he saw tiny fish swimming between their roots. “Look, Grandfather,” he whispered. “We planted a home for them.”

The End

Questions about the story

Name:

Colour in the circle next to the right answer.

1Where do mangroves grow?
A On top of mountainsB Where the sea meets the landC In the desert

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Read the story, then answer the questions.

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Licence: Crayonbird original

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About this activity

What your child practises

Skills: Short story with questions and Reading comprehension: stories.

Reading a short story for meaning and answering questions about what happened and why.

What’s included

3 story pages
4 questions
An answer key you can print with the sheet or on its own
An on-screen version with instant marking and stars

Age and school year

Made for ages 6–8. That’s Grade 1–3 in the US, Year 2–4 in England, Primary 1–3 in Nigeria and Class 1–3 in India.

How to use it

Print it at home or school – it fits a standard A4 or US Letter page.
Print the answer key too, so marking takes seconds.
Play it on screen: answers are marked instantly and children earn stars.
Write on it on a tablet or touchscreen with a finger or stylus – no printer needed.

Tips for parents and teachers

Before reading, look at the title and ask “What do you think will happen?” – predicting builds comprehension.
Ask your child to point to the sentence that proves each answer; finding evidence is a key reading skill.
Pick a regular time – after a snack, say – so practice becomes a habit rather than a battle.

Good to know

Time needed: About 15–25 minutes
You’ll need: A printer (or a tablet to work on screen) and a pencil
Answer key: Yes – print it with the sheet or on its own

More for this age

United States

England (UK)

Nigeria

India