The Tiny Giant

At Meadow Animal School, everyone had a reputation. The grasshoppers were the track stars, hopping across fields with ease. The bees were the bossy overachievers, buzzing from one activity to the next, and everyone feared their sharp tempers (and stingers). Then there were the worms, who were so slow and quiet that most animals forgot they were even there. And, of course, there was the praying mantis—always “deep in prayer” with their hands together, which made them look so intimidating that no one dared mess with them.

In the middle of this chaotic bug hierarchy was Caterpillar. Tiny, slow, and a little awkward, Caterpillar didn’t seem to belong anywhere. The grasshoppers teased him because he couldn’t hop. “Caterpillar, maybe if you jump really hard, you’ll move… an inch!” they’d laugh.

The bees weren’t much better. “Do you even know how to get anywhere?” they’d buzz mockingly. “No wings, no speed—how do you survive?” Caterpillar just sighed, keeping his head low. He wasn’t big, fast, or flashy, and he didn’t fit in.

Even during lunch in the cafeteria, Caterpillar couldn’t escape. He’d sit at the corner table, slowly munching on leaves, while the grasshoppers hopped around showing off their high jumps and the bees zipped from table to table, bragging about their adventures.

Then one day, Caterpillar stopped coming to school. Everyone noticed, but no one admitted they missed him. “Guess he couldn’t handle it,” a grasshopper said, smirking. “Probably too tired from walking across the room.” Even the bees didn’t have much to say, though they felt a little bad. The worms, as usual, said nothing because, well, they were too slow to respond.

A few weeks later, something strange happened. In the cafeteria, a new group of bugs appeared. They were graceful and colorful, their wings shimmering under the fluorescent lights. Everyone stopped to stare.

“Who are they?” asked a grasshopper, his jaw dropping.

“They’re… butterflies,” whispered a bee, her voice full of awe. “Where did they come from?”

One of the butterflies, a particularly striking one with bright orange wings, landed on a chair and smiled. “Hey, everyone,” he said. “Remember me? It’s Caterpillar.”

The cafeteria erupted into whispers. “No way!” “That’s Caterpillar?!” “What happened?!”

“It’s true,” said Caterpillar—now Butterfly—grinning. “Turns out, I wasn’t stuck on the ground. I was just waiting for the right moment to fly.”

The grasshoppers stared, speechless. “You can fly higher than us?” one finally asked.

“Much higher,” Butterfly replied, fluttering effortlessly to the ceiling. “And guess what? We’ve even teamed up with the bees. Turns out they’re not so bad once you get to know them.”

The bees nodded. “They’ve got style,” said one, buzzing in agreement. “And they’re actually pretty cool to work with.”

The worms, now slightly less invisible, cheered from their table. Even the praying mantis paused his “prayers” to give a slow nod of approval.

From that day on, everything changed. Butterflies were the talk of the school, and no one dared tease them again. They had become the stars of Meadow Animal School—not because they were better than anyone else, but because they showed that even the smallest and slowest can grow into something amazing. Caterpillar hadn’t quit—he had transformed. And now, as Butterfly, he showed everyone that sometimes, it’s what’s inside that counts.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Show off – To display something with pride.

  • Example: “The grasshoppers hopped around showing off their high jumps.”

Keep his head low – To avoid drawing attention.

  • Example: “Caterpillar just sighed, keeping his head low.”

Team up – To collaborate with others.

  • Example: “We’ve even teamed up with the bees.”

Turn out – To happen in a certain way.

  • Example: “Turns out, I wasn’t stuck on the ground.”

Point out – To bring attention to something.

Example: “The butterflies pointed out that they had left their old suits behind.”

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Fill in the Blank with Phrasal Verbs

  1. The grasshoppers loved to ________ their jumping skills in the cafeteria.

  2. Caterpillar tried to ________ to avoid the teasing.

  3. The butterflies decided to ________ with the bees for their projects.

  4. It ________ that Caterpillar wasn’t slow; he was just transforming.

  5. The worms ________ the beauty of the butterflies to the other students.

Answers: Phrasal Verbs

  1. Show off

  2. Keep his head low

  3. Team up

  4. Turn out

  5. Pointed out

Idioms & Example Sentences

Rise above it – To overcome challenges.

  • Example: “Butterfly had risen above all the teasing.”

Talk of the town – Someone everyone is talking about.

  • Example: “The butterflies became the talk of the school.”

Small but mighty – Something small that has great strength.

  • Example: “Butterfly proved he was small but mighty.”

Not what it seems – Something that is different from how it appears.

  • Example: “Caterpillar showed that things are not always what they seem.”

A breath of fresh air – Something new and exciting.

  • Example: “The butterflies brought a breath of fresh air to the school.”

Idiom Quiz

Fill in the Blank with Idioms

  1. The butterflies became the ________ after their transformation.

  2. Caterpillar proved he was ________, surprising everyone with his flight.

  3. Their transformation showed that things are ________.

  4. The butterflies’ arrival was ________ for the school.

  5. Butterfly showed how to ________ the teasing and negativity.

Answers: Idioms

  1. Talk of the town

  2. Small but mighty

  3. Not what it seems

  4. A breath of fresh air

  5. Rise above it

Multiple-Choice Questions

Circle the correct answer.

  1. Why was Caterpillar teased at school?
    a. He was too fast.
    b. He couldn’t hop or fly.
    c. He was afraid of grasshoppers.
    d. He was always praying.

  2. What did the bees say about Caterpillar?
    a. He was too slow.
    b. He didn’t know how to get anywhere.
    c. He was scary.
    d. He was a great team player.

  3. What did the worms do at Meadow Animal School?
    a. They were the fastest.
    b. They ignored everyone.
    c. They were too slow and quiet to notice.
    d. They bullied Caterpillar.

  4. What surprised everyone about the butterflies?
    a. They could fly higher than the grasshoppers.
    b. They became team leaders.
    c. They were faster than bees.
    d. They were still Caterpillars.

  5. What did Caterpillar say about himself as a butterfly?
    a. He had given up.
    b. He wasn’t stuck—he was transforming.
    c. He didn’t care about the others.
    d. He still felt small.

  6. Who did the butterflies team up with?
    a. The worms
    b. The bees
    c. The grasshoppers
    d. The praying mantis

  7. What did the butterflies leave behind at home?
    a. Their books
    b. Their old suits
    c. Their lunch
    d. Their wings

  8. What lesson did the school learn?
    a. Transformation takes time.
    b. Teasing makes others stronger.
    c. Small things are not important.
    d. Everyone should quit.

  9. Why did the grasshoppers stop teasing the butterflies?
    a. They realized they were stronger.
    b. The butterflies could fly higher than them.
    c. The bees forced them to stop.
    d. The worms told them to stop.

  10. What did the praying mantis do during all of this?
    a. Teased Caterpillar.
    b. Ignored everyone and continued praying.
    c. Helped Caterpillar transform.
    d. Left the school.

Answers: Multiple Choice

  1. b - He couldn’t hop or fly.

  2. b - He didn’t know how to get anywhere.

  3. c - They were too slow and quiet to notice.

  4. a - They could fly higher than the grasshoppers.

  5. b - He wasn’t stuck—he was transforming.

  6. b - The bees

  7. b - Their old suits

  8. a - Transformation takes time.

  9. b - The butterflies could fly higher than them.

  10. b - Ignored everyone and continued praying.

Thought-Provoking Question

  • Do you think Caterpillar’s transformation changed the way others treated him because he was truly different, or because he fit their idea of what was "valuable" now?

  • Why do you think people often treat others differently after they change?