Who is in the story besides the children?
Old man
How was the weather at the start of the story?
It was a hot day.
How did the children feel when they were sitting by the pond at first?
Bored
Why did the old man play along instead of getting angry?
Because he was wise and kind and knew they were just joking.
What were the children doing at the beginning of the story?
Sitting by a pond / putting their feet in the water.
How did the old man look when the children called him over?
He looked worried.
What happened right after the old man tickled a child's feet?
They laughed and rolled out of the water
What might have happened if the old man didn't have a stick?
Open answer
He might have used his hands to tickle them or told a joke
What did the children put their feet into?
The pond
What was the "big problem" the children told the man?
Their feet were tangled and they didn't know whose was whose.
How do you think the children felt when the old man started playing along?
Happy/excited because they were "having fun" with him.
Why did the children want to play a trick on the man?
Because they were bored and wanted to have some fun.
What did the old man find to help the children?
A long stick.
What did the children do to each other to show they were joking?
They giggled and winked at each other.
Tell me the story in your own words: what was the "trick" and how did it end?
The children pretended their feet were stuck to trick the man, but he tickled them until they rolled out.
How did the man know the children were not serious?
He was wise (and likely saw them giggling/winking)
What did the children do when their feet were tickled?
They laughed and rolled out of the water.
What did the man do with the stick?
He tickled the children's feet.
Why did the children laugh so hard?
Because their feet were being tickled by the stick.
If the children were actually stuck, would tickling them be a good way to help?
No, they would need someone to pull them out or untangle them carefully.