All Birds Cannot Fly

The Sad Ostrich

Once upon a time, in a big green forest, there was an ostrich sitting all alone, looking very sad. A little hen came hopping by and saw the ostrich crying. Good morning, Ostrich! Why do you look so sad? asked the hen. The ostrich sniffled and said, “I’m very upset! God gave me wings, but I can’t fly like other birds. Look at those birds soaring in the sky—I wish I could do that too!” The hen smiled and said, “Oh, my dear Ostrich! I am a bird too, and even I cannot fly. But that doesn’t make me sad! We have other special qualities that make us unique.” Just then, a beautiful peacock walked in, its feathers shimmering in the sunlight. What’s going on?” asked the peacock. Ostrich is sad because it cannot fly,” said the hen.

The peacock chuckled, “Oh, dear Ostrich! I am a bird too, and even I cannot fly very high. But do you know what? You are the biggest bird in the world! No other bird can run as fast as you! And your eggs are the largest of all. Isn’t that amazing?” The ostrich’s eyes lit up. “Really? I am special in my own way?”

Of course!” said the hen. “And you’re not alone. Penguins and kiwis can’t fly either, but they’re happy just the way they are.” Hearing this, the ostrich wiped away its tears and stood tall. “You’re right! I may not fly, but I am special in my own way!” And from that day on, the ostrich was never sad about not being able to fly.

What We Learn from the Story

This story teaches us a very important lesson. Everyone is special in their own way. Just because we can’t do one thing doesn’t mean we aren’t good at something else. Each one of us has a unique talent, just like the ostrich, peacock, and hen.

Fun Facts About Birds That Cannot Fly

1. Ostriches are the largest birds and the fastest runners on land.
2. Peacocks can fly only for short distances, but they have the most beautiful feathers.
3. Penguins are excellent swimmers and live in icy regions.
4. Kiwis have tiny wings but great noses to sniff out food.

FAQs

Q: Why can’t ostriches fly?

A: Ostriches have wings, but their bodies are too big and heavy for flying. Instead, they run super fast!

Q: Are all birds supposed to fly?

A: Not at all! Some birds, like penguins and kiwis, are designed to walk, swim, or run instead of fly.

Q: Can peacocks fly?

A: Peacocks can fly, but only for short distances. They prefer walking and showing off their beautiful feathers!

Q: Why do some birds have wings if they can’t fly?

A: Wings can be useful for balance, running, or even swimming, just like how penguins use them to glide through water.

Take assessment:

1. Direct Answer Questions (Short Answer)

• Why was the ostrich sad in the beginning?
• What did the hen tell the ostrich to make it feel better?
• Name two birds that cannot fly.
• How did the peacock help the ostrich feel better?
• What are some special qualities of the ostrich?

2. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Why was the ostrich unhappy?
   a) It was feeling hungry
   b) It could not fly like other birds
   c) It lost its way in the forest
   d) It had a small beak
2. Which bird lays the largest eggs?
   a) Hen
   b) Peacock
   c) Ostrich
   d) Eagle
3. Which of these birds can swim but cannot fly?
   a) Sparrow
   b) Penguin
   c) Parrot
   d) Crow
4. What made the ostrich feel happy at the end?
   a) It learned that all birds cannot fly
   b) It started flying
   c) It found a new friend
   d) It got food to eat
5. Which bird has the most beautiful feathers?
   a) Peacock
   b) Hen
   c) Owl
   d) Pigeon

3. True or False

• The ostrich can fly like other birds. (False)
• The peacock can fly very high in the sky. (False)
• Penguins can swim but cannot fly. (True)
• The ostrich is the largest bird in the world. (True)
• All birds can fly. (False)

4. Fill in the Blanks

• The _________ is the largest bird in the world. (ostrich)
• _________ are birds that can swim but cannot fly. (Penguins)
• The peacock has _________ feathers. (beautiful)
• The hen told the ostrich to be _________ of its abilities. (proud)

The ostrich lays the _________ eggs among all birds. (largest)

5. Match the Following

Birds	Special Ability
Ostrich	Runs very fast
Penguin	Swims in water
Peacock	Beautiful feathers
Hen	Lays eggs
Kiwi	Cannot fly

6. Arrange in Sequence

Arrange the following events in the correct order:

1. The peacock enters and joins the conversation.
2. The ostrich is sad because it cannot fly.
3. The hen tells the ostrich that it is special in other ways.
4. The peacock tells the ostrich that many birds cannot fly.
5. The ostrich becomes happy and jumps with joy.

(Correct Order: 2 → 3 → 1 → 4 → 5)

7. Think and Answer (Application-Based Questions)

• If you were the ostrich, how would you feel about not being able to fly?
• Can you name any other animals that have special abilities like the ostrich?
• Why do you think God made some birds that cannot fly?
• What is one thing you are proud of about yourself?

8. Picture-Based Questions

(Show images of different birds and ask the child to identify whether they can fly or not.)

• Look at this picture. Is this bird a flyer or a non-flyer?
• Which bird in this picture lays the largest eggs?
• Can you point out the bird that swims in water?

9. Complete the Dialogue

Fill in the missing words in the conversation between the ostrich and hen:
Ostrich: I feel _______ because I cannot _______ like other birds.
Hen: Don’t worry! You are the _______ bird in the world.

(Answer: sad, fly, largest)

10. Creative Writing (Express Yourself)

• Write a short paragraph about a bird that you like and describe its special qualities.
• Imagine you are a penguin. How would you spend your day?