A Bridge for the Beetle

Henry and Rose were looking for minibeasts in the school garden. After the rain, the path was wet. Henry spotted a black beetle beside a little puddle.

The beetle walked along the edge. Water lay between it and the dry soil on the other side. “It keeps turning back,” said Rose. They watched without touching it.

“Perhaps a leaf could be a bridge,” said Henry. He placed a fallen leaf across the narrow puddle. One end touched the dry soil, but the middle sank into the water.

The beetle did not cross. Rose looked for something firmer. “I found a small stick,” she said. “Will this reach all the way?”

They laid the stick across the puddle. It rolled to one side. Henry sighed. “Our bridge will not stay still.” Ms Green came to see what they were making.

“What could hold each end?” asked Ms Green. Rose found two flat stones beside the path. They placed a stone against each end of the stick to stop it rolling.

Henry stepped back. Rose crouched beside him. They waited quietly and gave the beetle space. At last, it moved towards the stick.

The beetle climbed onto the bridge. It walked slowly along the stick, above the water. Then it stepped onto the dry soil and disappeared beneath a leaf.

“It crossed!” whispered Rose. “Our first bridge sank, but we kept thinking,” said Henry. They left the little bridge in place and looked for more minibeasts with Ms Green.