Definition:

A friend is someone you like spending time with because they make you feel happy and special, and help you when you need it. 

In short:

Build bonds that last forever.

Summary:
An egret meets up with his symbiotic partner, the rhinoceros. He educates the rhino about what he needs, and what he can do for the rhino. Together they learn certain principles of friendship, like respecting the other’s personal space, accepting each other’s differences, being willing to make compromises, communicating, and helping your friend out when there’s trouble. 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Teachers reinforce the relationship skills that are taught in this imaginative and factual story ( rhinos and egrets do have a symbiotic relationship) through (a) posting a chart that has graphic reminders of the skills, (b) providing frequent discussions on the topic, and (c ) complimenting students when they use the skills. 
2. This story can be an opening for a science lesson about symbiotic relationships in the natural world between two different species, like the rhino and the egret. Teacher note: Egrets clean ticks and parasites off of the backs of rhinos. The rhino helps the egret by providing a source of food and the egret helps the rhino by getting rid of the annoying and harmful insects.  For more immersion on this topic, do the activity about animal symbiosis on this website. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. What did the egret mean when she said to the rhino, “We are going to be pals”? 
2. What does the rhino not want the egret to do?  
3. What’s one difference between the rhino and the egret? Is it okay that they are very different? Why or why not? 
4. Do you think the egret feels safe around the rhino? Why or why not? 
5. “Communication is the key to friendship” - what did the egret mean? 
6. How did the rhino show kindness to the egret? 
7. When you and a friend have different ideas about what to do, are you able to work it out so that you both are happy? Can you share about a time when you were able to do that? 
8. Even though the rhino didn’t talk much to the egret, was he a good friend? Why or why not? 
9. Did you ever help someone who was in trouble? 
10. Did anyone ever help you when you were in trouble?