Fireflies

Summary

In 'Fireflies', a child's summer evening takes a magical turn as they chase after the glowing insects, capturing them in jars to bring moonlight into their room. The story unfolds with the child's excitement of catching fireflies, the joy of holding a jar full of their glow, and the eventual realization that the beauty of nature is best appreciated in its natural state. As the fireflies' light dims in confinement, the child releases them, watching as they return to the night sky, their freedom a poignant reminder of the importance of respecting the natural world.

Takeaways

• 📚 The story is about a child's adventure of catching fireflies on a summer evening.
• 🌃 The setting is a backyard at dusk, with the child's tree house and the surrounding area becoming the playground for fireflies.
• 👦 The protagonist is a child who is captivated by the sight of fireflies and seeks permission from their parents to go outside.
• 🍽 The child hastily eats dinner, eager to catch fireflies, showing their excitement and enthusiasm.
• 🏠 The child prepares by finding a dusty jar in the cellar and making holes in it for the fireflies to breathe.
• 🔦 Fireflies are described as flickering lights, creating a magical atmosphere in the dark.
• 🎉 The child and their friends joyfully catch fireflies, with the jars glowing like moonlight when filled with them.
• 🏡 The story includes a sense of community, as friends from different homes participate in the firefly-catching activity.
• 🛌 Back in their room, the child reflects on the experience, initially feeling proud but later realizing the fireflies' distress.
• 💡 The fireflies' light dims in the jar, symbolizing their loss of freedom and the child's growing empathy.
• 🌟 In a moment of realization, the child releases the fireflies, allowing them to return to their natural state, glowing brightly in the night sky.
• 😊 The story concludes with the child smiling through tears, having learned a valuable lesson about the beauty of nature and the importance of respecting it.

Q & A

What is the title of the story read by Mrs. Gar?

The title of the story is not explicitly mentioned in the transcript, but it is referred to as 'Fireflies'.

What are some of the vocabulary words checked before reading the story?

The vocabulary words checked are 'Flickr', 'flutter', 'tremble', 'shake', and 'thrust'.

What does the protagonist see flickering in the backyard?

The protagonist sees fireflies flickering in the backyard.

What does the protagonist use to catch the fireflies?

The protagonist uses a jar with holes poked in the top to catch the fireflies.

Why does the protagonist poke holes in the jar?

The protagonist pokes holes in the jar to allow the fireflies to breathe.

What does the protagonist's mother say when she notices the flickering in the backyard?

The protagonist's mother says, 'Don't let your dinner get cold.'

How does the protagonist feel when she catches a firefly in the jar?

The protagonist feels a tremble of joy and excitement when she catches a firefly in the jar.

What happens when the protagonist releases the fireflies from the jar at night?

When the protagonist releases the fireflies, they begin to glow and fly around, making circles around the moon like stars dancing.

Why does the protagonist decide to release the fireflies?

The protagonist decides to release the fireflies because they are not the same when trapped in the jar, and their light dims, which makes her feel uncomfortable.

What is the protagonist's emotional state after releasing the fireflies?

The protagonist is emotional, with tears in her eyes, but she can also feel herself smiling, indicating a mix of sadness and happiness.

What is the significance of the phrase 'alligator, after a while crocodile' used by the protagonist and her father?

The phrase 'alligator, after a while crocodile' is a playful and affectionate way of saying goodbye, suggesting a close and loving relationship between the protagonist and her father.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Chasing Fireflies: A Childhood Adventure

In this paragraph, Mrs. Gar introduces a story about a child's fascination with fireflies. The child is drawn to their enchanting glow and embarks on an evening adventure to catch them. The narrative captures the excitement of the chase, the child's interaction with their parents, and the process of preparing a jar to capture the fireflies. The child's experience is vividly described, from the initial sighting of the fireflies to the thrill of catching them and the eventual realization that the fireflies' light fades when confined.

05:02

🌌 Fireflies and Moonlight: A Reflection

The second paragraph continues the story, focusing on the child's experience with the captured fireflies. Initially, the child is delighted with the moonlight-like glow the fireflies create in the jar. However, the child notices the fireflies' distress and their light dimming, leading to a moment of empathy and decision. The child releases the fireflies, and as they return to the night sky, their light is restored. The child's emotional journey is highlighted, from the joy of capturing the fireflies to the realization of their freedom, culminating in a moment of happiness and understanding of the beauty of nature.

Keywords

💡Fireflies

Fireflies are insects known for their bioluminescence, which is the production of light by a living organism. In the video's theme, fireflies symbolize the wonder and magic of nature, as well as the fleeting nature of childhood joys. The script describes the protagonist's excitement in catching fireflies, which glow 'like moonlight' in a jar, highlighting the enchanting experience.

💡Flutter

To flutter refers to the act of moving with a quick, light, and unsteady motion, often associated with wings or flags. In the context of the video, the word is used to describe the movement of fireflies as they 'flicker' in the air, creating a visual spectacle that captivates the protagonist and drives the narrative of the story.

💡Tremble

Trembling is an involuntary shaking movement, typically caused by strong emotions such as fear, cold, or excitement. In the script, the protagonist experiences a 'tremble of joy' when catching a firefly, indicating the intense emotional response to the simple pleasure of the activity.

💡Thrust

To thrust means to push something suddenly and forcefully in a particular direction. In the narrative, the protagonist 'thrusts' their hand into the jar to release the fireflies, signifying a moment of liberation and a change in perspective about the captured insects' freedom.

💡Backyard

A backyard is an outdoor area behind a house, often used for recreation or gardening. The backyard in the video serves as the setting for the protagonist's adventure with fireflies, providing a familiar yet magical space where the story unfolds.

💡Tree house

A tree house is a small structure built in the branches of a tree, typically used for recreation or as a play area. In the script, the tree house is mentioned as a 'black shape in the tree,' symbolizing a place of childhood retreat and a contrast to the vibrant activity of catching fireflies.

💡Breathe

To breathe is to take in air through the lungs and expel it again, essential for life. In the context of the video, the protagonist remembers to poke holes in the jar 'so they can breathe,' indicating a consideration for the fireflies' well-being and a subtle moral lesson about respecting life.

💡Crickets

Crickets are insects known for their distinctive chirping sounds, often heard in the evening. Their presence in the script adds to the atmosphere of a summer night and complements the theme of natural beauty and the protagonist's connection to the environment.

💡Moonlight

Moonlight refers to the light that comes from the moon, often casting a soft, silvery glow on the surroundings. The script uses 'moonlight' to describe the glow of the fireflies in the jar and later, the natural light of the moon, creating a parallel between the two and emphasizing the beauty of both natural and captured light.

💡Jar

A jar is a cylindrical container with a wide mouth, often used for storing or preserving food. In the video, the jar becomes a symbol of confinement and later, realization, as the protagonist uses it to catch fireflies but ultimately releases them, reflecting on the importance of freedom.

💡Dinner

Dinner typically refers to the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening. In the script, the mention of dinner sets the scene for the protagonist's ordinary life before being drawn to the extraordinary experience of catching fireflies, highlighting the contrast between everyday routines and moments of adventure.

Highlights

Introduction of the story 'Fireflies' by Julie Print Glow

Checking vocabularies with words like 'flutter', 'tremble', 'thrust'

Setting the scene on a summer evening with the protagonist observing fireflies from their window

Desire to catch fireflies expressed by the protagonist

Parental permission to go outside and catch fireflies

Preparation to catch fireflies with a jar and making holes for them to breathe

Excitement and challenge of catching fireflies in the backyard

The protagonist catching a firefly and the joyous feeling it brings

Community involvement as friends join in catching fireflies

End of the firefly-catching session as it gets late

Reflection on the captured fireflies and their diminishing light in the jar

Emotional conflict as the protagonist realizes the fireflies' suffering

Release of the fireflies back into the night sky

The beauty of fireflies returning to freedom, creating a starry dance

The protagonist's emotional release and happiness after freeing the fireflies

The story concludes with a hopeful and reflective mood

Transcripts

hello friends this is mrs. gar and today

we are going to read fireflies story and

pictures by Julie print glow but before

that let's check our vocabularies Flickr

make small quick movements flutter

rapidly tremble shake involuntarily

typically as a result of anxiety or

excitement thrust push suddenly or

violently in a specific direction now

let's read our book on the summer

evening I look up from dinner through

the open window to the backyard it was

growing dark my tree house was a black

shape in the tree and I wouldn't go up

there now but something flickered there

a moment I looked and it was gone it

flickered again over near the fence

fireflies don't let your dinner get cold

said mama I forked the meat and corn and

potatoes into my mouth please may I go

out the fireflies mama smiled and daddy

nodded go ahead

they said I ran from the table down to

the cellar to fry in a jar I knew where

to look behind the stairs the jars were

dusty and I polished one clean on my

shirt then Iren back up two steps at a

time holes I remember so they can

breathe and as quietly as I could so she

wouldn't catch me telling them I poked

holes in the top of the jar but mama

says

the sky was darker now my ears rang with

crickets and my eyes stung from staring

too long I blinked hard as I watched

them fireflies blinking on blinking off

dipping low soaring high above my head

making white patterns in the dark we ran

like crazy barefoot in the grass catch

them catch them we cried grasping up the

lights suddenly a voice called out above

the others I caught one and it was my

own I thrust my hand into the jar and

spread it open the jar glowed like

moonlight and I held it in my hands I

felt a tremble of joy and shouted I can

catch hundreds then we - about waving

our hands in the air like Nets catching

- ten hundreds of fireflies thrusting

them into jars waving our hands for more

then someone called from my house it's

time to command now and others cold from

other houses it was over my friends took

jars of fireflies to different homes I

climbed the stairs to my room and set

the jar on the table by my bed mama

kissed me and turned out the light I

caught hundreds I said daddy called from

the hallway see you later alligator

after a while crocodile I called back I

got hundreds of fireflies in the dark

I watched the fireflies for my bed they

blinked off

and on and the jar glowed like moonlight

but it was not the same the fireflies

beat their wings against the glass and

fell to the bottom and lay there the

light in the jar turned yellow like a

flashlight left on too long I tried to

swallow but something in my throat would

not go down and the light goo dimmer

green like moonlight under water I shut

my eyes tight and put the pillow over my

head

they were my fireflies I caught them

they made moonlight in my jar but the

jar was nearly dark I flung off the

covers I went to the window opened the

jar and aimed at the stars fly then the

jar began to glow green then gold then

white as the moon and the fireflies put

out into the night

fireflies blinking on blinking on

dipping low soaring high above my head

making circles around the moon like

stars dancing I held the jar dark and

empty in my hands the moonlight and the

fireflies Swan in my tears but I could

feel myself smiling

I hope you enjoyed the story