Naka and Nala talk about air
Ndivhuho Mutsila
Simon Mokoena
English
First sentences
Naka and Nala are in the dry veld, sitting under a tree.
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Nala hears leaves softly rustling in the gentle breeze.
1
“Listen Naka. Can you hear the leaves?” asks Nala.
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“Yes, I can hear the leaves and also see them moving,” Naka replies.
2
“Do you remember what makes leaves move?” asks Naka
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“It’s when the wind blows things,” replies Nala.
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“It’s the air,” says Naka.
3
“Air is all around us, but we can’t see it,” Nala begins.
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Naka interrupts, “But we can see and hear the leaves moving!”
4
Nala continues, “We can’t see air, but we can see and hear the effects of air moving. That’s called wind.”
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“Wind is air?!” Naka asks.
5
“Yes,” smiles Nala.
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She adds, “Air also holds tiny water drops in clouds. When the water in clouds gets too heavy, water drops fall as rain.”
6
“Imagine us rising into the sky in a hot air balloon. The balloon is like a water drop, the air holds it up,” says Nala.
7
“We also breathe air,” remembers Naka.
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“Yes, all animals and plants need air,” says Nala.
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“We need clean air,” agrees Naka.
8
“We can’t see air, but what is it made of?” asks Naka.
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“Air is a mix of gases and tiny bits of dust,” replies Nala.
9
“The earth is wrapped in air,” says Nala.
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“Air is all around us. The earth’s air stretches from here into space,” she adds.
10

——Questions


  1. Who is this story about?
  2. Where are they?
  3. Who needs air to live?
  4. What is the air made of?
  5. Where is air?
  6. Why do raindrops fall?
  7. What is wind?
  8. Find a story about wind.
  9. What is ‘clean air’?
11
Attribution CC BY
Your attribution should include the following:
Title: Naka and Nala talk about air
Author/s: Ndivhuho Mutsila
Translator/s: Ndivhuho Mutsila
Illustrator/s: Simon Mokoena
Assurer/s: African Storybook
Language: English

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CC BY includes the following elements:
 BY   – Credit must be given to the creator