In a big, green forest, there was a playful squirrel named Sammy. One day, he saw a bunch of animals getting ready for a special race to find a hidden treasure. Sammy was excited and wanted to join the race, which was a big puzzle challenge.

The race started, and Sammy ran fast, jumping and solving riddles along the way. Other animals like rabbits and a smart fox were also trying to win. Even when it got tough, like crossing a shaky branch or squeezing under a prickly bush, Sammy kept on grinning and going.

After a long time, Sammy got to the last part of the race. The treasure was in a tree, but an owl named Oliver was watching it. Sammy asked Oliver to let him try to get the treasure. Oliver liked Sammy’s brave heart and said yes.

Sammy thought really hard and solved the last riddle. Inside the tree, he found a bunch of acorns, not gold. But Sammy was still very happy. He learned that finding friends and having fun during the race was better than any treasure.

In the end, Sammy celebrated with all the animals, including Oliver. He understood that the adventure and friends he made were the best part. Now, Sammy was always ready for new challenges, happy to make more friends and memories.

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Sammy see that made him want to join the race?
3. What were some of the challenges Sammy faced during the race?
4. What did Sammy find inside the tree?
5. Why was Sammy still happy even though he didn’t find gold?
6. What did Sammy learn at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a big, green forest, there was a (1)______ squirrel named Sammy. One day, he saw a bunch of animals getting ready for a special race to find a hidden (2)______. Sammy was excited and wanted to join the race, which was a big (3)______ challenge.

The race started, and Sammy ran fast, jumping and solving riddles along the way. Other animals like rabbits and a smart fox were also trying to win. Even when it got tough, like (4)______ a shaky branch or squeezing under a prickly bush, Sammy kept on grinning and (5)______.

After a long time, Sammy got to the last part of the (6)______. The treasure was in a tree, but an owl named (7)______ was watching it. Sammy asked Oliver to let him try to get the treasure. Oliver (8)______ Sammy’s brave heart and said yes.

Sammy thought really hard and solved the last (9)______. Inside the tree, he found a bunch of acorns, not gold. But Sammy was still very happy. He learned that finding friends and having fun during the race was better than any treasure.

In the end, Sammy (10)______ with all the animals, including Oliver. He (11)______ that the adventure and friends he made were the best part. Now, Sammy was always (12)______ for new challenges, happy to make more friends and memories.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a treasure? Why do people like to find treasures?
2. How would you feel if you were Sammy and found acorns instead of gold in the tree? Why?
3. Do you like to solve puzzles and riddles? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is more important, winning a race or having fun with friends? Why?
5. Have you ever had to do something difficult or scary, like crossing a shaky branch or squeezing under a prickly bush? How did you feel? Why?
6. What do you think Sammy learned from the race? Why do you think he was still happy even though he didn’t find gold?
7. Do you like making new friends and having adventures? Why or why not?
8. How do you think Sammy’s life changed after the race? Why do you think he was always ready for new challenges?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. playful
2. challenge
3. riddles
4. tough
5. squeezing
6. prickly
7. grinning
8. treasure
9. solved
10. adventure
11. celebrated
12. memories

Meanings:
(A) Figured out the answer to a problem
(B) Smiling widely
(C) Hard or difficult
(D) Things you remember from the past
(E) Had a party or did something fun to show you are happy about something
(F) Sharp and can poke you
(G) Something valuable and special that is hidden and waiting to be found
(H) Something that is not easy and tests your skills or abilities
(I) Puzzles or questions that make you think hard to find the answer
(J) Pushing through a small space
(K) Full of fun and liking to play
(L) An exciting experience or journey
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the playful squirrel in the story?
(a) Sammy
(b) Bobby
(c) Charlie
(d) Tommy

2. What kind of challenge was the race in the story?
(a) A swimming challenge
(b) A puzzle challenge
(c) A running challenge
(d) A singing challenge

3. What kind of animals were also participating in the race?
(a) Birds and a wise owl
(b) Rabbits and a smart fox
(c) Dogs and a clever cat
(d) Fish and a sneaky snake

4. What did Sammy find inside the tree at the end of the race?
(a) A bunch of acorns
(b) Gold coins
(c) A shiny necklace
(d) A magical wand

5. Who was watching the treasure in the tree?
(a) A squirrel named Sammy
(b) A rabbit named Robert
(c) An owl named Oliver
(d) A fox named Fred

6. What did Sammy learn at the end of the race?
(a) That winning the race was the most important thing
(b) That the treasure was hidden in a different forest
(c) That Oliver was the fastest animal in the race
(d) That finding friends and having fun was better than any treasure

7. What did Sammy do when the race got tough?
(a) He gave up and went home
(b) He asked for help from the other animals
(c) He kept on grinning and going
(d) He started crying and wanted to quit

8. What was Sammy always ready for after the race?
(a) Going to sleep and taking a long nap
(b) Eating a big feast with all the animals
(c) Going back to the forest and finding more acorns
(d) New challenges, making more friends, and creating memories

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sammy encounters no challenges and breezes through the race without any obstacles.
2. Sammy is a playful squirrel who lives in a big, green forest.
3. Sammy solves the final riddle and finds gold instead of a bunch of acorns, and he is disappointed because he realizes that the adventure and friends he made during the race were not valuable at all.
4. Sammy is bored and doesn’t want to join the race, which involves solving puzzles.
5. Sammy reaches the last part of the race, where the treasure is guarded by an owl named Oliver.
6. Other animals, like pandas and a lazy dog, are not participating in the race.
7. Sammy sees a group of animals preparing for a race to find a hidden treasure.
8. Sammy runs fast, jumps, and solves riddles during the race.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
The main character in the story is Sammy, the playful squirrel.

2. What did Sammy see that made him want to join the race?
Sammy saw a bunch of animals getting ready for a special race to find a hidden treasure, and that made him want to join the race.

3. What were some of the challenges Sammy faced during the race?
Some of the challenges Sammy faced during the race were crossing a shaky branch and squeezing under a prickly bush.

4. What did Sammy find inside the tree?
Inside the tree, Sammy found a bunch of acorns.

5. Why was Sammy still happy even though he didn’t find gold?
Sammy was still happy even though he didn’t find gold because he realized that finding friends and having fun during the race was better than any treasure.

6. What did Sammy learn at the end of the story?
At the end of the story, Sammy learned that the adventure and friends he made were the best part. He also learned that he was always ready for new challenges and happy to make more friends and memories.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) playful
(2) treasure
(3) puzzle
(4) crossing
(5) going
(6) race
(7) Oliver
(8) liked
(9) riddle
(10) celebrated
(11) understood
(12) ready
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. playful
Answer: (K) Full of fun and liking to play

2. challenge
Answer: (H) Something that is not easy and tests your skills or abilities

3. riddles
Answer: (I) Puzzles or questions that make you think hard to find the answer

4. tough
Answer: (C) Hard or difficult

5. squeezing
Answer: (J) Pushing through a small space

6. prickly
Answer: (F) Sharp and can poke you

7. grinning
Answer: (B) Smiling widely

8. treasure
Answer: (G) Something valuable and special that is hidden and waiting to be found

9. solved
Answer: (A) Figured out the answer to a problem

10. adventure
Answer: (L) An exciting experience or journey

11. celebrated
Answer: (E) Had a party or did something fun to show you are happy about something

12. memories
Answer: (D) Things you remember from the past
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the playful squirrel in the story?
Answer: (a) Sammy

2. What kind of challenge was the race in the story?
Answer: (b) A puzzle challenge

3. What kind of animals were also participating in the race?
Answer: (b) Rabbits and a smart fox

4. What did Sammy find inside the tree at the end of the race?
Answer: (a) A bunch of acorns

5. Who was watching the treasure in the tree?
Answer: (c) An owl named Oliver

6. What did Sammy learn at the end of the race?
Answer: (d) That finding friends and having fun was better than any treasure

7. What did Sammy do when the race got tough?
Answer: (c) He kept on grinning and going

8. What was Sammy always ready for after the race?
Answer: (d) New challenges, making more friends, and creating memories
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sammy encounters no challenges and breezes through the race without any obstacles. (Answer: False)
2. Sammy is a playful squirrel who lives in a big, green forest. (Answer: True)
3. Sammy solves the final riddle and finds gold instead of a bunch of acorns, and he is disappointed because he realizes that the adventure and friends he made during the race were not valuable at all. (Answer: False)
4. Sammy is bored and doesn’t want to join the race, which involves solving puzzles. (Answer: False)
5. Sammy reaches the last part of the race, where the treasure is guarded by an owl named Oliver. (Answer: True)
6. Other animals, like pandas and a lazy dog, are not participating in the race. (Answer: False)
7. Sammy sees a group of animals preparing for a race to find a hidden treasure. (Answer: True)
8. Sammy runs fast, jumps, and solves riddles during the race. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧