In a small village named Pebblebrook, something strange happened one sunny morning. The park had changed overnight. The gray stones were now bright and colorful. There were stones shaped like smiling suns, funny monkeys, and even a dragon that looked like Mr. Hootington, the owl. The villagers wondered who painted these stones.

The villagers talked about who the artist could be. Mrs. Baker thought it might be the squirrels. “They are always creative!” she said. Benny, the squirrel, said, “I’m too busy gathering nuts for winter!” Everyone laughed.

Three friends—Tom, Zadie, and Marco—wanted to find out who painted the stones. They took a magnifying glass and a basket of sandwiches. They asked everyone in the village if they saw anything strange, even the chickens, who just clucked.

One day, they found a hidden alley behind the library. They saw Miss Ethel, the shy artist, painting a giant stone like a watermelon. Marco shouted, “What a masterpiece!” Miss Ethel explained she painted the stones to make people happy. She wanted to have an art festival called Pebblefest. The villagers loved the idea and celebrated with music, color, and laughter. Now, every year, they have Pebblefest to celebrate joy and creativity!

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What colors were the stones in the park after they changed?
2. Who were the three friends that wanted to find out about the painted stones?
3. What did Miss Ethel paint that looked like a watermelon?
4. What did the villagers want to celebrate with Miss Ethel?
5. What did Benny the squirrel say he was busy doing?
6. What is the name of the festival the villagers have every year?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village named Pebblebrook, something strange happened one sunny morning. The park had changed overnight. The (1)______ stones were now bright and colorful. There were stones shaped like (2)______ suns, funny monkeys, and even a dragon that looked like Mr. Hootington, the owl. The villagers wondered who painted these stones.

The villagers talked about who the artist could be. Mrs. Baker thought it might be the squirrels. “They are always creative!” she said. (3)______, the squirrel, said, “I’m too busy gathering nuts for winter!” Everyone (4)______.

Three friends—Tom, Zadie, and Marco—wanted to find out who painted the (5)______s. They took a magnifying glass and a basket of sandwiches. They asked everyone in the village if they saw anything strange, even the chickens, who just clucked.

One day, they found a hidden alley behind the (6)______. They saw Miss Ethel, the shy artist, painting a giant stone like a watermelon. Marco shouted, “What a masterpiece!” Miss Ethel explained she painted the stones to make people happy. She wanted to have an art festival called Pebblefest. The villagers loved the idea and (7)______ with music, color, and laughter. Now, every year, they have Pebblefest to (8)______ joy and creativity!
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite color?

2. How would you feel if you saw colorful stones in your park?

3. Do you like to paint or draw? Why?

4. What is a fun thing to do in your village?

5. Do you think animals can be creative? Why or why not?

6. How would you feel if you found a hidden place like the alley?

7. Do you like festivals or parties? Why?

8. What is your favorite thing about art?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. magnifying
3. masterpiece
4. festival
5. celebrate
6. creativity
7. colorful
8. artist
9. library
10. laughter

Meanings:
(A) A big party with lots of fun
(B) A person who makes art
(C) A very good piece of art
(D) To have a good time with others
(E) The sound of people being happy
(F) Full of many bright colors
(G) Making new and interesting things
(H) A small town
(I) Making things look bigger
(J) A place with many books
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🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the village?
(a) Pebblebrook
(b) Stoneville
(c) Happyland
(d) Rainbow Town

2. What did the stones look like after they changed?
(a) Gray
(b) Small
(c) Flat
(d) Colorful

3. Who thought the squirrels might be the artists?
(a) Mr. Smith
(b) Mrs. Baker
(c) Benny
(d) Miss Ethel

4. Who were the three friends?
(a) Tom, Zadie, and Marco
(b) Jack, Jill, and Ben
(c) Sam, Max, and Lily
(d) Anna, Kate, and Sue

5. What did the friends take with them to find the artist?
(a) A map and a ball
(b) A magnifying glass and sandwiches
(c) A book and a toy
(d) A camera and a blanket

6. Who did the friends find painting the stones?
(a) Mrs. Baker
(b) Benny the squirrel
(c) Mr. Hootington
(d) Miss Ethel

7. What did Miss Ethel want to have?
(a) A dance party
(b) A picnic
(c) An art festival called Pebblefest
(d) A movie night

8. What do the villagers do every year now?
(a) Go to the beach
(b) Plant flowers
(c) Celebrate Pebblefest
(d) Bake cookies

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The villagers were indifferent about who painted the stones.
2. In Pebblebrook, the park had gray stones that changed to bright colors overnight.
3. Benny the squirrel said he was too busy to paint because he was gathering nuts.
4. They found Miss Ethel, the shy artist, painting a big stone that looked like a watermelon.
5. Mrs. Baker thought the squirrels might be the accountants because they are wise.
6. Three friends named Tom, Zadie, and Marco wanted to find out who the artist was.
7. The stones were shaped like sad suns, serious monkeys, and a dragon that looked like an owl.
8. Miss Ethel wanted to make people miserable and started an art festival called Pebblefest.
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. What colors were the stones in the park after they changed?
The stones were bright and colorful.

2. Who were the three friends that wanted to find out about the painted stones?
The three friends were Tom, Zadie, and Marco.

3. What did Miss Ethel paint that looked like a watermelon?
Miss Ethel painted a giant stone that looked like a watermelon.

4. What did the villagers want to celebrate with Miss Ethel?
The villagers wanted to celebrate joy and creativity with Miss Ethel.

5. What did Benny the squirrel say he was busy doing?
Benny the squirrel said he was busy gathering nuts for winter.

6. What is the name of the festival the villagers have every year?
The festival is called Pebblefest.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) gray
(2) smiling
(3) Benny
(4) laughed
(5) stone
(6) library
(7) celebrated
(8) celebrate
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (H) A small town

2. magnifying
Answer: (I) Making things look bigger

3. masterpiece
Answer: (C) A very good piece of art

4. festival
Answer: (A) A big party with lots of fun

5. celebrate
Answer: (D) To have a good time with others

6. creativity
Answer: (G) Making new and interesting things

7. colorful
Answer: (F) Full of many bright colors

8. artist
Answer: (B) A person who makes art

9. library
Answer: (J) A place with many books

10. laughter
Answer: (E) The sound of people being happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the village?
Answer: (a) Pebblebrook

2. What did the stones look like after they changed?
Answer: (d) Colorful

3. Who thought the squirrels might be the artists?
Answer: (b) Mrs. Baker

4. Who were the three friends?
Answer: (a) Tom, Zadie, and Marco

5. What did the friends take with them to find the artist?
Answer: (b) A magnifying glass and sandwiches

6. Who did the friends find painting the stones?
Answer: (d) Miss Ethel

7. What did Miss Ethel want to have?
Answer: (c) An art festival called Pebblefest

8. What do the villagers do every year now?
Answer: (c) Celebrate Pebblefest
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The villagers were indifferent about who painted the stones. (Answer: False)
2. In Pebblebrook, the park had gray stones that changed to bright colors overnight. (Answer: True)
3. Benny the squirrel said he was too busy to paint because he was gathering nuts. (Answer: True)
4. They found Miss Ethel, the shy artist, painting a big stone that looked like a watermelon. (Answer: True)
5. Mrs. Baker thought the squirrels might be the accountants because they are wise. (Answer: False)
6. Three friends named Tom, Zadie, and Marco wanted to find out who the artist was. (Answer: True)
7. The stones were shaped like sad suns, serious monkeys, and a dragon that looked like an owl. (Answer: False)
8. Miss Ethel wanted to make people miserable and started an art festival called Pebblefest. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧