Once upon a time in a small town, there lived a cheeky little boy named Sam. One winter morning, Sam woke up to a world covered in a thick blanket of snow. He jumped out of bed with excitement and rushed to put on his warmest clothes. Sam knew that today was going to be a day full of fun and adventure.

Sam grabbed his sled and hurried outside. He couldn’t wait to go sledding down the hill behind his house. As he reached the top of the slope, he gave himself a push and zoomed down. But just as he was about to reach the bottom, Sam hit a bump and flew off his sled!

Luckily, Sam landed on a soft pile of snow and couldn’t help but laugh at himself. With a mischievous sparkle in his eye, he decided to build a snowman. After a few minutes of rolling snowballs and stacking them, Sam created the most lopsided snowman he had ever seen. It had a big head and a weak-looking body. Sam named him “Snowy.”

Feeling adventurous, Sam climbed up a tall tree to get a better view of the snowy landscape. But as he reached for a branch, he slipped and found himself hanging upside down! Sam giggled uncontrollably as he dangled by his ankles. Fortunately, his neighborhood friend, Lily, was nearby and came to his rescue. Together they managed to get Sam down, laughing all the way.

As the sun began to set, Sam gathered his sled and waved goodbye to Lily. On his way back home, he noticed something peculiar – a baby squirrel was stuck in a tree, shivering in the cold. Sam knew he had to help. With his quick thinking, he found a long stick and gently nudged the squirrel’s tail until it leaped onto his shoulder. Together, they made their way to the safety of the ground.

With his snowy adventure coming to an end, Sam returned home feeling tired but fulfilled. He realized that even though his day had been filled with funny mishaps and unexpected surprises, he had learned some valuable lessons. Sam discovered the importance of perseverance when making a lopsided snowman, the joy of friendship through Lily’s rescue, and the reward of kindness from saving the squirrel.

That night, as Sam snuggled under his warm covers, he smiled contentedly. He knew that even the simplest of days could turn into the most memorable and exciting adventures. With a heart full of gratitude, Sam drifted off to sleep, eagerly awaiting the next unexpected winter wonderland that awaited him.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Sam do when he woke up to a world covered in snow?
2. What happened to Sam when he was sledding down the hill?
3. How did Sam react when he landed in the soft pile of snow?
4. What did Sam decide to do after falling off his sled?
5. Who came to Sam’s rescue when he was hanging upside down from a tree?
6. What did Sam notice on his way back home?
7. How did Sam help the baby squirrel that was stuck in the tree?
8. What lessons did Sam learn from his snowy adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time in a small town, there (1)______ a cheeky little boy named Sam. One winter morning, Sam woke up to a world (2)______ in a thick blanket of snow. He jumped out of bed with excitement and (3)______ to put on his warmest clothes. Sam knew that today was going to be a day full of fun and adventure.

Sam grabbed his sled and hurried outside. He couldn’t wait to go sledding down the hill behind his house. As he reached the top of the slope, he gave himself a push and zoomed down. But just as he was about to reach the bottom, Sam hit a bump and flew off his sled!

Luckily, Sam (4)______ on a soft pile of snow and couldn’t help but laugh at himself. With a mischievous sparkle in his eye, he decided to build a snowman. After a few (5)______ of (6)______ snowballs and stacking them, Sam created the most (7)______ snowman he had ever seen. It had a big head and a weak-looking body. Sam (8)______ him “Snowy.”

Feeling adventurous, Sam climbed up a tall tree to get a better view of the snowy landscape. But as he reached for a branch, he slipped and found himself hanging upside down! Sam giggled uncontrollably as he dangled by his ankles. Fortunately, his neighborhood friend, Lily, was nearby and came to his rescue. Together they managed to get Sam down, laughing all the way.

As the sun (9)______ to set, Sam gathered his sled and waved (10)______ to Lily. On his way back home, he noticed something peculiar – a baby (11)______ was stuck in a tree, shivering in the cold. Sam knew he had to help. With his (12)______ thinking, he found a long stick and gently nudged the squirrel’s tail until it leaped onto his shoulder. Together, they made their way to the safety of the ground.

With his snowy adventure coming to an end, Sam returned home feeling tired but fulfilled. He realized that even though his day had been filled with (13)______ mishaps and unexpected surprises, he had (14)______ some valuable lessons. Sam discovered the importance of perseverance when making a lopsided snowman, the joy of friendship through Lily’s rescue, and the (15)______ of kindness from saving the squirrel.

That night, as Sam snuggled under his warm covers, he smiled contentedly. He knew that even the simplest of days could turn into the most memorable and exciting adventures. With a (16)______ full of gratitude, Sam drifted off to sleep, eagerly awaiting the next unexpected winter wonderland that awaited him.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite winter activity and why?
2. How would you feel if you were stuck hanging upside down from a tree? Why?
3. Do you like building snowmen? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to help animals in need? Why or why not?
5. What is the most memorable adventure you’ve ever had? Why?
6. How would you feel if you woke up to a world covered in snow? Why?
7. Do you think it’s important to have a sense of humor? Why or why not?
8. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from a funny mishap or unexpected surprise? Why?
9. How would you feel if you were the baby squirrel stuck in the tree? Why?
10. Do you think it’s important to have friends who can help you in difficult situations? Why or why not?
11. What is the most rewarding act of kindness you have ever done? Why?
12. How would you feel if you had a day full of unexpected surprises and funny mishaps like Sam? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. mischievous
2. lopsided
3. adventurous
4. peculiar
5. fulfilled
6. perseverance
7. joy
8. friendship
9. reward
10. gratitude
11. unexpected
12. winter wonderland
13. memorable
14. excitement
15. lessons

Meanings:
(A) Strange or unusual in a way that is interesting or suspicious
(B) Uneven or asymmetrical in shape or position
(C) Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
(D) A place or scene that is beautiful, magical, or enchanting during the winter season
(E) A feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness
(F) Something given or received in return for effort or work
(G) A state of mutual trust and support between two or more people
(H) The quality of being thankful or appreciative
(I) A feeling of great pleasure and happiness
(J) Satisfied or content because one’s desires have been fulfilled
(K) Not expected or predicted
(L) Worth remembering or easily remembered, especially because of being special or unusual
(M) Playfully causing trouble or annoyance
(N) Knowledge or skills gained from experience or education
(O) Willing to take risks or try new things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Sam do when he woke up to a world covered in snow?
(a) He stayed in bed.
(b) He went outside without any warm clothes.
(c) He went sledding without any clothes.
(d) He put on his warmest clothes.

2. What happened when Sam was sledding down the hill?
(a) He reached the bottom without any problems.
(b) He hit a bump and flew off his sled.
(c) He crashed into a tree.
(d) He lost his sled.

3. What did Sam do after he flew off his sled?
(a) He cried and went home.
(b) He built a snowman.
(c) He laughed at himself.
(d) He went back to bed.

4. What did Sam name his snowman?
(a) Snowy.
(b) Frosty.
(c) Icy.
(d) Chilly.

5. What happened when Sam climbed up a tall tree?
(a) He reached the top without any problems.
(b) He slipped and found himself hanging upside down.
(c) He got stuck in the tree.
(d) He saw a baby squirrel.

6. Who came to Sam’s rescue when he was hanging upside down?
(a) Sherlock.
(b) Snowy.
(c) Sam’s mom.
(d) Lily.

7. What did Sam do to help the baby squirrel?
(a) He left it in the tree.
(b) He called animal control.
(c) He found a long stick and gently nudged its tail.
(d) He climbed the tree and brought it down.

8. What did Sam learn from his snowy adventure?
(a) The importance of perseverance, the joy of friendship, and the reward of kindness.
(b) The importance of staying inside on snowy days.
(c) The joy of staying in bed all day.
(d) The reward of being mischievous.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sam flew off his sled when he hit a bump.
2. Sam was rescued by his friend Lily.
3. Sam learned valuable lessons about perseverance, friendship, and kindness.
4. Sam woke up to a world covered in hail.
5. Sam helped a baby squirrel that was stuck in a tree.
6. Sam’s got her arm trapped hanging upside down from a tree.
7. Sam built an perfectly balanced snowman named “Snowy.”
8. Sam was nervous to go sledding down the hill behind his house.
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. Sam grabbed his sled and hurried outside to go sledding down the hill.
2. Sam hit a bump and flew off his sled.
3. Sam laughed at himself when he landed in the soft pile of snow.
4. Sam decided to build a snowman.
5. Lily, Sam’s neighborhood friend, came to his rescue.
6. Sam noticed a baby squirrel stuck in a tree.
7. Sam used a long stick to gently nudge the squirrel’s tail, helping it leap onto his shoulder.
8. Sam learned the importance of perseverance, the joy of friendship, and the reward of kindness.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) lived
(2) covered
(3) rushed
(4) landed
(5) minutes
(6) rolling
(7) lopsided
(8) named
(9) began
(10) goodbye
(11) squirrel
(12) quick
(13) funny
(14) learned
(15) reward
(16) heart
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. mischievous
Answer: (M) Playfully causing trouble or annoyance

2. lopsided
Answer: (B) Uneven or asymmetrical in shape or position

3. adventurous
Answer: (O) Willing to take risks or try new things

4. peculiar
Answer: (A) Strange or unusual in a way that is interesting or suspicious

5. fulfilled
Answer: (J) Satisfied or content because one’s desires have been fulfilled

6. perseverance
Answer: (C) Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

7. joy
Answer: (I) A feeling of great pleasure and happiness

8. friendship
Answer: (G) A state of mutual trust and support between two or more people

9. reward
Answer: (F) Something given or received in return for effort or work

10. gratitude
Answer: (H) The quality of being thankful or appreciative

11. unexpected
Answer: (K) Not expected or predicted

12. winter wonderland
Answer: (D) A place or scene that is beautiful, magical, or enchanting during the winter season

13. memorable
Answer: (L) Worth remembering or easily remembered, especially because of being special or unusual

14. excitement
Answer: (E) A feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness

15. lessons
Answer: (N) Knowledge or skills gained from experience or education
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Sam do when he woke up to a world covered in snow?
Answer: (d) He put on his warmest clothes.

2. What happened when Sam was sledding down the hill?
Answer: (b) He hit a bump and flew off his sled.

3. What did Sam do after he flew off his sled?
Answer: (c) He laughed at himself.

4. What did Sam name his snowman?
Answer: (a) Snowy.

5. What happened when Sam climbed up a tall tree?
Answer: (b) He slipped and found himself hanging upside down.

6. Who came to Sam’s rescue when he was hanging upside down?
Answer: (d) Lily.

7. What did Sam do to help the baby squirrel?
Answer: (c) He found a long stick and gently nudged its tail.

8. What did Sam learn from his snowy adventure?
Answer: (a) The importance of perseverance, the joy of friendship, and the reward of kindness.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sam flew off his sled when he hit a bump. (Answer: True)
2. Sam was rescued by his friend Lily. (Answer: True)
3. Sam learned valuable lessons about perseverance, friendship, and kindness. (Answer: True)
4. Sam woke up to a world covered in hail. (Answer: False)
5. Sam helped a baby squirrel that was stuck in a tree. (Answer: True)
6. Sam’s got her arm trapped hanging upside down from a tree. (Answer: False)
7. Sam built an perfectly balanced snowman named “Snowy.” (Answer: False)
8. Sam was nervous to go sledding down the hill behind his house. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧