Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

Complete lesson plans, including stories, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

Jasper’s Jungle Journey

Jasper's jungle journey teaches him the power of curiosity, kindness, and embracing diversity.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small town, there was a boy named Jasper. He liked to read and dream about far places. One day, he found a book about a big green forest. Jasper wanted to see the forest, so he took a bag with food, a map, and a special glass and started walking.

In the big forest, Jasper saw many fun animals. He saw birds with bright feathers and cheeky monkeys. Then, he heard a growl. Looking with his special glass, he saw a big cat with spots. Jasper knew to walk away slowly. It was important to be careful around wild animals.

Next, Jasper found a waterfall where the water fell down like rain. He jumped in to swim and met otter friends. They splashed and had fun. Jasper laughed and learned that surprises can make you happy.

When dark clouds came, Jasper found a tree to stay dry. He saw a scared slow animal in the tree. Jasper helped it find a safe place. He learned that being nice is good, even when it’s rainy. Then, he heard music and danced with new friends. Jasper learned that music can make everyone friends.

When it was time to go home, Jasper said bye to the animals and the forest. He walked back, thinking about his fun trip. Jasper learned that you can have big adventures if you are curious and kind, even close to home. He would always remember his forest adventure.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1difficultHard to do or understand
2adventureA fun trip where you see and do new things
3curiousWanting to know about stuff
4importantSomething you really need to think about or do
5surprisesThings you didn’t know were going to happen
6cheekyA little bit naughty but funny
7growlThe sound a big animal makes when it might be angry
8otterA cute animal that likes to swim and play in the water
9waterfallWater that falls down from high up, like a river jumping off a cliff
10farA place that is not close by

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Jasper find in the book?
2. What did Jasper take with him when he went to the forest?
3. What kind of animals did Jasper see in the forest?
4. What did Jasper do when he heard a growl?
5. What did Jasper learn when he jumped in the waterfall?
6. What did Jasper learn when he helped the scared animal in the tree?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small town, there was a boy named Jasper. He liked to read and dream about far places. One day, he found a book about a big (1)______ forest. Jasper (2)______ to see the forest, so he took a bag with food, a map, and a special glass and started walking.

In the big forest, Jasper saw many fun animals. He saw birds with bright feathers and cheeky monkeys. Then, he heard a growl. Looking with his special (3)______, he saw a big cat with (4)______. Jasper knew to walk away slowly. It was important to be careful around wild animals.

Next, Jasper found a waterfall where the water fell down like rain. He jumped in to swim and met otter friends. They splashed and had fun. Jasper laughed and learned that surprises can make you (5)______.

When dark clouds came, Jasper found a tree to stay dry. He saw a scared slow animal in the tree. Jasper helped it find a safe place. He learned that being nice is (6)______, even when it’s rainy. Then, he heard music and danced with new friends. Jasper learned that (7)______ can make everyone friends.

When it was time to go home, Jasper said bye to the animals and the forest. He walked back, thinking about his fun trip. Jasper learned that you can (8)______ big adventures if you are curious and kind, even close to home. He would always remember his forest adventure.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a forest?
2. How would you feel if you saw a big cat with spots in the forest?
3. Do you like swimming in waterfalls? Why or why not?
4. What is something that makes you happy?
5. Do you think it’s important to be nice to animals? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if you were in a tree during a rainstorm?
7. Do you like dancing with friends? Why or why not?
8. What is something fun you have done close to your home?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. difficult
2. adventure
3. curious
4. important
5. surprises
6. cheeky
7. growl
8. otter
9. waterfall
10. far

Meanings:
(A) Something you really need to think about or do
(B) A fun trip where you see and do new things
(C) Hard to do or understand
(D) Water that falls down from high up, like a river jumping off a cliff
(E) Wanting to know about stuff
(F) A place that is not close by
(G) Things you didn’t know were going to happen
(H) A cute animal that likes to swim and play in the water
(I) The sound a big animal makes when it might be angry
(J) A little bit naughty but funny
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Jasper take with him on his trip?
(a) Food, a map, and a special glass
(b) Toys, a book, and a hat
(c) Clothes, a ball, and a bike
(d) Pencils, paper, and a notebook

2. What did Jasper see in the big forest?
(a) Birds with bright feathers and cheeky monkeys
(b) Cars and buildings
(c) Toys and candy
(d) Books and pencils

3. How did Jasper know to walk away from the big cat?
(a) He ran away as fast as he could
(b) He screamed and scared the cat away
(c) He stayed very still and didn’t move
(d) He looked with his special glass

4. What did Jasper learn when he jumped in the waterfall?
(a) Waterfalls are scary
(b) Surprises can make you happy
(c) Swimming is hard
(d) Otters are mean

5. Where did Jasper find a safe place when it started raining?
(a) In a cave
(b) In a river
(c) In a tree
(d) In a car

6. What did Jasper learn when he helped the scared slow animal?
(a) Animals are scary
(b) Helping is bad
(c) Being nice is good, even when it’s rainy
(d) Trees are dangerous

7. What did Jasper learn when he heard music and danced with new friends?
(a) Dancing is boring
(b) Music can make everyone friends
(c) Friends are mean
(d) Music is loud

8. What did Jasper learn from his forest adventure?
(a) Adventures are scary
(b) Curiosity is bad
(c) Kindness is not important
(d) You can have big adventures if you are curious and kind, even close to home

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. In the desert, Jasper saw dull birds and lazy monkeys.
2. Jasper had a miserable time swimming in a puddle and avoided otters.
3. He used his ordinary glass to see a small cat with stripes and knew to be careless.
4. Jasper learned that being curious and kind can lead to big adventures, even close to home.
5. He scared a helpless animal away from a safe place during a sunny moment.
6. Jasper packed a bag with food, a map, and a special glass before he left.
7. He found a book about a big green forest and wanted to see it.
8. Jasper is a boy who loves to read and imagine.
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 did Jasper find in the book?
Jasper found a book about a big green forest.

2. What did Jasper take with him when he went to the forest?
Jasper took a bag with food, a map, and a special glass.

3. What kind of animals did Jasper see in the forest?
Jasper saw birds with bright feathers and cheeky monkeys.

4. What did Jasper do when he heard a growl?
Jasper walked away slowly when he heard a growl.

5. What did Jasper learn when he jumped in the waterfall?
Jasper learned that surprises can make you happy.

6. What did Jasper learn when he helped the scared animal in the tree?
Jasper learned that being nice is good, even when it’s rainy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) green
(2) wanted
(3) glass
(4) spots
(5) happy
(6) good
(7) music
(8) have
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. difficult
Answer: (C) Hard to do or understand

2. adventure
Answer: (B) A fun trip where you see and do new things

3. curious
Answer: (E) Wanting to know about stuff

4. important
Answer: (A) Something you really need to think about or do

5. surprises
Answer: (G) Things you didn’t know were going to happen

6. cheeky
Answer: (J) A little bit naughty but funny

7. growl
Answer: (I) The sound a big animal makes when it might be angry

8. otter
Answer: (H) A cute animal that likes to swim and play in the water

9. waterfall
Answer: (D) Water that falls down from high up, like a river jumping off a cliff

10. far
Answer: (F) A place that is not close by
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Jasper take with him on his trip?
Answer: (a) Food, a map, and a special glass

2. What did Jasper see in the big forest?
Answer: (a) Birds with bright feathers and cheeky monkeys

3. How did Jasper know to walk away from the big cat?
Answer: (d) He looked with his special glass

4. What did Jasper learn when he jumped in the waterfall?
Answer: (b) Surprises can make you happy

5. Where did Jasper find a safe place when it started raining?
Answer: (c) In a tree

6. What did Jasper learn when he helped the scared slow animal?
Answer: (c) Being nice is good, even when it’s rainy

7. What did Jasper learn when he heard music and danced with new friends?
Answer: (b) Music can make everyone friends

8. What did Jasper learn from his forest adventure?
Answer: (d) You can have big adventures if you are curious and kind, even close to home
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. In the desert, Jasper saw dull birds and lazy monkeys. (Answer: False)
2. Jasper had a miserable time swimming in a puddle and avoided otters. (Answer: False)
3. He used his ordinary glass to see a small cat with stripes and knew to be careless. (Answer: False)
4. Jasper learned that being curious and kind can lead to big adventures, even close to home. (Answer: True)
5. He scared a helpless animal away from a safe place during a sunny moment. (Answer: False)
6. Jasper packed a bag with food, a map, and a special glass before he left. (Answer: True)
7. He found a book about a big green forest and wanted to see it. (Answer: True)
8. Jasper is a boy who loves to read and imagine. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Lily and her animal friends explore a crystal cave, discovering magical powers and learning important lessons.

The Crystal Cave

Lily found a magical cave and made friends with animals who helped her find treasure.

A lonely turtle named Timothy embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a hidden cove.

The Lonely Turtle

Timothy the turtle was sad because he had no friends, but then he found a magical compass that led him to new turtle friends.

The Rainbow Ribbons work together to fix a chaotic rainbow and teach us about unity.

Rainbow Ribbons in the Sky

Once upon a time, there were colorful Ribbons in the sky who made pretty rainbows. One day, a naughty cloud messed up their rainbow, but they worked together to fix it and make it even better!

Embarking on a magical adventure in Vegetable Land, Max discovers that vegetables are superheroes in disguise.

The Voyage to Vegetable Land

Max didn’t like eating vegetables, but one day he went on an adventure to Vegetable Land and discovered that veggies can be fun and yummy!

Feedback