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!

Rainbow Ribbons in the Sky

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical place, there were tiny creatures called Rainbow Ribbons. They lived in the sky and made rainbows with their colors. Each one had a special color and power. They made beautiful rainbows together.

One day, they were making a rainbow, but a naughty cloud named Stormy messed it all up. The colors went everywhere, and the rainbow was ruined. The Rainbow Ribbons were very surprised and didn’t know what to do.

They decided to work as a team to fix the rainbow. The pink Ribbon made Stormy calm, and the yellow Ribbon made him laugh. The blue Ribbon and the green Ribbon helped get the colors back in the right place.

After working together, the Rainbow Ribbons made an even prettier rainbow. People on Earth looked up and said, “Wow!” The Rainbow Ribbons learned that by helping each other, they could make something really special, even when things go wrong. When we see a rainbow, we remember the Rainbow Ribbons and how important it is to work together.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething special that can’t really happen but is fun to imagine
2creaturesThings that are alive, like people, but not people
3rainbowA big, colorful arc in the sky after it rains
4naughtyNot being good, doing things you’re not supposed to do
5surprisedWhen something happens that you didn’t think would happen
6decidedWhen you make up your mind about what you’re going to do
7teamA group of friends or people who do something together
8calmNot loud or upset, very quiet and peaceful
9workingDoing a job or something you need to do
10importantWhen something matters a lot and you need to care about it

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the tiny creatures in the story?
2. Where did the Rainbow Ribbons live?
3. What happened when Stormy messed up the rainbow?
4. How did the Rainbow Ribbons fix the rainbow?
5. What did the people on Earth say when they saw the new rainbow?
6. What did the Rainbow Ribbons learn from this experience?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical place, there were tiny creatures called Rainbow Ribbons. They lived in the sky and (1)______ rainbows with their (2)______s. Each one had a special color and power. They made beautiful rainbows together.

One day, they were making a rainbow, but a naughty (3)______ named Stormy messed it all up. The (4)______ went everywhere, and the rainbow was ruined. The Rainbow Ribbons were very surprised and didn’t know what to do.

They decided to work as a team to fix the rainbow. The pink Ribbon made Stormy calm, and the yellow (5)______ made him laugh. The blue Ribbon and the green Ribbon helped get the colors back in the right place.

After working together, the Rainbow Ribbons made an even prettier (6)______. People on Earth looked up and said, “Wow!” The Rainbow Ribbons (7)______ that by helping each other, they could make something really special, even when things go wrong. When we see a rainbow, we remember the Rainbow Ribbons and how (8)______ it is to work together.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a rainbow?
2. How would you feel if you saw a rainbow in the sky?
3. Do you like working together with your friends? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the Rainbow Ribbons learned from their experience?
5. Have you ever seen a rainbow before? Where did you see it?
6. How do you think the Rainbow Ribbons felt when Stormy messed up their rainbow?
7. Do you think it’s important to help each other? Why or why not?
8. What would you do if you were one of the Rainbow Ribbons and your rainbow got ruined?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. creatures
3. rainbow
4. naughty
5. surprised
6. decided
7. team
8. calm
9. working
10. important

Meanings:
(A) Not being good, doing things you’re not supposed to do
(B) Things that are alive, like people, but not people
(C) A group of friends or people who do something together
(D) Doing a job or something you need to do
(E) Something special that can’t really happen but is fun to imagine
(F) Not loud or upset, very quiet and peaceful
(G) A big, colorful arc in the sky after it rains
(H) When you make up your mind about what you’re going to do
(I) When something happens that you didn’t think would happen
(J) When something matters a lot and you need to care about it
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the tiny creatures called?
(a) Cloudy Stars
(b) Rainbow Ribbons
(c) Sunny Flowers
(d) Sparkling Moon

2. Where do the Rainbow Ribbons live?
(a) In the ocean
(b) In the forest
(c) In the sky
(d) In the mountains

3. What did the naughty cloud do?
(a) Made the rainbow brighter
(b) Messed up the rainbow
(c) Helped the Rainbow Ribbons
(d) Made the rainbow disappear

4. How did the pink Ribbon help Stormy?
(a) Made him angry
(b) Made him sad
(c) Made him scared
(d) Made him calm

5. What did the yellow Ribbon do to Stormy?
(a) Made him laugh
(b) Made him cry
(c) Made him sleep
(d) Made him run

6. What did the blue Ribbon and the green Ribbon do?
(a) Helped get the colors back in the right place
(b) Made the rainbow disappear
(c) Made the rainbow brighter
(d) Made the rainbow smaller

7. What did the Rainbow Ribbons make after working together?
(a) A big storm
(b) A beautiful sunset
(c) An even prettier rainbow
(d) A colorful cloud

8. What did people on Earth say when they saw the rainbow?
(a) “Oh no!”
(b) “I don’t like it!”
(c) “It’s too bright!”
(d) “Wow!”

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Each Rainbow Ribbon had a unique color and power.
2. The colors stayed in place and the rainbow was enhanced.
3. After working individually, the Rainbow Ribbons made a slightly prettier rainbow, but people on Earth were unimpressed.
4. The pink Ribbon made Stormy calm and the yellow Ribbon made him laugh.
5. One day, a mischievous cloud named Stormy improved the rainbow the Rainbow Ribbons were making.
6. There were tiny creatures called Rainbow Ribbons who lived in the sky and made rainbows with their colors.
7. The blue Ribbon and the green Ribbon helped put the colors back in the right place.
8. The Rainbow Ribbons didn’t know what to do, but they decided to work together to fix the rainbow.
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 were the tiny creatures in the story?
The tiny creatures in the story were called Rainbow Ribbons.

2. Where did the Rainbow Ribbons live?
The Rainbow Ribbons lived in the sky.

3. What happened when Stormy messed up the rainbow?
When Stormy messed up the rainbow, the colors went everywhere and the rainbow was ruined.

4. How did the Rainbow Ribbons fix the rainbow?
The Rainbow Ribbons worked together as a team to fix the rainbow. The pink Ribbon made Stormy calm, the yellow Ribbon made him laugh, and the blue and green Ribbons helped put the colors back in the right place.

5. What did the people on Earth say when they saw the new rainbow?
When the people on Earth saw the new rainbow, they said “Wow!”

6. What did the Rainbow Ribbons learn from this experience?
The Rainbow Ribbons learned that by helping each other and working together, they could make something really special, even when things go wrong.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) made
(2) color
(3) cloud
(4) colors
(5) Ribbon
(6) rainbow
(7) learned
(8) important
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (E) Something special that can’t really happen but is fun to imagine

2. creatures
Answer: (B) Things that are alive, like people, but not people

3. rainbow
Answer: (G) A big, colorful arc in the sky after it rains

4. naughty
Answer: (A) Not being good, doing things you’re not supposed to do

5. surprised
Answer: (I) When something happens that you didn’t think would happen

6. decided
Answer: (H) When you make up your mind about what you’re going to do

7. team
Answer: (C) A group of friends or people who do something together

8. calm
Answer: (F) Not loud or upset, very quiet and peaceful

9. working
Answer: (D) Doing a job or something you need to do

10. important
Answer: (J) When something matters a lot and you need to care about it
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the tiny creatures called?
Answer: (b) Rainbow Ribbons

2. Where do the Rainbow Ribbons live?
Answer: (c) In the sky

3. What did the naughty cloud do?
Answer: (b) Messed up the rainbow

4. How did the pink Ribbon help Stormy?
Answer: (d) Made him calm

5. What did the yellow Ribbon do to Stormy?
Answer: (a) Made him laugh

6. What did the blue Ribbon and the green Ribbon do?
Answer: (a) Helped get the colors back in the right place

7. What did the Rainbow Ribbons make after working together?
Answer: (c) An even prettier rainbow

8. What did people on Earth say when they saw the rainbow?
Answer: (d) “Wow!”
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Each Rainbow Ribbon had a unique color and power. (Answer: False)
2. The colors stayed in place and the rainbow was enhanced. (Answer: False)
3. After working individually, the Rainbow Ribbons made a slightly prettier rainbow, but people on Earth were unimpressed. (Answer: False)
4. The pink Ribbon made Stormy calm and the yellow Ribbon made him laugh. (Answer: True)
5. One day, a mischievous cloud named Stormy improved the rainbow the Rainbow Ribbons were making. (Answer: False)
6. There were tiny creatures called Rainbow Ribbons who lived in the sky and made rainbows with their colors. (Answer: True)
7. The blue Ribbon and the green Ribbon helped put the colors back in the right place. (Answer: True)
8. The Rainbow Ribbons didn’t know what to do, but they decided to work together to fix the rainbow. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A mischievous squirrel with the power to fly becomes the forest's superhero and saves the day.

The Superhero Squirrel

Sammy the flying squirrel saves his friend Billy from a tree and stops a sneaky fox from taking acorns.

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.

Whiskers, the Queen of Cats, unites animals of all kinds and teaches them the power of compassion.

The Queen of Cats

Whiskers the cat was so kind that all the animals became friends and lived happily together.

A little girl named Mia embarks on a magical adventure through the Candy Kingdom after awakening a Jelly Bean Tree.

The Jelly Bean Tree

Mia found a magical jelly bean tree that turned into a talking candy carriage, and they went on a yummy adventure together.

A jolly jellyfish named Finley gets lost in the deep sea but finds new friends along the way.

The Jolly Jellyfish

Finley the jellyfish got lost in the sea, but with the help of new friends, he found his way home.

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