Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Dolphin’s Dance

A dolphin and a seagull team up to create a mesmerizing performance that wows the judges.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In the big blue sea, there was a happy dolphin named Flip. Flip loved to dance in the water. He moved up and down, spinning around. All his fish friends loved watching him. Flip wanted to dance in a big sea show.

One day, Flip saw a paper on the coral. It said, “Dancers wanted for a sea show!” Flip danced more and more, but he had a problem. He couldn’t jump high enough for people to see him. Flip thought hard and got a fun idea.

Flip asked his bird friend, Squawk, to help him jump higher. Squawk was surprised but said yes. They worked together, practicing their special dance.

On the show day, everyone came to watch. When Flip and Squawk went on the stage, the animals looked confused. But then, Flip jumped, and Squawk helped him fly up high! Everyone clapped and cheered. Flip and Squawk showed that by helping each other, you can do great things. Flip became a big star and made many new friends.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1dolphinA smart animal that lives in the sea and likes to play
2coralA colorful, hard home for tiny sea animals
3danceTo move your body to music
4problemSomething that is not easy to fix or deal with
5ideaA thought you have in your head about what you could do
6birdAn animal with wings that can fly in the sky
7surprisedWhen something happens that you did not think would happen
8practicingDoing something again and again to get better at it
9stageA place where people go to show their talents in front of others
10cheeredMaking loud, happy sounds because you like something

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Flip love to do in the water?
3. Why did Flip want to dance in a big sea show?
4. What did Flip find on the coral one day?
5. Who did Flip ask for help to jump higher?
6. What happened when Flip and Squawk went on the stage?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In the big blue sea, there was a happy dolphin (1)______ Flip. Flip loved to dance in the (2)______. He moved up and down, spinning around. All his fish friends loved watching him. Flip wanted to dance in a big sea show.

One day, Flip saw a paper on the coral. It said, “Dancers wanted for a sea show!” Flip danced (3)______ and more, but he had a problem. He couldn’t (4)______ high enough for people to see him. Flip thought hard and got a fun idea.

Flip asked his bird friend, (5)______, to help him jump higher. Squawk was surprised but said yes. They worked together, practicing their special dance.

On the show day, everyone came to watch. When Flip and Squawk (6)______ on the stage, the animals looked confused. But then, Flip jumped, and Squawk helped him fly up high! Everyone clapped and (7)______. Flip and Squawk (8)______ that by helping each other, you can do great things. Flip became a big star and made many new friends.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dolphin?
2. How would you feel if you were a dolphin and loved to dance in the water?
3. Do you like dancing in the water? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Flip’s problem was?
5. How do you think Flip felt when he couldn’t jump high enough for people to see him?
6. Do you think it was a good idea for Flip to ask Squawk for help? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you were Flip and everyone clapped and cheered for you?
8. Do you think it’s important to help each other? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. dolphin
2. coral
3. dance
4. problem
5. idea
6. bird
7. surprised
8. practicing
9. stage
10. cheered

Meanings:
(A) Doing something again and again to get better at it
(B) A thought you have in your head about what you could do
(C) When something happens that you did not think would happen
(D) A colorful, hard home for tiny sea animals
(E) To move your body to music
(F) An animal with wings that can fly in the sky
(G) Something that is not easy to fix or deal with
(H) A place where people go to show their talents in front of others
(I) A smart animal that lives in the sea and likes to play
(J) Making loud, happy sounds because you like something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the happy dolphin in the story?
(a) Flip
(b) Splash
(c) Bubbles
(d) Sparkle

2. What did Flip love to do in the water?
(a) Dance
(b) Sing
(c) Swim
(d) Sleep

3. What did Flip see on the coral one day?
(a) A fish
(b) A rock
(c) A shell
(d) A paper

4. What did the paper say?
(a) Come and play in the sand!
(b) Let’s go on an adventure!
(c) Dancers wanted for a sea show!
(d) Time for a nap!

5. Who did Flip ask to help him jump higher?
(a) Splash
(b) Squawk
(c) Bubbles
(d) Sparkle

6. What did Flip and Squawk do together?
(a) Swim in the deep sea
(b) Play hide and seek
(c) Practice their special dance
(d) Eat lots of fish

7. What happened when Flip and Squawk went on the stage?
(a) Everyone laughed at them
(b) Everyone clapped and cheered
(c) Everyone ran away
(d) Everyone looked confused

8. What did Flip become after the sea show?
(a) A sleepy dolphin
(b) A big star
(c) A fast swimmer
(d) A shy dancer

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Flip is a sad dolphin who hates to dance in the water.
2. Flip wants to be in a big sea show.
3. Flip asks his bird friend, Squawk, to not help him jump higher.
4. Flip’s fish friends don’t enjoy watching him dance.
5. Flip becomes a big star and makes many new friends in the sea show.
6. Flip and Squawk practice their special dance together.
7. Flip can jump high enough for people to see him.
8. Flip sees a paper on the coral that says dancers are wanted for the sea show.
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 Flip, the dolphin.

2. What did Flip love to do in the water?
Flip loved to dance in the water.

3. Why did Flip want to dance in a big sea show?
Flip wanted to dance in a big sea show because he wanted to show off his dancing skills to a lot of people.

4. What did Flip find on the coral one day?
Flip found a paper on the coral one day.

5. Who did Flip ask for help to jump higher?
Flip asked his bird friend, Squawk, for help to jump higher.

6. What happened when Flip and Squawk went on the stage?
When Flip and Squawk went on the stage, Flip jumped really high with Squawk’s help and everyone clapped and cheered for them.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) water
(3) more
(4) jump
(5) Squawk
(6) went
(7) cheered
(8) showed
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. dolphin
Answer: (I) A smart animal that lives in the sea and likes to play

2. coral
Answer: (D) A colorful, hard home for tiny sea animals

3. dance
Answer: (E) To move your body to music

4. problem
Answer: (G) Something that is not easy to fix or deal with

5. idea
Answer: (B) A thought you have in your head about what you could do

6. bird
Answer: (F) An animal with wings that can fly in the sky

7. surprised
Answer: (C) When something happens that you did not think would happen

8. practicing
Answer: (A) Doing something again and again to get better at it

9. stage
Answer: (H) A place where people go to show their talents in front of others

10. cheered
Answer: (J) Making loud, happy sounds because you like something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the happy dolphin in the story?
Answer: (a) Flip

2. What did Flip love to do in the water?
Answer: (a) Dance

3. What did Flip see on the coral one day?
Answer: (d) A paper

4. What did the paper say?
Answer: (c) Dancers wanted for a sea show!

5. Who did Flip ask to help him jump higher?
Answer: (b) Squawk

6. What did Flip and Squawk do together?
Answer: (c) Practice their special dance

7. What happened when Flip and Squawk went on the stage?
Answer: (d) Everyone looked confused

8. What did Flip become after the sea show?
Answer: (b) A big star
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Flip is a sad dolphin who hates to dance in the water. (Answer: False)
2. Flip wants to be in a big sea show. (Answer: True)
3. Flip asks his bird friend, Squawk, to not help him jump higher. (Answer: False)
4. Flip’s fish friends don’t enjoy watching him dance. (Answer: False)
5. Flip becomes a big star and makes many new friends in the sea show. (Answer: True)
6. Flip and Squawk practice their special dance together. (Answer: True)
7. Flip can jump high enough for people to see him. (Answer: False)
8. Flip sees a paper on the coral that says dancers are wanted for the sea show. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

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.

George and his grape friends escape the vineyard, overcoming obstacles and finding a world full of adventures.

The Great Grape Escape

George the grape and his friends went on an exciting adventure, rolling through leaves, escaping a scarecrow, and even meeting a squirrel named Sammy!

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.

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