Once upon a time, there was a shiny lake called Shimmering Lake. It sparkled like stars and animals wanted to find its secret. A smart frog named Sir Ribbit lived there. He had three riddles, and if you answered them, you got a wish.

One day, a squirrel named Nutty wanted to try. She wanted a wish to get lots of acorns for winter. She went to the lake and found Sir Ribbit. He wore a tiny hat and held a twig cane. “Welcome, brave one!” he said. “Are you ready for my riddles?” Nutty nodded excitedly.

The first riddle was, “I have keys but open no locks. I have space but no room. What am I?” Nutty thought and thought. Finally, she said, “A piano!” Sir Ribbit smiled. “Correct! Next riddle,” he said. “I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. What am I?” Nutty guessed, “An echo!” Sir Ribbit clapped. “Right again! One more to go!”

The last riddle was, “What runs around the yard without moving?” Nutty thought hard. She laughed and said, “A fence!” Sir Ribbit jumped with joy. “You did it!” he said. Nutty made her wish for a happy festival for everyone. They had a big party, and everyone was happy. The lake became a place of joy, and Nutty and her friends learned that sharing makes the best wishes.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the shiny lake?
2. Who is the smart frog in the story?
3. What did Nutty want to wish for?
4. How many riddles did Sir Ribbit have?
5. What was the last riddle about?
6. What did Nutty wish for at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, there was a shiny lake called Shimmering (1)______. It sparkled like stars and animals wanted to find its secret. A smart frog named Sir Ribbit (2)______ there. He had three riddles, and if you answered them, you got a wish.

One day, a squirrel named Nutty wanted to try. She wanted a wish to get lots of acorns for winter. She went to the lake and found Sir Ribbit. He wore a tiny hat and held a twig cane. “Welcome, brave one!” he said. “Are you ready for my (3)______s?” Nutty nodded excitedly.

The first riddle was, “I (4)______ keys but open no locks. I have space but no room. What am I?” Nutty thought and thought. Finally, she said, “A piano!” Sir Ribbit smiled. “Correct! Next riddle,” he said. “I speak without a mouth and (5)______ without ears. What am I?” Nutty (6)______, “An echo!” Sir Ribbit clapped. “Right again! One more to go!”

The last riddle was, “What runs around the yard without moving?” Nutty thought hard. She laughed and said, “A fence!” Sir Ribbit jumped with joy. “You did it!” he said. Nutty (7)______ her wish for a happy festival for everyone. They had a big party, and everyone was happy. The (8)______ became a place of joy, and Nutty and her friends learned that sharing makes the best wishes.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a wish you would like to have?

2. How would you feel if you could talk to animals?

3. Do you like riddles? Why or why not?

4. What is your favorite animal?

5. How would you feel if you won a big prize?

6. Do you think sharing is important? Why?

7. What is a fun party you have been to?

8. How would you feel if you helped a friend?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. shiny
2. secret
3. riddle
4. wish
5. excitedly
6. correct
7. guessed
8. clapped
9. festival
10. sharing

Meanings:
(A) Right or true
(B) To hit your hands together to make a sound
(C) Bright and sparkly
(D) Giving something to others
(E) A tricky question or puzzle
(F) Feeling very happy and eager
(G) Something you don’t tell anyone
(H) Something you hope for
(I) To think and say an answer
(J) A big party with lots of fun
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the lake?
(a) Sparkling Lake
(b) Bright Lake
(c) Shimmering Lake
(d) Happy Lake

2. Who is the smart frog?
(a) Sir Ribbit
(b) Mr. Frog
(c) Ribbit the Great
(d) Tiny Frog

3. What did Nutty want?
(a) A big house
(b) A shiny toy
(c) A new friend
(d) Lots of acorns

4. What did Sir Ribbit wear?
(a) A big coat
(b) A tiny hat
(c) A funny mask
(d) A red scarf

5. What was the first riddle about?
(a) A car
(b) A door
(c) A tree
(d) A piano

6. What did Nutty guess for the second riddle?
(a) A bird
(b) An echo
(c) A cat
(d) A dog

7. What runs around the yard?
(a) A fence
(b) A rabbit
(c) A ball
(d) A car

8. What did Nutty wish for?
(a) A big cake
(b) A new toy
(c) A happy festival
(d) A magic wand

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Nutty answered all of Sir Ribbit’s riddles correctly.
2. A squirrel named Nutty wanted to get lots of acorns for winter.
3. Sir Ribbit has three riddles for anyone who wants a wish.
4. Nutty wished for a sad festival for everyone.
5. The lake became a somber place where nobody had a big party.
6. The initial puzzle was not about something that has keys but opens no locks.
7. There is a shiny lake called Shimmering Lake that sparkles like stars.
8. A clever frog named Sir Croak lives in the pond.
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 is the name of the shiny lake?
Shimmering Lake.

2. Who is the smart frog in the story?
Sir Ribbit.

3. What did Nutty want to wish for?
She wanted lots of acorns for winter.

4. How many riddles did Sir Ribbit have?
He had three riddles.

5. What was the last riddle about?
It was about a fence that runs around the yard without moving.

6. What did Nutty wish for at the end of the story?
She wished for a happy festival for everyone.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Lake
(2) lived
(3) riddle
(4) have
(5) hear
(6) guessed
(7) made
(8) lake
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. shiny
Answer: (C) Bright and sparkly

2. secret
Answer: (G) Something you don’t tell anyone

3. riddle
Answer: (E) A tricky question or puzzle

4. wish
Answer: (H) Something you hope for

5. excitedly
Answer: (F) Feeling very happy and eager

6. correct
Answer: (A) Right or true

7. guessed
Answer: (I) To think and say an answer

8. clapped
Answer: (B) To hit your hands together to make a sound

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

10. sharing
Answer: (D) Giving something to others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the lake?
Answer: (c) Shimmering Lake

2. Who is the smart frog?
Answer: (a) Sir Ribbit

3. What did Nutty want?
Answer: (d) Lots of acorns

4. What did Sir Ribbit wear?
Answer: (b) A tiny hat

5. What was the first riddle about?
Answer: (d) A piano

6. What did Nutty guess for the second riddle?
Answer: (b) An echo

7. What runs around the yard?
Answer: (a) A fence

8. What did Nutty wish for?
Answer: (c) A happy festival
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Nutty answered all of Sir Ribbit’s riddles correctly. (Answer: True)
2. A squirrel named Nutty wanted to get lots of acorns for winter. (Answer: True)
3. Sir Ribbit has three riddles for anyone who wants a wish. (Answer: True)
4. Nutty wished for a sad festival for everyone. (Answer: False)
5. The lake became a somber place where nobody had a big party. (Answer: False)
6. The initial puzzle was not about something that has keys but opens no locks. (Answer: False)
7. There is a shiny lake called Shimmering Lake that sparkles like stars. (Answer: True)
8. A clever frog named Sir Croak lives in the pond. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧