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!

The Four Leaf Clover Quest

Four friends embark on a magical adventure, only to discover that the real treasure is their friendship.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a place called Cloverville, there were four friends: Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie. They went on an adventure to find a special Four Leaf Clover in a magic forest. This clover could make any wish come true. The friends had a map and backpacks and were ready to go.

On their trip, they did many fun things. They crossed rivers on shaky bridges, ran away from tricky trolls, and talked to animals that could speak. They found a path with a rainbow that led to a big waterfall. But surprise! The waterfall turned into bubbles and they jumped in and played.

The friends then found a maze with a riddle-keeper called Mr. Quizzler. To go past him, they had to solve his riddle. They thought hard and won. Then, tiny pixies came and tried to confuse them with more riddles, but Oliver beat them with a dance, and the pixies let them pass.

When they finally got to the middle of the forest, they found the Four Leaf Clover. But before they made a wish, they understood something big. Their adventure and friendship were the real magic, not the clover. So they left the clover there and went home.

Back in Cloverville, the friends were happy because they learned that friendship is better than any treasure. They kept having more fun together, and everyone in town learned that friends are the best thing to find.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventureA fun journey with exciting experiences
2riddleA tricky question that you have to think hard to answer
3mazeA place with many paths where it’s easy to get lost
4trollsCreatures in stories that can be mean and cause trouble
5pixiesTiny magical beings that are often found in fairy tales
6cloverA plant with leaves, sometimes thought to bring good luck
7backpacksBags you carry on your back to hold things you need
8waterfallWater that falls from a high place to a lower place
9bubblesRound shapes filled with air or gas that float and can pop
10treasureSomething very valuable, like gold or jewels
11friendshipThe feeling of being very close to someone, like a best buddy
12ClovervilleThe name of a town in the story

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the four friends that went on an adventure in the magic forest?
2. What special thing could the Four Leaf Clover do?
3. What did the friends do when they found a path with a rainbow?
4. Who did the friends have to solve a riddle for in the maze?
5. What did the friends realize when they found the Four Leaf Clover?
6. What did everyone in Cloverville learn about friends?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a place called Cloverville, there were four friends: Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie. They went on an adventure to find a special Four Leaf Clover in a magic forest. This clover could (1)______ any wish come true. The friends had a map and backpacks and were ready to go.

On their (2)______, they did (3)______ fun things. They crossed rivers on shaky bridges, ran away from (4)______ trolls, and talked to animals that could speak. They found a path with a rainbow that led to a big waterfall. But surprise! The waterfall turned into bubbles and they jumped in and (5)______.

The friends then found a maze with a riddle-keeper called Mr. (6)______. To go past him, they had to (7)______ his riddle. They thought hard and won. Then, tiny (8)______ (9)______ and tried to confuse them with more riddles, but Oliver beat them with a dance, and the pixies let them pass.

When they finally got to the middle of the forest, they found the Four Leaf Clover. But before they made a wish, they understood something big. Their adventure and friendship were the real magic, not the clover. So they (10)______ the clover there and went home.

Back in Cloverville, the friends were (11)______ because they learned that friendship is better than any treasure. They kept (12)______ more fun together, and everyone in town learned that friends are the best thing to find.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a Four Leaf Clover and why is it special?
2. How would you feel if you found a magic forest like the friends did?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is more important, finding treasures or having good friends? Why?
5. Have you ever solved a riddle before? How did it make you feel?
6. How would you feel if animals could speak like they did in the story?
7. Do you think friendship is important? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever had an adventure with your friends? What did you do together?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventure
2. riddle
3. maze
4. trolls
5. pixies
6. clover
7. backpacks
8. waterfall
9. bubbles
10. treasure
11. friendship
12. Cloverville

Meanings:
(A) The name of a town in the story
(B) Round shapes filled with air or gas that float and can pop
(C) A place with many paths where it’s easy to get lost
(D) The feeling of being very close to someone, like a best buddy
(E) Tiny magical beings that are often found in fairy tales
(F) Water that falls from a high place to a lower place
(G) Creatures in stories that can be mean and cause trouble
(H) Bags you carry on your back to hold things you need
(I) A fun journey with exciting experiences
(J) A plant with leaves, sometimes thought to bring good luck
(K) A tricky question that you have to think hard to answer
(L) Something very valuable, like gold or jewels
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who are the four friends in the story?
(a) Lily, Jack, Olivia, and Sophia
(b) Lily, Max, Oscar, and Sarah
(c) Lily, Max, Oliver, and Emily
(d) Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie

2. What could the special Four Leaf Clover do?
(a) Turn into a magical creature
(b) Grant superpowers
(c) Grow into a giant tree
(d) Make any wish come true

3. What did the friends find at the big waterfall?
(a) Bubbles
(b) Gold coins
(c) A secret cave
(d) A hidden treasure chest

4. Who did the friends have to solve a riddle for in the maze?
(a) Mrs. Puzzler
(b) Mr. Quizzler
(c) Miss Riddler
(d) Mr. Enigma

5. How did Oliver defeat the tiny pixies in the maze?
(a) With a song
(b) With a magic spell
(c) With a dance
(d) With a puzzle

6. What did the friends realize about the Four Leaf Clover?
(a) It had the power to control the forest
(b) It wasn’t as important as their friendship
(c) It could grant unlimited wishes
(d) It was actually a magical creature

7. What did the friends learn about their adventure and friendship?
(a) It was the real magic
(b) They needed the Four Leaf Clover to be happy
(c) They should have made a wish with the clover
(d) They should have kept the clover as a treasure

8. What did everyone in Cloverville learn from the friends?
(a) Magic is more important than friendship
(b) Treasure is more valuable than friendship
(c) Friends are the best thing to find
(d) Adventures are more fun alone than with friends

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The friends solve math problems to get past Mr. Quizzler and tiny pixies in a maze.
2. Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie are four friends who go on an adventure together.
3. They realize that their friendship and adventure are more magical than the Four Leaf Clover.
4. The story takes place in a town called Cloverville.
5. They are searching for a regular Four Leaf Clover that cannot grant wishes.
6. The friends learn that friendship is less valuable than any treasure and stop having fun together in Cloverville.
7. They find a path with a rainbow that leads to a waterfall that turns into bubbles.
8. The friends avoid trolls, ignore animals, and cross stable bridges on their journey.
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 four friends that went on an adventure in the magic forest?
The four friends that went on an adventure in the magic forest were Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie.

2. What special thing could the Four Leaf Clover do?
The Four Leaf Clover could make any wish come true.

3. What did the friends do when they found a path with a rainbow?
When the friends found a path with a rainbow, they jumped in and played in the bubbles that appeared.

4. Who did the friends have to solve a riddle for in the maze?
The friends had to solve a riddle for Mr. Quizzler, the riddle-keeper in the maze.

5. What did the friends realize when they found the Four Leaf Clover?
When they found the Four Leaf Clover, the friends realized that their adventure and friendship were the real magic, not the clover.

6. What did everyone in Cloverville learn about friends?
Everyone in Cloverville learned that friends are the best thing to find and that friendship is more important than any treasure.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) make
(2) trip
(3) many
(4) tricky
(5) played
(6) Quizzler
(7) solve
(8) pixies
(9) came
(10) left
(11) happy
(12) having
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventure
Answer: (I) A fun journey with exciting experiences

2. riddle
Answer: (K) A tricky question that you have to think hard to answer

3. maze
Answer: (C) A place with many paths where it’s easy to get lost

4. trolls
Answer: (G) Creatures in stories that can be mean and cause trouble

5. pixies
Answer: (E) Tiny magical beings that are often found in fairy tales

6. clover
Answer: (J) A plant with leaves, sometimes thought to bring good luck

7. backpacks
Answer: (H) Bags you carry on your back to hold things you need

8. waterfall
Answer: (F) Water that falls from a high place to a lower place

9. bubbles
Answer: (B) Round shapes filled with air or gas that float and can pop

10. treasure
Answer: (L) Something very valuable, like gold or jewels

11. friendship
Answer: (D) The feeling of being very close to someone, like a best buddy

12. Cloverville
Answer: (A) The name of a town in the story
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who are the four friends in the story?
Answer: (d) Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie

2. What could the special Four Leaf Clover do?
Answer: (d) Make any wish come true

3. What did the friends find at the big waterfall?
Answer: (a) Bubbles

4. Who did the friends have to solve a riddle for in the maze?
Answer: (b) Mr. Quizzler

5. How did Oliver defeat the tiny pixies in the maze?
Answer: (c) With a dance

6. What did the friends realize about the Four Leaf Clover?
Answer: (b) It wasn’t as important as their friendship

7. What did the friends learn about their adventure and friendship?
Answer: (a) It was the real magic

8. What did everyone in Cloverville learn from the friends?
Answer: (c) Friends are the best thing to find
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The friends solve math problems to get past Mr. Quizzler and tiny pixies in a maze. (Answer: False)
2. Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie are four friends who go on an adventure together. (Answer: True)
3. They realize that their friendship and adventure are more magical than the Four Leaf Clover. (Answer: True)
4. The story takes place in a town called Cloverville. (Answer: True)
5. They are searching for a regular Four Leaf Clover that cannot grant wishes. (Answer: False)
6. The friends learn that friendship is less valuable than any treasure and stop having fun together in Cloverville. (Answer: False)
7. They find a path with a rainbow that leads to a waterfall that turns into bubbles. (Answer: True)
8. The friends avoid trolls, ignore animals, and cross stable bridges on their journey. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Three friendly ghosts bring joy and laughter to a lonely boy, teaching him the power of true friendship.

The Three Friendly Ghosts

Three friendly ghosts named Casper, Jasper, and Hester meet a sad boy named Timmy and become his secret friends, playing tricks and having fun adventures together, teaching Timmy the importance of friendship and spreading joy to others.

A small village is transformed by a baker's magical pies, teaching the importance of sharing.

The Peculiar Purple Pie

Mr. Higgins made magical pies that made people do funny things, but when the villagers got greedy, he taught them about kindness and sharing.

Captain Pete, the Polka-Dot Pirate, embarks on a treasure hunt and discovers the true meaning of sharing.

The Polka-Dot Pirate

Captain Pete, a pirate who loved polka-dots, found a special dotted treasure on an island and learned to share it with others.

A princess falls in love with a humble peasant who brings her a plain potato.

The Princess and the Potato

Once upon a time, there was a princess named Penelope who loved potatoes more than anything. Her dad, the king, wanted her to get married, but she didn’t like any of the princes. So, she said she would marry anyone who could bring her another great potato. Many people tried, but only a simple man named Peter succeeded. He showed that being kind and true is more important than fancy things or looks.

Puddles, the Brave Pig

Puddles the pig was a curious little creature. He lived on a farm with all of his animal friends, and

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

The Queen of Cats

Whiskers, the cat with shiny white fur and bright green eyes, became the kindest queen ever.

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