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Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Marshmallow Mountains

Lily conquers the Marshmallow Mountains, learns the secret recipe, and shares everlasting marshmallows with the world.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a special place called the Marshmallow Mountains, there were hills that were squishy like marshmallows. People would climb the mountains to eat them. If you climbed to the top, you could talk to animals.

A girl named Lily went to the Marshmallow Mountains. She met a rabbit named Oliver who said there was a secret recipe at the top for marshmallows that lasted forever. Lily really wanted to find this recipe.

Lily met a sad squirrel named Nutmeg who had lost her acorn. Lily got the animals to help find the acorn. They found it and Lily learned that working together is important.

Lily had to answer tough questions from an owl and solve problems with a fox. She never gave up. Finally, Lily climbed to the top of the tallest mountain.

At the top, Lily found a door. Inside, there was a unicorn with the secret recipe. The unicorn gave it to Lily because she was kind. Lily made a business to sell her special marshmallows. She showed everyone that working together, not giving up, and being kind are the best ways to succeed. Her story made others believe they could do anything too.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1specialNot like other things; unusual or better
2recipeInstructions for making food
3climbedWent up something, like a hill or stairs
4secretSomething that is not supposed to be known by everyone
5squirrelA small animal with a bushy tail that lives in trees
6toughHard or difficult
7solveFind an answer to a problem
8unicornA magical horse with a single horn on its head
9businessSelling things or services to make money
10succeedDo really well at something
11believeThink that something is true or that it will happen
12kindNice and caring towards others

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What were the hills in the Marshmallow Mountains like?
2. Why did Lily want to find the secret recipe for marshmallows?
3. Who did Lily help find a lost acorn?
4. What did Lily have to do to reach the top of the tallest mountain?
5. What did Lily find inside the door at the top of the mountain?
6. How did Lily show others that they could succeed too?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a special place called the Marshmallow Mountains, there (1)______ hills that were squishy like marshmallows. (2)______ would climb the mountains to eat them. If you climbed to the top, you could talk to (3)______.

A girl named Lily went to the Marshmallow Mountains. She met a rabbit named Oliver who (4)______ there was a secret recipe at the top for marshmallows that lasted forever. Lily really wanted to find this recipe.

Lily met a sad (5)______ named (6)______ who had lost her acorn. Lily got the animals to help find the acorn. They found it and Lily learned that working together is important.

Lily had to answer tough questions from an owl and (7)______ problems with a fox. She never (8)______ up. Finally, Lily (9)______ to the top of the tallest mountain.

At the top, Lily found a door. Inside, there was a unicorn with the secret recipe. The (10)______ gave it to Lily because she was kind. Lily made a business to sell her special marshmallows. She showed everyone that working together, not (11)______ up, and being kind are the (12)______ ways to succeed. Her story made others believe they could do anything too.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a marshmallow? Why do you think people like to eat them?
2. How would you feel if you could talk to animals? What animal would you want to talk to?
3. Do you like working together with others? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to never give up? Why or why not?
5. What would you do if you found a secret recipe for something special?
6. How do you think Lily felt when she finally reached the top of the mountain?
7. Why do you think the unicorn gave the secret recipe to Lily? Do you think kindness is important?
8. How does Lily’s story inspire others? Can you think of a time when someone’s story inspired you?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. special
2. recipe
3. climbed
4. secret
5. squirrel
6. tough
7. solve
8. unicorn
9. business
10. succeed
11. believe
12. kind

Meanings:
(A) Not like other things; unusual or better
(B) Hard or difficult
(C) Selling things or services to make money
(D) A small animal with a bushy tail that lives in trees
(E) Nice and caring towards others
(F) Instructions for making food
(G) Something that is not supposed to be known by everyone
(H) Went up something, like a hill or stairs
(I) Find an answer to a problem
(J) A magical horse with a single horn on its head
(K) Think that something is true or that it will happen
(L) Do really well at something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the special place called where Lily goes to find the secret recipe?
(a) Chocolate Hills
(b) Candyland Valley
(c) Sugar Peak
(d) Marshmallow Mountains

2. Who does Lily meet at the Marshmallow Mountains?
(a) Sammy the squirrel
(b) Oliver the rabbit
(c) Max the mouse
(d) Bella the bird

3. What does Oliver tell Lily about the top of the mountains?
(a) There is a secret recipe for everlasting marshmallows.
(b) There is a hidden treasure chest.
(c) There is a magical portal to another world.
(d) There is a secret cave with talking animals.

4. Who helps Lily find Nutmeg’s lost acorn?
(a) The trees
(b) The rocks
(c) The animals
(d) The clouds

5. What does Lily learn from helping Nutmeg?
(a) The importance of being brave
(b) The importance of working together
(c) The importance of climbing mountains
(d) The importance of finding hidden treasures

6. Who challenges Lily with tough questions at the top of the tallest mountain?
(a) The fox
(b) The unicorn
(c) The owl
(d) The squirrel

7. What does Lily find inside the door at the top of the mountain?
(a) A magical portal to another world
(b) A treasure chest filled with gold
(c) A talking tree with wisdom
(d) A unicorn with the secret recipe

8. What does Lily do with the secret recipe?
(a) She starts a business selling special marshmallows.
(b) She shares it with her friends.
(c) She hides it away for safekeeping.
(d) She gives it to the unicorn as a thank you gift.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Lily is a girl who went to the Marshmallow Mountains and met a porcupine named Oliver.
2. If you climb to the bottom of the Marshmallow Mountains, you can talk to animals.
3. Oliver told Lily about a secret recipe for everlasting marshmallows at the top of the mountains.
4. In the Marshmallow Mountains, the hills are hard like rocks and people climb them to eat them.
5. Lily had to answer tough questions from an owl and solve problems with a fox.
6. Lily never gave up and eventually climbed to the top of the tallest mountain.
7. At the top, Lily found a door and inside was a unicorn who gave her the secret recipe because she was kind.
8. Lily met a happy squirrel named Nutmeg who had found her acorn and helped her hide it.
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 were the hills in the Marshmallow Mountains like?
The hills in the Marshmallow Mountains were squishy like marshmallows.

2. Why did Lily want to find the secret recipe for marshmallows?
Lily wanted to find the secret recipe for marshmallows because it could make marshmallows that lasted forever.

3. Who did Lily help find a lost acorn?
Lily helped a sad squirrel named Nutmeg find her lost acorn.

4. What did Lily have to do to reach the top of the tallest mountain?
Lily had to climb to the top of the tallest mountain to reach the top.

5. What did Lily find inside the door at the top of the mountain?
Inside the door at the top of the mountain, Lily found a unicorn with the secret recipe for marshmallows.

6. How did Lily show others that they could succeed too?
Lily showed others that they could succeed too by being kind, not giving up, and working together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) were
(2) People
(3) animals
(4) said
(5) squirrel
(6) Nutmeg
(7) solve
(8) gave
(9) climbed
(10) unicorn
(11) giving
(12) best
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. special
Answer: (A) Not like other things; unusual or better

2. recipe
Answer: (F) Instructions for making food

3. climbed
Answer: (H) Went up something, like a hill or stairs

4. secret
Answer: (G) Something that is not supposed to be known by everyone

5. squirrel
Answer: (D) A small animal with a bushy tail that lives in trees

6. tough
Answer: (B) Hard or difficult

7. solve
Answer: (I) Find an answer to a problem

8. unicorn
Answer: (J) A magical horse with a single horn on its head

9. business
Answer: (C) Selling things or services to make money

10. succeed
Answer: (L) Do really well at something

11. believe
Answer: (K) Think that something is true or that it will happen

12. kind
Answer: (E) Nice and caring towards others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the special place called where Lily goes to find the secret recipe?
Answer: (d) Marshmallow Mountains

2. Who does Lily meet at the Marshmallow Mountains?
Answer: (b) Oliver the rabbit

3. What does Oliver tell Lily about the top of the mountains?
Answer: (a) There is a secret recipe for everlasting marshmallows.

4. Who helps Lily find Nutmeg’s lost acorn?
Answer: (c) The animals

5. What does Lily learn from helping Nutmeg?
Answer: (b) The importance of working together

6. Who challenges Lily with tough questions at the top of the tallest mountain?
Answer: (c) The owl

7. What does Lily find inside the door at the top of the mountain?
Answer: (d) A unicorn with the secret recipe

8. What does Lily do with the secret recipe?
Answer: (a) She starts a business selling special marshmallows.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Lily is a girl who went to the Marshmallow Mountains and met a porcupine named Oliver. (Answer: False)
2. If you climb to the bottom of the Marshmallow Mountains, you can talk to animals. (Answer: False)
3. Oliver told Lily about a secret recipe for everlasting marshmallows at the top of the mountains. (Answer: True)
4. In the Marshmallow Mountains, the hills are hard like rocks and people climb them to eat them. (Answer: False)
5. Lily had to answer tough questions from an owl and solve problems with a fox. (Answer: True)
6. Lily never gave up and eventually climbed to the top of the tallest mountain. (Answer: True)
7. At the top, Lily found a door and inside was a unicorn who gave her the secret recipe because she was kind. (Answer: True)
8. Lily met a happy squirrel named Nutmeg who had found her acorn and helped her hide it. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Lily discovers a hidden door in the enchanted forest and befriends a sparkling fairy named Hazel.

The Fairy’s Secret

Lily loved fairy tales and one day she found a tiny door in the forest. She met a fairy named Hazel who invited her to a fairy dance. But a grumpy gnome named Grumpyboots wanted to cause trouble. Lily and the fairies joined their magic to stop him. Grumpyboots learned his lesson and became a happy gnome. Lily stayed kind and the fairies kept dancing in the moonlight.

In the end, it wasn't the blueberries that made the Bizarre Blueberry Banquet special, but the spirit of the village.

The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet

The villagers in Berryville had a big blueberry party, but the blueberries disappeared! They found them and had fun, even in the rain.

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

The Voyage to Vegetable Land

Max, a boy who hated vegetables, went on an adventure to Vegetable Land and met talking veggies who changed his mind about healthy food.

Freddie Firefly embarks on a daring adventure, encountering a spider, a lost caterpillar, and wise owls.

The Adventures of Freddie Firefly

Freddie the firefly had an exciting adventure in the magical forest, where he made new friends and learned important lessons about bravery and friendship.

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