Once there was a bright orange swan named Saffron. He was so pretty that everyone loved to watch him fly. One day, he saw a boy named Milo trying to catch his kite. Saffron used his beak to grab the kite and gave it back to Milo. The boy was very thankful, and they became great friends.

But a bad man named Malachi wanted Saffron’s shiny feathers. He caught Saffron and locked him in a tall tower. Milo was brave and went on a long trip to find and save his friend. He met talking animals and solved riddles, never giving up hope.

Finally, Milo got to the tower. Right then, a storm hit and lightning struck the tower. The strike gave Saffron’s feathers even more magic. Saffron broke out of the tower with his powerful feathers.

Milo and Saffron fought Malachi and won. They showed that being nice is better than being jealous. Now, everyone wanted Saffron’s magic feathers, but he chose to use them to make people happy instead.

Saffron began to help people by making them laugh, healing the sick, and granting wishes. Each time Saffron flew by, people felt happy inside. Stories of Saffron and Milo’s bravery and kindness were told by everyone. They taught that love and kindness are the best kind of magic.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Saffron use his beak for?
3. Why did the bad man want Saffron’s feathers?
4. What did Milo do to save his friend?
5. What happened to Saffron’s feathers when the lightning struck the tower?
6. How did Saffron use his magic feathers to help people?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there was a bright orange swan named (1)______. He was so pretty that everyone loved to watch him fly. One day, he saw a boy named Milo trying to catch his kite. Saffron (2)______ his beak to grab the kite and gave it back to Milo. The boy was very thankful, and they (3)______ great friends.

But a bad man named Malachi wanted Saffron’s shiny feathers. He caught Saffron and (4)______ him in a tall tower. Milo was brave and went on a long trip to find and save his friend. He met talking animals and (5)______ riddles, never giving up (6)______.

Finally, Milo got to the tower. Right then, a storm hit and lightning struck the tower. The strike (7)______ Saffron’s feathers even more (8)______. Saffron broke out of the tower with his powerful feathers.

Milo and Saffron fought (9)______ and won. They showed that being nice is better than being jealous. Now, everyone wanted Saffron’s magic feathers, but he chose to use them to make people happy instead.

Saffron began to help people by (10)______ them laugh, healing the sick, and granting wishes. Each time Saffron flew by, people felt happy inside. Stories of Saffron and Milo’s bravery and (11)______ness were told by everyone. They taught that (12)______ and kindness are the best kind of magic.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a swan? Why do you think people liked to watch Saffron fly?
2. How would you feel if you saw someone trying to catch their kite and you helped them get it back?
3. Do you like stories about brave heroes? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to be kind to others? Why or why not?
5. What do you think Saffron’s magic feathers could do? Why or why not?
6. Have you ever helped someone who was in trouble? How did it make you feel?
7. How do you think Saffron and Milo showed that being nice is better than being jealous?
8. Do you think love and kindness are important? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Saffron
2. thankful
3. Malachi
4. riddles
5. hope
6. lightning
7. magic
8. powerful
9. jealous
10. healing
11. granting
12. kindness

Meanings:
(A) Puzzles or questions that are tricky and need clever thinking to solve
(B) Wanting what someone else has and feeling unhappy because you don’t have it
(C) Very strong or having a lot of force
(D) Making something happen because someone has asked for it
(E) Believing that something good can happen
(F) Special abilities that can do things that seem impossible
(G) A bright flash of light in the sky during a storm
(H) Making someone feel better when they are hurt or sick
(I) Being nice and caring about others
(J) Feeling happy and grateful because someone has done something good for you
(K) The name of the bad man who wanted the swan’s shiny feathers
(L) The name of the bright orange swan in the story
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What color is Saffron?
(a) Blue
(b) Green
(c) Purple
(d) Orange

2. How did Saffron help Milo?
(a) By grabbing his kite with his beak
(b) By giving him a ride on his back
(c) By teaching him how to fly
(d) By giving him a magic feather

3. Who wanted Saffron’s feathers?
(a) Milo
(b) The talking animals
(c) Malachi
(d) The people in the town

4. How did Milo save Saffron?
(a) By going on a long trip
(b) By solving riddles
(c) By fighting Malachi
(d) By using Saffron’s magic feathers

5. What happened when lightning struck the tower?
(a) Saffron lost his feathers
(b) Milo got trapped in the tower
(c) Saffron’s feathers became even more magical
(d) Malachi escaped

6. What did Saffron do with his magic feathers?
(a) He kept them all to himself
(b) He sold them to the highest bidder
(c) He used them to fly faster
(d) He used them to make people happy

7. How did Saffron help people?
(a) By giving them rides on his back
(b) By making them laugh, healing the sick, and granting wishes
(c) By teaching them how to fly
(d) By showing off his shiny feathers

8. What did Saffron and Milo teach people?
(a) That being jealous is better than being nice
(b) That love and kindness are the best kind of magic
(c) That magic feathers are more important than friendship
(d) That Saffron is the most beautiful swan in the world

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Saffron and Milo don’t defeat Malachi and use Saffron’s feathers to make people happy.
2. Saffron’s feathers become less magical after a lightning strike.
3. Milo goes on a long trip to find and save Saffron.
4. Milo and Saffron become great friends after Saffron helps him.
5. Malachi catches Saffron and locks him in a tall tower.
6. Saffron is a dull orange swan that no one loves to watch fly.
7. Saffron hurts a boy named Milo by grabbing his kite with his beak.
8. A bad man named Malachi wants Saffron’s shiny feathers.
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 Saffron, the bright orange swan.

2. What did Saffron use his beak for?
Saffron used his beak to grab and give back Milo’s kite.

3. Why did the bad man want Saffron’s feathers?
The bad man wanted Saffron’s shiny feathers because they were magical and valuable.

4. What did Milo do to save his friend?
Milo went on a long trip to find and save his friend Saffron from the tall tower.

5. What happened to Saffron’s feathers when the lightning struck the tower?
When the lightning struck the tower, Saffron’s feathers became even more magical.

6. How did Saffron use his magic feathers to help people?
Saffron used his magic feathers to make people happy by making them laugh, healing the sick, and granting wishes.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Saffron
(2) used
(3) became
(4) locked
(5) solved
(6) hope
(7) gave
(8) magic
(9) Malachi
(10) making
(11) kind
(12) love
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Saffron
Answer: (L) The name of the bright orange swan in the story

2. thankful
Answer: (J) Feeling happy and grateful because someone has done something good for you

3. Malachi
Answer: (K) The name of the bad man who wanted the swan’s shiny feathers

4. riddles
Answer: (A) Puzzles or questions that are tricky and need clever thinking to solve

5. hope
Answer: (E) Believing that something good can happen

6. lightning
Answer: (G) A bright flash of light in the sky during a storm

7. magic
Answer: (F) Special abilities that can do things that seem impossible

8. powerful
Answer: (C) Very strong or having a lot of force

9. jealous
Answer: (B) Wanting what someone else has and feeling unhappy because you don’t have it

10. healing
Answer: (H) Making someone feel better when they are hurt or sick

11. granting
Answer: (D) Making something happen because someone has asked for it

12. kindness
Answer: (I) Being nice and caring about others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What color is Saffron?
Answer: (d) Orange

2. How did Saffron help Milo?
Answer: (a) By grabbing his kite with his beak

3. Who wanted Saffron’s feathers?
Answer: (c) Malachi

4. How did Milo save Saffron?
Answer: (a) By going on a long trip

5. What happened when lightning struck the tower?
Answer: (c) Saffron’s feathers became even more magical

6. What did Saffron do with his magic feathers?
Answer: (d) He used them to make people happy

7. How did Saffron help people?
Answer: (b) By making them laugh, healing the sick, and granting wishes

8. What did Saffron and Milo teach people?
Answer: (b) That love and kindness are the best kind of magic
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Saffron and Milo don’t defeat Malachi and use Saffron’s feathers to make people happy. (Answer: False)
2. Saffron’s feathers become less magical after a lightning strike. (Answer: False)
3. Milo goes on a long trip to find and save Saffron. (Answer: True)
4. Milo and Saffron become great friends after Saffron helps him. (Answer: True)
5. Malachi catches Saffron and locks him in a tall tower. (Answer: True)
6. Saffron is a dull orange swan that no one loves to watch fly. (Answer: False)
7. Saffron hurts a boy named Milo by grabbing his kite with his beak. (Answer: False)
8. A bad man named Malachi wants Saffron’s shiny feathers. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧