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 Sleepy Snowman

A sleepy snowman named Frosty embarks on a quest to find his missing carrot nose.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magic land of winter, there was a snowman named Frosty who loved to sleep. While other snowmen played with snow, Frosty napped. They thought it was funny that Frosty was always sleepy, but that’s just how he was.

One day while Frosty slept, a playful squirrel named Nutty tickled Frosty’s nose. Frosty sneezed so hard his carrot nose went flying, and Nutty took it! When Frosty woke up, he wondered what happened to his nose.

Frosty decided to look for his nose. A wise owl named Oliver told him to check everywhere, even places he wouldn’t expect. Frosty felt better and kept looking for his nose.

On his search, Frosty met other animals who had lost things too: a rabbit with no earmuffs, a bear who lost his fish, and penguins missing scarves. Frosty learned from them that everyone has problems, but staying happy and not giving up is important.

Finally, Frosty found Nutty with his nose. Nutty said he was sorry and gave the nose back. Frosty felt happy inside because he was kind and forgave Nutty. After that, Frosty tried to stay awake more to have fun with his friends. Frosty realized that even those who love sleep can have great friends and adventures if they stay open to new experiences and smile.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicSomething special that can’t be explained, like a fairy tale
2playfulFull of fun and liking to play or joke
3sneezedWhen air suddenly comes out of your nose and mouth with a loud sound
4flyingMoving through the air
5wonderedThought about something because you want to know more
6wiseSomeone who knows a lot because they have a lot of experience
7searchLooking for something that you can’t find
8problemsThings that are wrong and make life difficult
9importantSomething that you need to pay a lot of attention to because it matters a lot
10forgaveStopped being angry at someone for making a mistake
11adventuresExciting experiences that happen in different places
12realizedUnderstood something clearly for the first time

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Frosty love to do in the winter magic land?
2. What happened to Frosty’s nose while he was sleeping?
3. Who did Frosty ask for help in finding his nose?
4. What did Frosty learn from the other animals he met?
5. Who had taken Frosty’s nose?
6. How did Frosty feel after he forgave Nutty and got his nose back?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magic land of winter, there was a snowman named Frosty who loved to (1)______. While other (2)______ played with snow, Frosty napped. They thought it was funny that Frosty was always sleepy, but that’s just how he was.

One day while Frosty (3)______, a playful squirrel named Nutty tickled Frosty’s nose. Frosty sneezed so hard his carrot nose went (4)______, and Nutty took it! When Frosty woke up, he wondered what happened to his nose.

Frosty decided to (5)______ for his nose. A wise owl named Oliver told him to check everywhere, even places he wouldn’t expect. Frosty (6)______ better and kept looking for his nose.

On his search, Frosty met other animals who had lost (7)______ too: a rabbit with no earmuffs, a bear who lost his fish, and penguins (8)______ scarves. Frosty learned from them that everyone has problems, but staying happy and not giving up is (9)______.

Finally, Frosty found Nutty with his nose. Nutty said he was (10)______ and (11)______ the nose back. Frosty felt happy inside because he was (12)______ and forgave Nutty. After that, Frosty tried to stay awake more to have fun with his friends. Frosty realized that even those who love sleep can have great friends and adventures if they stay open to new experiences and smile.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a snowman?
2. How would you feel if someone took something of yours without asking?
3. Do you like taking naps? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to forgive others when they make a mistake? Why or why not?
5. What is something you have lost before? How did you feel when you couldn’t find it?
6. How do you think Frosty felt when he found his nose?
7. Do you think it’s important to try new things and have new experiences? Why or why not?
8. How do you think Frosty’s friends felt when he started staying awake more and having fun with them?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magic
2. playful
3. sneezed
4. flying
5. wondered
6. wise
7. search
8. problems
9. important
10. forgave
11. adventures
12. realized

Meanings:
(A) Stopped being angry at someone for making a mistake
(B) Something that you need to pay a lot of attention to because it matters a lot
(C) Things that are wrong and make life difficult
(D) Understood something clearly for the first time
(E) When air suddenly comes out of your nose and mouth with a loud sound
(F) Someone who knows a lot because they have a lot of experience
(G) Looking for something that you can’t find
(H) Moving through the air
(I) Something special that can’t be explained, like a fairy tale
(J) Full of fun and liking to play or joke
(K) Thought about something because you want to know more
(L) Exciting experiences that happen in different places
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did Frosty love to sleep?
(a) He was lazy
(b) That’s just how he was
(c) He didn’t like playing with snow
(d) He was tired all the time

2. What happened to Frosty’s nose?
(a) It melted in the sun
(b) Frosty lost it while playing
(c) Nutty took it
(d) The wise owl stole it

3. Who told Frosty to check everywhere for his nose?
(a) Nutty the squirrel
(b) The rabbit
(c) The bear
(d) Oliver the owl

4. What did Frosty learn from the other animals?
(a) Losing things is funny
(b) Giving up is important
(c) Sleep is more important than friends
(d) Everyone has problems

5. How did Frosty feel when he found Nutty with his nose?
(a) Angry and upset
(b) Happy inside
(c) Sad and disappointed
(d) Confused and scared

6. What did Frosty do after he forgave Nutty?
(a) He went back to sleep
(b) He ignored Nutty and left
(c) He tried to stay awake more
(d) He yelled at Nutty for taking his nose

7. What did Frosty realize about having friends and adventures?
(a) Even those who love sleep can have them
(b) Only those who stay awake can have them
(c) Sleep is more important than friends and adventures
(d) Friends and adventures are not important

8. What did Frosty learn about staying open to new experiences?
(a) It can lead to great friends and adventures
(b) It can make you tired and sleepy
(c) It’s not important to try new things
(d) It’s better to stay closed off and not try new things

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Frosty did not learn the importance of staying happy and not giving up.
2. Nutty the squirrel did not take Frosty’s carrot nose.
3. Frosty’s carrot nose went flying when he sneezed.
4. Frosty did not forgive Nutty and got his nose back.
5. Frosty woke up and wondered what happened to his nose.
6. Frosty is not a snowman who loves to sleep.
7. Oliver the owl gave Frosty advice on finding his nose.
8. Frosty met other animals who had lost things too.
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 did Frosty love to do in the winter magic land?
Frosty loved to sleep in the winter magic land.

2. What happened to Frosty’s nose while he was sleeping?
A playful squirrel named Nutty tickled Frosty’s nose and it flew off.

3. Who did Frosty ask for help in finding his nose?
Frosty asked a wise owl named Oliver for help in finding his nose.

4. What did Frosty learn from the other animals he met?
Frosty learned that everyone has problems, but it’s important to stay happy and not give up.

5. Who had taken Frosty’s nose?
The playful squirrel named Nutty had taken Frosty’s nose.

6. How did Frosty feel after he forgave Nutty and got his nose back?
Frosty felt happy inside after he forgave Nutty and got his nose back.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) sleep
(2) snowmen
(3) slept
(4) flying
(5) look
(6) felt
(7) things
(8) missing
(9) important
(10) sorry
(11) gave
(12) kind
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magic
Answer: (I) Something special that can’t be explained, like a fairy tale

2. playful
Answer: (J) Full of fun and liking to play or joke

3. sneezed
Answer: (E) When air suddenly comes out of your nose and mouth with a loud sound

4. flying
Answer: (H) Moving through the air

5. wondered
Answer: (K) Thought about something because you want to know more

6. wise
Answer: (F) Someone who knows a lot because they have a lot of experience

7. search
Answer: (G) Looking for something that you can’t find

8. problems
Answer: (C) Things that are wrong and make life difficult

9. important
Answer: (B) Something that you need to pay a lot of attention to because it matters a lot

10. forgave
Answer: (A) Stopped being angry at someone for making a mistake

11. adventures
Answer: (L) Exciting experiences that happen in different places

12. realized
Answer: (D) Understood something clearly for the first time
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did Frosty love to sleep?
Answer: (b) That’s just how he was

2. What happened to Frosty’s nose?
Answer: (c) Nutty took it

3. Who told Frosty to check everywhere for his nose?
Answer: (d) Oliver the owl

4. What did Frosty learn from the other animals?
Answer: (d) Everyone has problems

5. How did Frosty feel when he found Nutty with his nose?
Answer: (b) Happy inside

6. What did Frosty do after he forgave Nutty?
Answer: (c) He tried to stay awake more

7. What did Frosty realize about having friends and adventures?
Answer: (a) Even those who love sleep can have them

8. What did Frosty learn about staying open to new experiences?
Answer: (a) It can lead to great friends and adventures
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Frosty did not learn the importance of staying happy and not giving up. (Answer: False)
2. Nutty the squirrel did not take Frosty’s carrot nose. (Answer: False)
3. Frosty’s carrot nose went flying when he sneezed. (Answer: True)
4. Frosty did not forgive Nutty and got his nose back. (Answer: False)
5. Frosty woke up and wondered what happened to his nose. (Answer: True)
6. Frosty is not a snowman who loves to sleep. (Answer: False)
7. Oliver the owl gave Frosty advice on finding his nose. (Answer: True)
8. Frosty met other animals who had lost things too. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Bella, a butterfly with vibrant wings, embarks on a treacherous journey to restore her colors.

The Butterfly Who Lost Her Colors

Bella the butterfly lost her colorful wings, but with the help of a wise owl, she found a special flower that brought them back even brighter than before.

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