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 Dragon’s Dream

A dragon and a squirrel team up to find an enchanted treasure, but the squirrel has a secret plan.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a place far away, there lived a dragon named Dillon. Dillon was not like other dragons because he couldn’t spit fire. Instead, he had a special talent for seeing the future when he was asleep. Each night, he would go to bed and hope to dream about exciting things that could happen.

One night, Dillon dreamed about a magic treasure hidden in a cave. This treasure had a lot of power and could make everything peaceful. When Dillon woke up, he was super excited and decided to look for the treasure to complete his special mission as a dragon.

Dillon started looking for the treasure, but he got lost in a big, confusing forest. He met a squirrel named Sam who said he would show Dillon the way to the cave. However, Sam had a sneaky plan and kept leading Dillon around in circles.

Dillon felt like he wasn’t getting anywhere, so he stopped and thought for a while. He decided to take a nap, and in his dream, he saw that the cave he was looking for was right behind him. This dream helped him find the cave he was looking for.

When Dillon got inside the cave, he met another dragon named Daisy. Daisy had also dreamed about the treasure. They found out that their dreams fit together like pieces of a puzzle. They worked as a team and used their dreams to unlock the treasure, which made their land peaceful and happy.

Dillon learned that trusting others and working with friends can help solve problems. He and Daisy became best friends and went on many more adventures, making sure their land stayed safe. Their story about courage, dreams, and friendship was shared with everyone, showing that all you need is a little faith, a good friend, and a dragon’s dream to discover your inner strength.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1talentA natural ability to do something well
2excitingCausing feelings of happiness and enthusiasm
3peacefulCalm and free from conflict or noise
4missionAn important task that someone is given to do
5confusingHard to understand or causing people to feel lost
6sneakyActing in a secret and dishonest way
7circlesRound shapes that have no end or beginning
8unlockTo open something that was closed or fixed together
9adventuresExciting experiences that involve risks or challenges
10courageThe ability to face danger or pain without fear
11faithComplete trust or confidence in someone or something
12innerRelating to the deepest parts of a person or thing
13strengthThe quality of being strong and powerful
14puzzleA game or problem that requires you to fit pieces together
15treasureSomething valuable that is hidden or kept in a safe place

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was special about Dillon the dragon compared to other dragons?
2. What did Dillon dream about one night?
3. What did Dillon do after he woke up from his dream?
4. Who did Dillon meet in the forest and what was their plan?
5. Why did Dillon decide to take a nap?
6. What did Dillon see in his dream while he was napping?
7. How did Dillon and Daisy work together to unlock the treasure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a place far away, there lived a dragon named Dillon. Dillon was not like other dragons because he couldn’t spit fire. Instead, he had a special (1)______ for (2)______ the (3)______ when he was asleep. Each night, he would go to bed and hope to dream about exciting things that could happen.

One night, Dillon dreamed about a magic (4)______ hidden in a cave. This treasure had a lot of power and could make everything peaceful. When (5)______ woke up, he was super excited and decided to look for the treasure to complete his special (6)______ as a dragon.

Dillon started (7)______ for the treasure, but he got lost in a big, confusing forest. He met a squirrel named Sam who said he would show Dillon the way to the cave. However, Sam had a sneaky plan and kept leading Dillon around in circles.

Dillon felt like he wasn’t (8)______ anywhere, so he stopped and thought for a while. He (9)______ to take a nap, and in his dream, he saw that the cave he was looking for was right behind him. This dream helped him find the cave he was looking for.

When Dillon got inside the cave, he met another dragon named (10)______. Daisy had also dreamed about the treasure. They found out that their dreams fit together like pieces of a (11)______. They worked as a team and used their dreams to (12)______ the treasure, which made their land peaceful and happy.

Dillon learned that (13)______ others and working with friends can help solve problems. He and Daisy (14)______ best friends and went on many more adventures, (15)______ sure their land (16)______ safe. Their story about courage, dreams, and friendship was shared with everyone, showing that all you need is a little faith, a good friend, and a dragon’s dream to discover your inner strength.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dragon’s special talent?
2. How would you feel if you had the ability to see the future in your dreams?
3. Do you think it’s important to have a special mission or purpose in life? Why or why not?
4. What would you do if you got lost in a big, confusing forest?
5. Do you think it’s better to trust others or to do everything by yourself? Why?
6. How do you think Dillon felt when he realized he was being led around in circles by Sam?
7. Have you ever had a dream that helped you solve a problem or find something you were looking for?
8. Do you like working in teams or do you prefer to work alone? Why?
9. Why do you think trust and friendship are important in solving problems?
10. What do you think is the main message or lesson of this story?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. talent
2. exciting
3. peaceful
4. mission
5. confusing
6. sneaky
7. circles
8. unlock
9. adventures
10. courage
11. faith
12. inner
13. strength
14. puzzle
15. treasure

Meanings:
(A) Exciting experiences that involve risks or challenges
(B) To open something that was closed or fixed together
(C) A natural ability to do something well
(D) Something valuable that is hidden or kept in a safe place
(E) Relating to the deepest parts of a person or thing
(F) Complete trust or confidence in someone or something
(G) Causing feelings of happiness and enthusiasm
(H) Acting in a secret and dishonest way
(I) Round shapes that have no end or beginning
(J) The ability to face danger or pain without fear
(K) Calm and free from conflict or noise
(L) The quality of being strong and powerful
(M) An important task that someone is given to do
(N) Hard to understand or causing people to feel lost
(O) A game or problem that requires you to fit pieces together
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was special about Dillon, the dragon?
(a) He could breathe fire
(b) He could fly faster than any other dragon
(c) He could see the future in his dreams
(d) He could change his color to blend in with his surroundings

2. How did Dillon find out about the magic treasure?
(a) He heard about it from a friend
(b) He stumbled upon it while exploring
(c) He dreamed about it
(d) He read about it in a book

3. Who did Dillon meet in the forest?
(a) Lucy the rabbit
(b) Max the fox
(c) Molly the bird
(d) Sam the squirrel

4. What was Sam’s plan when he offered to show Dillon the way?
(a) To lead Dillon in circles
(b) To help Dillon find the treasure
(c) To steal the treasure for himself
(d) To scare Dillon away from the cave

5. How did Dillon finally find the cave?
(a) He followed a map he found in the forest
(b) He took a nap and dreamed about it
(c) He asked for directions from another dragon
(d) He stumbled upon it by accident

6. Who did Dillon meet inside the cave?
(a) Fred, a friendly troll
(b) Daisy, another dragon
(c) Emily, a magical fairy
(d) Oscar, a wise old wizard

7. How did Dillon and Daisy use their dreams to unlock the treasure?
(a) They combined their dreams like puzzle pieces
(b) They used a special key they found in the cave
(c) They solved a riddle that revealed the treasure’s location
(d) They used their fire-breathing abilities to melt the cave walls

8. What was the main lesson Dillon learned from his adventure?
(a) Dreams can come true if you believe in them
(b) Dragons are the most powerful creatures in the land
(c) Exploring new places can lead to exciting discoveries
(d) Trusting others and working with friends can help solve problems

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Dillon, the dragon, had a unique talent for seeing the future in his dreams.
2. Dillon and Daisy realized that their dreams were connected and worked together to unlock the treasure.
3. Dillon met a squirrel named Sam who refused to help him find the cave, but Sam had an honest plan.
4. Dillon and Daisy became best friends and continued to embark on adventures, ensuring the safety of their land.
5. Inside the cave, Dillon did not encounter another dragon named Daisy who had also dreamed about the treasure.
6. He dreamed about an ordinary treasure hidden in a cave that had no power to bring peace.
7. The treasure brought peace and happiness to their land, teaching Dillon the importance of trust and friendship.
8. Feeling lost, Dillon took a nap and had a dream that revealed the cave was nowhere near him.
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 was special about Dillon the dragon compared to other dragons?
Dillon couldn’t spit fire like other dragons, but he had the ability to see the future in his dreams.

2. What did Dillon dream about one night?
Dillon dreamed about a magic treasure hidden in a cave that had the power to bring peace to the land.

3. What did Dillon do after he woke up from his dream?
Dillon got excited and decided to look for the treasure in order to fulfill his mission as a dragon.

4. Who did Dillon meet in the forest and what was their plan?
Dillon met a squirrel named Sam who had a sneaky plan. Sam pretended to show Dillon the way to the cave but kept leading him around in circles.

5. Why did Dillon decide to take a nap?
Dillon felt lost and thought that taking a nap might help him find a solution or clue to his problem.

6. What did Dillon see in his dream while he was napping?
In his dream, Dillon saw that the cave he was looking for was actually right behind him.

7. How did Dillon and Daisy work together to unlock the treasure?
Dillon and Daisy discovered that their dreams fit together like puzzle pieces. They realized they needed to work as a team and used their dreams to unlock the treasure, bringing peace to their land.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) talent
(2) seeing
(3) future
(4) treasure
(5) Dillon
(6) mission
(7) looking
(8) getting
(9) decided
(10) Daisy
(11) puzzle
(12) unlock
(13) trusting
(14) became
(15) making
(16) stayed
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. talent
Answer: (C) A natural ability to do something well

2. exciting
Answer: (G) Causing feelings of happiness and enthusiasm

3. peaceful
Answer: (K) Calm and free from conflict or noise

4. mission
Answer: (M) An important task that someone is given to do

5. confusing
Answer: (N) Hard to understand or causing people to feel lost

6. sneaky
Answer: (H) Acting in a secret and dishonest way

7. circles
Answer: (I) Round shapes that have no end or beginning

8. unlock
Answer: (B) To open something that was closed or fixed together

9. adventures
Answer: (A) Exciting experiences that involve risks or challenges

10. courage
Answer: (J) The ability to face danger or pain without fear

11. faith
Answer: (F) Complete trust or confidence in someone or something

12. inner
Answer: (E) Relating to the deepest parts of a person or thing

13. strength
Answer: (L) The quality of being strong and powerful

14. puzzle
Answer: (O) A game or problem that requires you to fit pieces together

15. treasure
Answer: (D) Something valuable that is hidden or kept in a safe place
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was special about Dillon, the dragon?
Answer: (c) He could see the future in his dreams

2. How did Dillon find out about the magic treasure?
Answer: (c) He dreamed about it

3. Who did Dillon meet in the forest?
Answer: (d) Sam the squirrel

4. What was Sam’s plan when he offered to show Dillon the way?
Answer: (a) To lead Dillon in circles

5. How did Dillon finally find the cave?
Answer: (b) He took a nap and dreamed about it

6. Who did Dillon meet inside the cave?
Answer: (b) Daisy, another dragon

7. How did Dillon and Daisy use their dreams to unlock the treasure?
Answer: (a) They combined their dreams like puzzle pieces

8. What was the main lesson Dillon learned from his adventure?
Answer: (d) Trusting others and working with friends can help solve problems
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Dillon, the dragon, had a unique talent for seeing the future in his dreams. (Answer: True)
2. Dillon and Daisy realized that their dreams were connected and worked together to unlock the treasure. (Answer: True)
3. Dillon met a squirrel named Sam who refused to help him find the cave, but Sam had an honest plan. (Answer: False)
4. Dillon and Daisy became best friends and continued to embark on adventures, ensuring the safety of their land. (Answer: True)
5. Inside the cave, Dillon did not encounter another dragon named Daisy who had also dreamed about the treasure. (Answer: False)
6. He dreamed about an ordinary treasure hidden in a cave that had no power to bring peace. (Answer: False)
7. The treasure brought peace and happiness to their land, teaching Dillon the importance of trust and friendship. (Answer: True)
8. Feeling lost, Dillon took a nap and had a dream that revealed the cave was nowhere near him. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A group of adventurous children discover a hidden cave filled with riddles and magical trials.

The Enigma of Echo Cave

Emma, Ben, and Lucy find a secret cave with a tricky creature inside, but their friendship helps them solve the riddles and escape.

In a small village nestled deep in a magical forest, a little girl named Lily discovers a talking teapot with the power to grant wishes.

The Talking Teapot

A brave girl named Lily finds a talking teapot that grants good wishes, but a mean witch tries to steal it.

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

In a village called Berryville, the blueberries disappeared before the big party, but they found a secret blueberry bush and had a blast at the rain-soaked celebration.

A snail named Sam learns that true happiness comes from following your own path.

How the Snail Found His Shell

Sam, a shell-less snail, embarks on a quest to find the perfect shell but discovers that true happiness comes from being yourself.

A mischievous penguin named Percy and a wise snow owl named Oliver form an unbreakable friendship on their journey to the legendary "Penguin Parade."

The Penguin Parade

Percy the penguin and Oliver the owl become best friends on an exciting adventure to the Penguin Parade.

Ruby, the mischievous red panda, embarks on a quest to find a golden tree and discovers the true treasure of friendship.

The Riddle of the Red Panda

Ruby, the playful red panda, embarks on a treasure hunt in the magical forest of Doram, but discovers that the real treasure is the friends she makes along the way.

A little girl named Lily discovers a jar of magical marmalade that brings everything to life.

The Magical Marmalade

Lily and Bubbles discover that real magic comes from being happy, having friends, and enjoying simple things.

Maya's wish for endless laughter brings joy and unity to her village, making her the laughter ambassador.

The Mysterious Mango

Maya finds a magical mango that grants her wish for never-ending laughter, bringing joy to her village.

Feedback