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!

Cindy, the Curious Caterpillar

Once upon a time, in a beautiful meadow, there lived a curious little caterpillar named Cindy. Cindy loved to explore and learn about the world around her. She would crawl around on the leaves, observing the flowers and the insects that lived in the meadow.

One day, as Cindy was crawling along the stem of a flower, she noticed a beautiful butterfly fluttering by. “What a pretty butterfly!” Cindy thought to herself. “I wonder what it’s like to fly?”

Cindy had always wanted to fly, but she didn’t know how. So, she decided to ask the butterfly for help. “Excuse me, Mrs. Butterfly,” Cindy said. “Could you teach me how to fly?”

The butterfly smiled and said, “Of course, Cindy. But first, you must spin a cocoon and rest. When you wake up, you will have wings and be able to fly just like me.”

Cindy was so excited that she couldn’t wait to spin her cocoon. So, she searched for a cozy spot in the meadow and began spinning. It took a while, but eventually Cindy’s cocoon was complete.

As she rested inside, Cindy dreamed of flying through the sky and exploring new places. And when she woke up, she found that she had beautiful wings just like the butterfly.

Cindy was overjoyed and thanked the butterfly for her help. And from then on, Cindy the caterpillar became Cindy the butterfly, and she flew happily through the meadow, exploring every inch of it.

Cindy flew from flower to flower, sipping nectar and soaking up the sunshine. She met all sorts of new friends, from buzzing bees to fluttering moths. And every day, she discovered something new and exciting about the world around her.

Cindy the butterfly was the happiest she had ever been, and she knew that she had the butterfly to thank for showing her how to fly.

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Vocabulary

  1. Curious (adjective): eager to learn or know something.
  2. Explore (verb): to search or travel through (a place) for the purpose of discovering new things.
  3. Flutter (verb): to move quickly and lightly, especially with an irregular movement.
  4. Spin (verb): to make or produce (something) by using a machine or tool.
  5. Cocoon (noun): a protective covering made of silk or other soft material, in which a caterpillar or other insect encloses itself while transforming into a butterfly or moth.
  6. Rest (verb): to stop doing something for a period of time in order to relax or sleep.
  7. Wing (noun): one of the pair of appendages used for flying in insects, birds, and some bats.
  8. Overjoyed (adjective): extremely happy and pleased.
  9. Nectar (noun): a sweet liquid produced by flowers to attract pollinating insects.
  10. Soak up (phrasal verb): to absorb or take in (something, such as information or experience).

Comprehension Questions

Please answer the following questions with your teacher or partner.
The answers are at the bottom of the page!

1. Why was Cindy curious?

2. What did Cindy want to do?

3. What did the butterfly tell Cindy to do?

4. What did Cindy do?

5. What did Cindy dream of while she was in her cocoon?

6. What did Cindy find when she woke up?

7. How did Cindy feel when she woke up?

8. What did Cindy do after she transformed into a butterfly?

9. What did Cindy do while she was flying through the meadow?

10. What did Cindy learn while she was flying through the meadow?

Gap Fill Questions

Please fill in the gaps.
The answers are at the bottom of the page!

  1. Cindy was a __________ little caterpillar who loved to explore and learn about the world around her.
  2. One day, Cindy saw a beautiful __________ fluttering by and wondered what it was like to fly.
  3. Cindy asked the butterfly if she could teach her __________ to fly.
  4. The butterfly told Cindy that she needed to spin a __________ and rest before she could fly.
  5. Cindy found a cozy spot in the meadow and began __________ her cocoon.
  6. While she was in her cocoon, Cindy __________ of flying through the sky and exploring new places.
  7. When she woke up, Cindy had beautiful __________ just like the butterfly.
  8. Cindy was __________ when she woke up and saw that she had transformed into a butterfly.
  9. After she transformed, Cindy flew happily through the meadow, __________ every inch of it.
  10. While she was flying, Cindy met all sorts of new friends and __________ new and exciting things about the world around her.

Conversation Questions

With your teacher or partner, please ask and answer these questions:

1. What did you like most about the story of Cindy the caterpillar?

2. Have you ever wanted to fly like Cindy did? What would you do if you could fly?

3. Do you have a favorite animal or insect? Why is it your favorite?

4. Have you ever seen a caterpillar or butterfly in real life? What did you think of them?

5. Do you like to explore and learn about the world around you like Cindy did?

6. What do you think it would be like to rest inside a cocoon and transform into something else?

7. If you could be any animal or insect, what would you choose and why?

8. Do you have any special dreams or goals that you hope to achieve one day?

9. Have you ever met someone who was overjoyed like Cindy was when she woke up as a butterfly? What made them so happy?

10. What do you think you would learn about the world if you could fly around and explore like Cindy did?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

  1. Why was Cindy curious?
  • Cindy was curious because she wanted to learn and know more about the world around her.
  1. What did Cindy want to do?
  • Cindy wanted to fly.
  1. What did the butterfly tell Cindy to do?
  • The butterfly told Cindy to spin a cocoon and rest in it.
  1. What did Cindy do?
  • Cindy searched for a cozy spot in the meadow and began spinning her cocoon.
  1. What did Cindy dream of while she was in her cocoon?
  • Cindy dreamed of flying through the sky and exploring new places.
  1. What did Cindy find when she woke up?
  • Cindy found that she had beautiful wings just like the butterfly.
  1. How did Cindy feel when she woke up?
  • Cindy was overjoyed when she woke up.
  1. What did Cindy do after she transformed into a butterfly?
  • After she transformed into a butterfly, Cindy flew happily through the meadow, exploring every inch of it.
  1. What did Cindy do while she was flying through the meadow?
  • While she was flying through the meadow, Cindy flew from flower to flower, sipping nectar and soaking up the sunshine.
  1. What did Cindy learn while she was flying through the meadow?
  • While she was flying through the meadow, Cindy met all sorts of new friends and discovered new and exciting things about the world around her.

Gap Fill Question Answers:

  1. Cindy was a curious little caterpillar who loved to explore and learn about the world around her.
  2. One day, Cindy saw a beautiful butterfly fluttering by and wondered what it was like to fly.
  3. Cindy asked the butterfly if she could teach her how to fly.
  4. The butterfly told Cindy that she needed to spin a cocoon and rest before she could fly.
  5. Cindy found a cozy spot in the meadow and began spinning her cocoon.
  6. While she was in her cocoon, Cindy dreamed of flying through the sky and exploring new places.
  7. When she woke up, Cindy had beautiful wings just like the butterfly.
  8. Cindy was overjoyed when she woke up and saw that she had transformed into a butterfly.
  9. After she transformed, Cindy flew happily through the meadow, exploring every inch of it.
  10. While she was flying, Cindy met all sorts of new friends and discovered new and exciting things about the world around her.

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A magical swan named Saffron and a brave boy named Milo embark on a journey to defeat an evil sorcerer and teach a lesson about friendship.

The Saffron Swan

Saffron the swan and Milo the boy became best friends and used their bravery and kindness to defeat the bad man and spread happiness with Saffron’s magical feathers.

A little girl named Lily embarks on a magical adventure along the Patchwork Path.

The Patchwork Path

Lily goes on an exciting adventure using a magical blanket that takes her on a journey full of talking animals, secret treasures, and brave moments.

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.

Humphrey the Hippogriff embarks on a quest to cure his hiccups and discovers the power of laughter.

The Hiccuping Hippogriff

Humphrey the Hippogriff had a big problem – he couldn’t stop hiccupping! He asked wise animals for help, but nothing worked. Then, a unicorn named Luna told him to laugh, and it actually worked! Humphrey learned that laughter can fix things and make others happy too.

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.

A young girl named Emily discovers a tree that produces rainbow-colored raspberries, bringing joy to her village.

The Remarkable Raspberry Rain

Emily discovers a magical tree that makes it rain colorful raspberries, but when the colors start to fade, she finds a way to bring the magic back with laughter.

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