Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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Sparky’s Space Adventure

Sparky the adventurous dog helps friendly aliens find a rare space plant and embarks on a thrilling space adventure.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, in a small town, there lived a little dog named Sparky. He loved exploring and was always on the lookout for new adventures. One sunny day, as Sparky trotted through the park, he stumbled upon a mysterious spaceship hidden behind some bushes. With curiosity getting the better of him, Sparky cautiously approached the spaceship and peered inside. To his astonishment, he found himself face to face with a group of friendly aliens.

One of the aliens, Zog, introduced himself and explained that they had accidentally crash-landed on Earth. They were desperately searching for a rare space plant called the Nebula Blossom, without which their spaceship wouldn’t be able to take off. Sparky’s eyes widened with excitement and he promptly offered to help them. Together, they embarked on a thrilling space adventure to find the elusive Nebula Blossom.

Their adventure took them to many strange and distant planets, each with its own unique challenges and surprises. On one planet, they encountered a mischievous band of singing aliens who made them dance along to their catchy tune. On another world, they narrowly escaped being swallowed by the planet’s enormous talking plants. Through it all, Sparky never lost his sense of humor and kept his furry friends’ spirits high.

Finally, after much determination and teamwork, they stumbled upon the Nebula Blossom on a planet made entirely of candy. They carefully collected the plant, and with the help of Sparky’s new alien friends, powered up their spaceship. As they bid farewell to the candy planet and started their journey back home, Sparky felt a mix of happiness and sadness. He had made lifelong friends and learned that even the smallest creatures can achieve great things when they work together.

Upon landing safely back on Earth, Sparky bid farewell to his alien friends. He was filled with gratitude for the epic adventure they had shared. Sparky had learned that it’s not the size that matters, but the heart and determination one possesses. From that day forward, Sparky knew that he was capable of anything he set his mind to, and he vowed to always embrace new adventures, be open to new friendships, and help others whenever he could. And so, Sparky continued to explore, igniting sparks of joy and inspiration wherever he went.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1mysteriousSomething that is difficult to understand or explain
2cautiouslyIn a careful and well-thought-out manner to avoid risk
3astonishmentA feeling of great surprise or wonder
4elusiveHard to find or capture
5thrillingCausing excitement and adventure
6mischievousPlayfully causing trouble or annoyance
7narrowlyBy a small margin or barely
8determinationFirmness of purpose and the resolve to achieve a goal
9teamworkThe combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient
10gratitudeA feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
11epicRemarkably impressive or grand in scale
12determinationFirmness of purpose and the resolve to achieve a goal (used twice in the story, but should only be matched with one meaning here)
13embraceTo accept or welcome with open arms
14ignitingStarting or stirring up something such as excitement or interest
15inspirationSomething that motivates or encourages someone to do something

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was Sparky’s favorite thing to do?
2. How did Sparky react when he found the spaceship?
3. What did Zog explain to Sparky about the aliens’ situation?
4. What challenges did Sparky and the aliens face during their space adventure?
5. What did Sparky learn from his adventure with the aliens?
6. How did Sparky feel when they found the Nebula Blossom?
7. What did Sparky vow to do after his adventure with the aliens?
8. How did Sparky continue to spread joy and inspiration after his adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a small town, there lived a little dog named Sparky. He loved (1)______ and was always on the lookout for new adventures. One (2)______ day, as Sparky trotted through the park, he stumbled upon a mysterious spaceship (3)______ behind some bushes. With curiosity getting the better of him, Sparky cautiously approached the spaceship and peered inside. To his (4)______, he found himself face to face with a group of friendly aliens.

One of the aliens, Zog, introduced himself and explained that they had accidentally crash-landed on Earth. They were desperately searching for a rare space plant called the Nebula (5)______, without which their spaceship wouldn’t be able to take off. Sparky’s eyes widened with excitement and he promptly offered to help them. Together, they embarked on a (6)______ space adventure to find the elusive Nebula Blossom.

Their adventure took them to many strange and distant planets, each with its own unique challenges and surprises. On one planet, they encountered a (7)______ band of singing (8)______ who made them dance along to their catchy tune. On another world, they narrowly escaped being swallowed by the planet’s enormous talking plants. Through it all, (9)______ never lost his (10)______ of humor and kept his furry friends’ spirits high.

Finally, after much determination and teamwork, they stumbled upon the Nebula Blossom on a planet made entirely of candy. They carefully collected the plant, and with the help of Sparky’s new alien friends, powered up their spaceship. As they bid farewell to the candy planet and (11)______ their journey back home, Sparky felt a mix of happiness and sadness. He had made (12)______ friends and learned that even the smallest creatures can achieve great things when they work together.

Upon landing safely back on Earth, Sparky bid farewell to his alien friends. He was filled with gratitude for the epic adventure they had shared. Sparky had learned that it’s not the size that matters, but the heart and determination one possesses. From that day forward, Sparky knew that he was capable of anything he set his mind to, and he vowed to always embrace new (13)______, be open to new (14)______, and help others whenever he could. And so, Sparky continued to explore, igniting (15)______ of joy and (16)______ wherever he went.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite part of the story and why?
2. How would you feel if you stumbled upon a mysterious spaceship like Sparky did?
3. Do you like exploring new places? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to help others, even if they are different from us? Why or why not?
5. What is a Nebula Blossom? Why do you think it was so important to the aliens?
6. How do you think Sparky felt when he found out he had to go on a space adventure? Why?
7. Have you ever had an adventure that made you feel a mix of happiness and sadness? Can you tell us about it?
8. Do you believe that determination and teamwork are important for achieving great things? Why or why not?
9. How do you think Sparky’s new alien friends felt when they had to say goodbye to him? Why?
10. What is something new that you would like to try or learn, just like Sparky embraced new adventures?
11. Do you think it’s important to have a sense of humor, even in difficult situations? Why or why not?
12. How do you think Sparky’s experiences with the aliens changed him? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. mysterious
2. cautiously
3. astonishment
4. elusive
5. thrilling
6. mischievous
7. narrowly
8. determination
9. teamwork
10. gratitude
11. epic
12. determination
13. embrace
14. igniting
15. inspiration

Meanings:
(A) The combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient
(B) In a careful and well-thought-out manner to avoid risk
(C) A feeling of great surprise or wonder
(D) To accept or welcome with open arms
(E) Starting or stirring up something such as excitement or interest
(F) Causing excitement and adventure
(G) Firmness of purpose and the resolve to achieve a goal (used twice in the story, but should only be matched with one meaning here)
(H) Hard to find or capture
(I) Remarkably impressive or grand in scale
(J) A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
(K) Firmness of purpose and the resolve to achieve a goal
(L) By a small margin or barely
(M) Something that motivates or encourages someone to do something
(N) Playfully causing trouble or annoyance
(O) Something that is difficult to understand or explain
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Sparky find hidden behind some bushes in the park?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A secret tunnel
(c) A lost toy
(d) A mysterious spaceship

2. What was the name of the alien who introduced himself to Sparky?
(a) Zog
(b) Ziggy
(c) Zara
(d) Zara

3. What were the aliens searching for on Earth?
(a) The Golden Star
(b) The Magic Crystal
(c) The Nebula Blossom
(d) The Enchanted Mushroom

4. Where did Sparky and the aliens find the Nebula Blossom?
(a) In a hidden cave on Earth
(b) On a planet made entirely of candy
(c) Underneath the ocean
(d) In a secret garden

5. What did Sparky learn from his adventure with the aliens?
(a) That aliens are scary and should be avoided
(b) That exploring is dangerous and should be avoided
(c) That even the smallest creatures can achieve great things when they work together
(d) That adventures are boring and should be avoided

6. How did Sparky feel when he bid farewell to his alien friends?
(a) Happy and sad
(b) Relieved and excited
(c) Annoyed and frustrated
(d) Indifferent and bored

7. What did Sparky vow to do after his adventure?
(a) Stay at home and never leave again
(b) Avoid aliens and spaceships at all costs
(c) Forget about his adventure and move on with his life
(d) Embrace new adventures, be open to new friendships, and help others whenever he could

8. What did Sparky ignite wherever he went?
(a) Sparks of anger and frustration
(b) Sparks of joy and inspiration
(c) Sparks of fear and confusion
(d) Sparks of boredom and indifference

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sparky avoids a group of friendly aliens led by Zog.
2. Sparky and the aliens go on a thrilling space adventure to find the plant.
3. Sparky deliberately finds a recognizable spaceship hidden in the park.
4. Sparky learns the importance of teamwork and determination, and continues to embrace new adventures.
5. Sparky is a large dog who hates exploring and going on adventures.
6. The aliens are searching for a rare space plant called the Nebula Blossom.
7. Sparky offers to help the aliens find the Nebula Blossom.
8. They avoid various challenges and surprises on different planets.
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 Sparky’s favorite thing to do?
Sparky’s favorite thing to do was exploring.

2. How did Sparky react when he found the spaceship?
Sparky reacted with curiosity and cautiously approached the spaceship.

3. What did Zog explain to Sparky about the aliens’ situation?
Zog explained that they had crash-landed on Earth and were searching for the Nebula Blossom to power up their spaceship.

4. What challenges did Sparky and the aliens face during their space adventure?
They faced challenges such as encountering mischievous singing aliens and narrowly escaping being swallowed by talking plants.

5. What did Sparky learn from his adventure with the aliens?
Sparky learned that even the smallest creatures can achieve great things when they work together.

6. How did Sparky feel when they found the Nebula Blossom?
Sparky felt a mix of happiness and sadness. He was happy they found the Nebula Blossom but sad to say goodbye to his alien friends.

7. What did Sparky vow to do after his adventure with the aliens?
Sparky vowed to always embrace new adventures, be open to new friendships, and help others whenever he could.

8. How did Sparky continue to spread joy and inspiration after his adventure?
Sparky continued to explore and spread joy and inspiration wherever he went.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) exploring
(2) sunny
(3) hidden
(4) astonishment
(5) Blossom
(6) thrilling
(7) mischievous
(8) aliens
(9) Sparky
(10) sense
(11) started
(12) lifelong
(13) adventures
(14) friendships
(15) sparks
(16) inspiration
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. mysterious
Answer: (O) Something that is difficult to understand or explain

2. cautiously
Answer: (B) In a careful and well-thought-out manner to avoid risk

3. astonishment
Answer: (C) A feeling of great surprise or wonder

4. elusive
Answer: (H) Hard to find or capture

5. thrilling
Answer: (F) Causing excitement and adventure

6. mischievous
Answer: (N) Playfully causing trouble or annoyance

7. narrowly
Answer: (L) By a small margin or barely

8. determination
Answer: (K) Firmness of purpose and the resolve to achieve a goal

9. teamwork
Answer: (A) The combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient

10. gratitude
Answer: (J) A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

11. epic
Answer: (I) Remarkably impressive or grand in scale

12. determination
Answer: (G) Firmness of purpose and the resolve to achieve a goal (used twice in the story, but should only be matched with one meaning here)

13. embrace
Answer: (D) To accept or welcome with open arms

14. igniting
Answer: (E) Starting or stirring up something such as excitement or interest

15. inspiration
Answer: (M) Something that motivates or encourages someone to do something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Sparky find hidden behind some bushes in the park?
Answer: (d) A mysterious spaceship

2. What was the name of the alien who introduced himself to Sparky?
Answer: (a) Zog

3. What were the aliens searching for on Earth?
Answer: (c) The Nebula Blossom

4. Where did Sparky and the aliens find the Nebula Blossom?
Answer: (b) On a planet made entirely of candy

5. What did Sparky learn from his adventure with the aliens?
Answer: (c) That even the smallest creatures can achieve great things when they work together

6. How did Sparky feel when he bid farewell to his alien friends?
Answer: (a) Happy and sad

7. What did Sparky vow to do after his adventure?
Answer: (d) Embrace new adventures, be open to new friendships, and help others whenever he could

8. What did Sparky ignite wherever he went?
Answer: (b) Sparks of joy and inspiration
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sparky avoids a group of friendly aliens led by Zog. (Answer: False)
2. Sparky and the aliens go on a thrilling space adventure to find the plant. (Answer: True)
3. Sparky deliberately finds a recognizable spaceship hidden in the park. (Answer: False)
4. Sparky learns the importance of teamwork and determination, and continues to embrace new adventures. (Answer: True)
5. Sparky is a large dog who hates exploring and going on adventures. (Answer: False)
6. The aliens are searching for a rare space plant called the Nebula Blossom. (Answer: True)
7. Sparky offers to help the aliens find the Nebula Blossom. (Answer: True)
8. They avoid various challenges and surprises on different planets. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 4 stories?

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The Golden Egg Hunt

The Golden Egg Hunt in Fantasia turns into a heartwarming display of unity and selflessness.

Lily and her animal friends explore a crystal cave, discovering magical powers and learning important lessons.

The Crystal Cave

Lily and her animal friends explore a crystal cave, discovering magical powers and learning important lessons.

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