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 Broken Letterbox

The broken letterbox becomes a source of laughter and connection as the townsfolk turn it into an interactive game for a mischievous squirrel named Nutkin.

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Once upon a time, in a small town called Blossomville, there was a lively neighborhood filled with colorful houses. In the heart of the town, there stood a letterbox that had faithfully served the community for decades. There, neighbors would gather every day to exchange friendly waves and exciting news. However, one fateful morning, the townsfolk awoke to a shocking sight—the beloved letterbox was broken! It lay on its side, its door dangling precariously. Panic swept through the neighborhood as the letterbox had become the hub of their communication. What could they do?

The townsfolk held an emergency meeting, brainstorming solutions to restore their beloved letterbox. The wise Ms. Maple, an elderly woman with a quirky sense of humor, suggested turning the broken letterbox into an interactive game. She had an inkling the culprit might be a mischievous squirrel named Nutkin, who loved to play pranks on the town. With a little laughter in their hearts, they set to work creating riddles to leave for Nutkin. Once solved, they would lead the culprit on a quizzical quest to reassemble the broken letterbox.

The riddles were crafted with care, and the townsfolk eagerly set them up around Blossomville. Each riddle held a clue that guided Nutkin closer to the pieces of the letterbox. As the squirrel scampered from one clue to the next, the townsfolk delighted in the hilarity of their plan. Every step Nutkin took was filled with laughter, as he fell into fountains of tickling feathers and emerged with a goofy grin.

Finally, after solving the final riddle, Nutkin stumbled upon the last missing piece of the letterbox. Loyally, the townsfolk came out to watch as Nutkin skillfully restored the broken letterbox, bit by bit. Cheers erupted, laughter filled the air, and a newfound appreciation for the mischievous squirrel grew among the townsfolk. They realized that sometimes, mishaps could lead to unexpected adventures and bring a community closer together.

From that day forward, the letterbox stood even more proud and resilient, now adorned with colorful flowers and decorations. The town of Blossomville learned that a little creativity and a good sense of humor could turn a crisis into an opportunity to create lasting memories. They vowed to treasure their letterbox and the connections it represented, knowing that even a broken letterbox could bring joy to their lives.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1BlossomvilleThe name of a small town setting for the story
2riddlesPuzzles or problems that are designed to test ingenuity
3mischievousPlayfully causing minor trouble or annoyance
4scamperedMoved quickly with light, short steps
5quizzicalExpressing or involving a questioning attitude or curiosity
6adornedDecorated or embellished with ornaments
7resilienceThe capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adversity
8creativityThe use of imagination or original ideas to create something
9mishapsUnfortunate events or accidents that happen unexpectedly
10culpritThe person or thing responsible for a problem or wrongdoing
11brainstormingThe process of generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive group discussion
12interactiveAllowing for two-way flow of information or engagement
13loyaltyThe quality of being faithful and devoted
14appreciationRecognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things
15hilarityGreat amusement or laughter

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where is the letterbox located in the town of Blossomville?
2. Who suggested turning the broken letterbox into an interactive game?
3. What was the name of the mischievous squirrel suspected of breaking the letterbox?
4. How did the townsfolk feel when they discovered the broken letterbox?
5. What did the townsfolk create to guide Nutkin to the pieces of the letterbox?
6. What happened to Nutkin as he followed the clues?
7. How did Nutkin restore the broken letterbox?
8. What did the town of Blossomville learn from this experience?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a small town called Blossomville, there was a lively (1)______ filled with colorful houses. In the heart of the town, there (2)______ a letterbox that had faithfully (3)______ the community for decades. There, neighbors would gather every day to exchange friendly waves and exciting news. However, one fateful morning, the (4)______ awoke to a shocking sight—the beloved letterbox was broken! It lay on its side, its door dangling precariously. Panic swept through the neighborhood as the letterbox had become the hub of their communication. What could they do?

The townsfolk held an emergency meeting, brainstorming solutions to restore their beloved letterbox. The wise Ms. Maple, an elderly woman with a quirky sense of humor, suggested turning the broken letterbox into an interactive game. She had an (5)______ the culprit might be a mischievous squirrel (6)______ Nutkin, who loved to play pranks on the town. With a little laughter in their (7)______, they set to work creating riddles to leave for Nutkin. Once solved, they would lead the culprit on a quizzical quest to (8)______ the broken letterbox.

The riddles were crafted with care, and the townsfolk eagerly set them up around Blossomville. Each (9)______ held a clue that guided (10)______ closer to the pieces of the letterbox. As the squirrel scampered from one clue to the next, the townsfolk delighted in the hilarity of their plan. Every step Nutkin took was filled with laughter, as he fell into fountains of tickling feathers and emerged with a goofy grin.

Finally, after solving the final riddle, Nutkin (11)______ upon the last (12)______ piece of the letterbox. Loyally, the townsfolk came out to watch as Nutkin skillfully restored the broken letterbox, bit by bit. Cheers erupted, laughter filled the air, and a newfound appreciation for the mischievous (13)______ grew among the townsfolk. They realized that sometimes, mishaps could lead to unexpected adventures and bring a community closer together.

From that day forward, the letterbox stood even more proud and resilient, now adorned with colorful flowers and decorations. The town of Blossomville learned that a little creativity and a good sense of humor could turn a crisis into an (14)______ to create lasting memories. They vowed to treasure their letterbox and the (15)______ it (16)______, knowing that even a broken letterbox could bring joy to their lives.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the importance of community in this story?
2. How would you feel if a beloved object in your community was broken?
3. Do you think turning the broken letterbox into an interactive game was a good idea? Why or why not?
4. What are some other creative solutions the townsfolk could have come up with to restore the letterbox?
5. How do you think the mischievous squirrel, Nutkin, felt during the quizzical quest?
6. Do you think it’s important to find humor in difficult situations? Why or why not?
7. What are some unexpected adventures or mishaps that you have experienced in your life?
8. How do you think the townsfolk’s appreciation for Nutkin changed throughout the story? Why?
9. Why do you think the townsfolk decided to decorate the letterbox after it was restored?
10. Have you ever been part of a community project or activity that brought people together? If so, how did it make you feel?
11. How do you think the broken letterbox brought the community closer together?
12. What life lessons can we learn from this story?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Blossomville
2. riddles
3. mischievous
4. scampered
5. quizzical
6. adorned
7. resilience
8. creativity
9. mishaps
10. culprit
11. brainstorming
12. interactive
13. loyalty
14. appreciation
15. hilarity

Meanings:
(A) The name of a small town setting for the story
(B) Unfortunate events or accidents that happen unexpectedly
(C) Allowing for two-way flow of information or engagement
(D) Recognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things
(E) Decorated or embellished with ornaments
(F) The person or thing responsible for a problem or wrongdoing
(G) The process of generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive group discussion
(H) Moved quickly with light, short steps
(I) The quality of being faithful and devoted
(J) The use of imagination or original ideas to create something
(K) Puzzles or problems that are designed to test ingenuity
(L) The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adversity
(M) Playfully causing minor trouble or annoyance
(N) Expressing or involving a questioning attitude or curiosity
(O) Great amusement or laughter
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the small town where the story takes place?
(a) Meadowville
(b) Sunnyville
(c) Springville
(d) Blossomville

2. Who suggested turning the broken letterbox into an interactive game?
(a) Mr. Oak
(b) Mrs. Willow
(c) Mr. Birch
(d) Ms. Maple

3. What was the name of the mischievous squirrel?
(a) Nutkin
(b) Acorn
(c) Chestnut
(d) Walnut

4. What did the townsfolk create to guide Nutkin to the pieces of the letterbox?
(a) Maps
(b) Riddles
(c) Clues
(d) Puzzles

5. What did Nutkin fall into while following the clues?
(a) Piles of leaves
(b) Buckets of water
(c) Fountains of tickling feathers
(d) Beds of flowers

6. What did Nutkin stumble upon after solving the final riddle?
(a) The last missing piece of the letterbox
(b) A hidden treasure
(c) A secret message
(d) A new friend

7. How did the townsfolk react when Nutkin restored the broken letterbox?
(a) They cried
(b) They cheered
(c) They laughed
(d) They sighed

8. What did the town of Blossomville learn from the experience?
(a) A broken letterbox can bring a community closer together
(b) Creativity and a good sense of humor can turn a crisis into an opportunity
(c) Mishaps can lead to unexpected adventures
(d) All of the above

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The townsfolk create riddles to lead the mischievous squirrel, Nutkin, on a quest to reassemble the letterbox.
2. Nutkin encounters quiet streams of feathers and faces mystery-filled challenges while deciphering the clues.
3. The mailbox appears intact one morning, prompting joy and relief in the neighborhood.
4. The letterbox in Blossomville has been serving the community for many years.
5. Nutkin struggles to repair the damaged mailbox, highlighting the importance of individual efforts and seriousness.
6. Ms. Maple proposes repairing the mailbox instead of turning it into a game to track down the culprit.
7. The townsfolk rely on the letterbox as a hub for communication and exchanging news.
8. The town of Blossomville is known for its colorful houses and lively neighborhood.
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. Where is the letterbox located in the town of Blossomville?
In the heart of the town.

2. Who suggested turning the broken letterbox into an interactive game?
Ms. Maple.

3. What was the name of the mischievous squirrel suspected of breaking the letterbox?
Nutkin.

4. How did the townsfolk feel when they discovered the broken letterbox?
They felt panicked.

5. What did the townsfolk create to guide Nutkin to the pieces of the letterbox?
They created riddles.

6. What happened to Nutkin as he followed the clues?
He fell into fountains of tickling feathers.

7. How did Nutkin restore the broken letterbox?
He skillfully reassembled it bit by bit.

8. What did the town of Blossomville learn from this experience?
They learned that mishaps could lead to unexpected adventures and bring a community closer together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) neighborhood
(2) stood
(3) served
(4) townsfolk
(5) inkling
(6) named
(7) hearts
(8) reassemble
(9) riddle
(10) Nutkin
(11) stumbled
(12) missing
(13) squirrel
(14) opportunity
(15) connections
(16) represented
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Blossomville
Answer: (A) The name of a small town setting for the story

2. riddles
Answer: (K) Puzzles or problems that are designed to test ingenuity

3. mischievous
Answer: (M) Playfully causing minor trouble or annoyance

4. scampered
Answer: (H) Moved quickly with light, short steps

5. quizzical
Answer: (N) Expressing or involving a questioning attitude or curiosity

6. adorned
Answer: (E) Decorated or embellished with ornaments

7. resilience
Answer: (L) The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adversity

8. creativity
Answer: (J) The use of imagination or original ideas to create something

9. mishaps
Answer: (B) Unfortunate events or accidents that happen unexpectedly

10. culprit
Answer: (F) The person or thing responsible for a problem or wrongdoing

11. brainstorming
Answer: (G) The process of generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive group discussion

12. interactive
Answer: (C) Allowing for two-way flow of information or engagement

13. loyalty
Answer: (I) The quality of being faithful and devoted

14. appreciation
Answer: (D) Recognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things

15. hilarity
Answer: (O) Great amusement or laughter
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the small town where the story takes place?
Answer: (d) Blossomville

2. Who suggested turning the broken letterbox into an interactive game?
Answer: (d) Ms. Maple

3. What was the name of the mischievous squirrel?
Answer: (a) Nutkin

4. What did the townsfolk create to guide Nutkin to the pieces of the letterbox?
Answer: (b) Riddles

5. What did Nutkin fall into while following the clues?
Answer: (c) Fountains of tickling feathers

6. What did Nutkin stumble upon after solving the final riddle?
Answer: (a) The last missing piece of the letterbox

7. How did the townsfolk react when Nutkin restored the broken letterbox?
Answer: (b) They cheered

8. What did the town of Blossomville learn from the experience?
Answer: (c) Mishaps can lead to unexpected adventures
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The townsfolk create riddles to lead the mischievous squirrel, Nutkin, on a quest to reassemble the letterbox. (Answer: True)
2. Nutkin encounters quiet streams of feathers and faces mystery-filled challenges while deciphering the clues. (Answer: False)
3. The mailbox appears intact one morning, prompting joy and relief in the neighborhood. (Answer: False)
4. The letterbox in Blossomville has been serving the community for many years. (Answer: True)
5. Nutkin struggles to repair the damaged mailbox, highlighting the importance of individual efforts and seriousness. (Answer: False)
6. Ms. Maple proposes repairing the mailbox instead of turning it into a game to track down the culprit. (Answer: False)
7. The townsfolk rely on the letterbox as a hub for communication and exchanging news. (Answer: True)
8. The town of Blossomville is known for its colorful houses and lively neighborhood. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 4 stories?

A young boy named Ethan becomes the King of the Kites and teaches his village the power of compassion and friendship.

The King of the Kites

A young boy named Ethan becomes the King of the Kites and teaches his village the power of compassion and friendship.

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

The Dragon’s Dream

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

The Chocolate Waterfall

Tommy, the village’s Sweet Ambassador, uses his bravery and kindness to tame a mischievous chocolate beast.

The Ice Cream Island

A boy named Johnny wins a lifetime supply of ice cream and shares it with everyone on the Ice Cream Island, spreading joy and kindness.

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