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 Dinosaur Egg

Jack and Emma's lives are forever changed when they discover a tiny dinosaur in an enormous egg.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there were two siblings named Jack and Emma. They loved exploring and going on adventures together. One sunny day, while they were hiking through a dense forest, they stumbled upon an enormous dinosaur egg. Excitement filled their hearts as their minds raced with all the possibilities. What kind of dinosaur would hatch from this gigantic egg?

They carefully decided to take the egg home, hoping that one day it would hatch into a friendly dinosaur that they could play with. But little did they know, a mischievous gnome named Grumbletwig had been watching them from behind the trees. Grumbletwig was known for his cheeky pranks and couldn’t resist the opportunity to play one on Jack and Emma.

The following morning, as the siblings excitedly peered into the egg, they were shocked to find it empty. Panic set in, until they heard a loud “ROAR” from outside their bedroom window. They rushed outside to find a baby dinosaur, but to their surprise, it was miniature in size, no bigger than a toy poodle. Jack and Emma couldn’t help but burst into laughter. They never expected their dinosaur to be so tiny!

As they spent more time with their new pet, whom they named Biscuit, they realized that size doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship. Biscuit may have been small, but the love and joy he brought into their lives was immeasurable. They quickly realized that friends come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s the quality of those friendships that truly matter. In the end, Jack and Emma learned that it’s not the external appearances, but rather the bond and connection with someone that brings happiness into our lives.

From that day forward, Jack and Emma and their tiny dinosaur Biscuit went on countless adventures together. They treasured every moment they spent laughing, learning, and exploring the world through their new little friend’s eyes. And as they grew older, they remained best friends, proving that true friendships can withstand the test of time, no matter how big or small they may be.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1siblingsBrothers or sisters
2exploringTraveling through an area to learn about it
3enormousExtremely large or huge
4possibilitiesThings that might happen or be the case
5mischievousInclined to behave in a playful or naughty way
6pranksPractical jokes or tricks
7shockedSurprised or astonished greatly
8miniatureVery small in size or scale
9laughterThe sound or act of laughing
10immeasurableToo large, extensive, or extreme to measure
11realizedUnderstood or became aware of something
12friendshipsClose associations between two or more people
13appearancesThe way things look or seem to the eye
14connectionA relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else
15withstandResist or endure successfully over time

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What were the names of the two siblings in the story?
2. Where did Jack and Emma find the dinosaur egg?
3. Who was the mischievous gnome that played a prank on Jack and Emma?
4. How did Jack and Emma react when they found the baby dinosaur?
5. What did Jack and Emma name their new pet dinosaur?
6. What did Jack and Emma learn about friendship from their experience with Biscuit?
7. What did Jack and Emma treasure about their adventures with Biscuit?
8. Did Jack and Emma’s friendship with Biscuit change as they grew older?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there were two siblings (1)______ Jack and Emma. They loved exploring and going on adventures together. One sunny day, while they were hiking through a dense forest, they stumbled upon an enormous dinosaur egg. Excitement (2)______ their hearts as their minds raced with all the (3)______. What kind of dinosaur would hatch from this (4)______ egg?

They carefully decided to take the egg home, hoping that one day it would hatch into a friendly dinosaur that they could play with. But little did they know, a mischievous gnome named Grumbletwig had been watching them from behind the trees. Grumbletwig was known for his (5)______ pranks and couldn’t resist the opportunity to play one on Jack and Emma.

The following morning, as the siblings excitedly peered into the egg, they were (6)______ to find it (7)______. Panic set in, until they heard a loud “ROAR” from outside their bedroom window. They rushed outside to find a baby dinosaur, but to their surprise, it was (8)______ in size, no bigger than a toy poodle. Jack and Emma couldn’t help but burst into laughter. They never expected their dinosaur to be so tiny!

As they (9)______ more time with their new pet, whom they named (10)______, they realized that size doesn’t matter when it (11)______ to (12)______. Biscuit may have been small, but the love and joy he brought into their lives was immeasurable. They quickly realized that friends come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s the quality of those friendships that truly matter. In the end, Jack and Emma learned that it’s not the (13)______ appearances, but rather the bond and connection with someone that brings happiness into our lives.

From that day forward, Jack and Emma and their tiny (14)______ Biscuit went on (15)______ adventures together. They treasured every moment they spent laughing, learning, and exploring the world through their new little friend’s eyes. And as they grew older, they remained best friends, proving that true friendships can (16)______ the test of time, no matter how big or small they may be.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the most exciting adventure you have ever been on?
2. How would you feel if you found a dinosaur egg while hiking?
3. Do you like surprises? Why or why not?
4. What do you think makes a good friend?
5. How would you react if you found out your new pet was much smaller than you expected?
6. Have you ever had a pet that surprised you in some way? What happened?
7. Do you think it’s important to have friends who are different from you? Why or why not?
8. What is something you have learned from a friendship?
9. How do you think Jack and Emma’s lives would have been different if the dinosaur had been as big as they expected?
10. Do you think it’s possible for friendships to last forever? Why or why not?
11. What kind of adventures would you go on with a tiny dinosaur?
12. How do you think Jack and Emma’s lives changed after they met Biscuit?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. siblings
2. exploring
3. enormous
4. possibilities
5. mischievous
6. pranks
7. shocked
8. miniature
9. laughter
10. immeasurable
11. realized
12. friendships
13. appearances
14. connection
15. withstand

Meanings:
(A) Extremely large or huge
(B) The way things look or seem to the eye
(C) Understood or became aware of something
(D) Traveling through an area to learn about it
(E) Inclined to behave in a playful or naughty way
(F) Resist or endure successfully over time
(G) Close associations between two or more people
(H) A relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else
(I) The sound or act of laughing
(J) Brothers or sisters
(K) Very small in size or scale
(L) Too large, extensive, or extreme to measure
(M) Practical jokes or tricks
(N) Surprised or astonished greatly
(O) Things that might happen or be the case
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What were the names of the two siblings?
(a) Tom and Sarah
(b) Mike and Lisa
(c) Jack and Emma
(d) Alex and Olivia

2. What did Jack and Emma find in the forest?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A magical wand
(c) A talking parrot
(d) An enormous dinosaur egg

3. Who was the mischievous gnome that played a prank on Jack and Emma?
(a) Snickerdoodle
(b) Grumbletwig
(c) Whimsywhisker
(d) Gigglesnort

4. What sound did Jack and Emma hear the next morning?
(a) A high-pitched squeak
(b) A loud “ROAR”
(c) A gentle purr
(d) A thunderous clap

5. What did Jack and Emma name their new pet dinosaur?
(a) Biscuit
(b) Cookie
(c) Muffin
(d) Cupcake

6. What did Jack and Emma learn about friendship?
(a) Friends should be the same age
(b) Friends should look the same
(c) Size doesn’t matter
(d) Friends should have the same hobbies

7. What did Jack and Emma treasure?
(a) Their collection of toys
(b) Their new bicycles
(c) Their favorite books
(d) Every moment spent with Biscuit

8. What did Jack and Emma prove about true friendships?
(a) They can withstand the test of time
(b) They are only based on external appearances
(c) They are only formed with people of the same age
(d) They are only formed with people who are the same size

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Jack and Emma are strangers who dislike exploring and going on adventures together.
2. Jack and Emma and their giant dinosaur Biscuit went on very few adventures together and did not remain best friends as they grew older.
3. A mischievous gnome named Grumbletwig had been watching them and decided to play a prank on them.
4. The next morning, they found the egg full and heard a soft “meow” outside their window.
5. They stumbled upon an enormous dinosaur egg while hiking through a dense forest.
6. To their surprise, they found a miniature dinosaur, no bigger than a toy poodle.
7. They named the tiny dinosaur Biscuit and realized that size doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship.
8. They decided to leave the egg behind, hoping it would not hatch into a friendly dinosaur they could play with.
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 were the names of the two siblings in the story?
Jack and Emma.

2. Where did Jack and Emma find the dinosaur egg?
They found it while hiking through a dense forest.

3. Who was the mischievous gnome that played a prank on Jack and Emma?
Grumbletwig.

4. How did Jack and Emma react when they found the baby dinosaur?
They burst into laughter because it was tiny.

5. What did Jack and Emma name their new pet dinosaur?
They named it Biscuit.

6. What did Jack and Emma learn about friendship from their experience with Biscuit?
They learned that size doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship and that it’s the bond and connection that truly matter.

7. What did Jack and Emma treasure about their adventures with Biscuit?
They treasured every moment they spent laughing, learning, and exploring the world through Biscuit’s eyes.

8. Did Jack and Emma’s friendship with Biscuit change as they grew older?
No, their friendship remained strong and they remained best friends even as they grew older.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) filled
(3) possibilities
(4) gigantic
(5) cheeky
(6) shocked
(7) empty
(8) miniature
(9) spent
(10) Biscuit
(11) comes
(12) friendship
(13) external
(14) dinosaur
(15) countless
(16) withstand
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. siblings
Answer: (J) Brothers or sisters

2. exploring
Answer: (D) Traveling through an area to learn about it

3. enormous
Answer: (A) Extremely large or huge

4. possibilities
Answer: (O) Things that might happen or be the case

5. mischievous
Answer: (E) Inclined to behave in a playful or naughty way

6. pranks
Answer: (M) Practical jokes or tricks

7. shocked
Answer: (N) Surprised or astonished greatly

8. miniature
Answer: (K) Very small in size or scale

9. laughter
Answer: (I) The sound or act of laughing

10. immeasurable
Answer: (L) Too large, extensive, or extreme to measure

11. realized
Answer: (C) Understood or became aware of something

12. friendships
Answer: (G) Close associations between two or more people

13. appearances
Answer: (B) The way things look or seem to the eye

14. connection
Answer: (H) A relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else

15. withstand
Answer: (F) Resist or endure successfully over time
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What were the names of the two siblings?
Answer: (c) Jack and Emma

2. What did Jack and Emma find in the forest?
Answer: (d) An enormous dinosaur egg

3. Who was the mischievous gnome that played a prank on Jack and Emma?
Answer: (b) Grumbletwig

4. What sound did Jack and Emma hear the next morning?
Answer: (b) A loud “ROAR”

5. What did Jack and Emma name their new pet dinosaur?
Answer: (a) Biscuit

6. What did Jack and Emma learn about friendship?
Answer: (c) Size doesn’t matter

7. What did Jack and Emma treasure?
Answer: (d) Every moment spent with Biscuit

8. What did Jack and Emma prove about true friendships?
Answer: (a) They can withstand the test of time
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Jack and Emma are strangers who dislike exploring and going on adventures together. (Answer: False)
2. Jack and Emma and their giant dinosaur Biscuit went on very few adventures together and did not remain best friends as they grew older. (Answer: False)
3. A mischievous gnome named Grumbletwig had been watching them and decided to play a prank on them. (Answer: True)
4. The next morning, they found the egg full and heard a soft “meow” outside their window. (Answer: False)
5. They stumbled upon an enormous dinosaur egg while hiking through a dense forest. (Answer: True)
6. To their surprise, they found a miniature dinosaur, no bigger than a toy poodle. (Answer: True)
7. They named the tiny dinosaur Biscuit and realized that size doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship. (Answer: True)
8. They decided to leave the egg behind, hoping it would not hatch into a friendly dinosaur they could play with. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 4 stories?

Mia and Ben conquer the Maze of Mirrors, learning the value of perseverance and laughter.

The Maze of Mirrors

Mia and Ben conquer the Maze of Mirrors, learning the value of perseverance and laughter.

A young girl named Lily embarks on a daring adventure to find a hidden harbor and discovers that true treasure lies in the simple pleasures of life.

The Hidden Harbor

A young girl named Lily embarks on a daring adventure to find a hidden harbor and discovers that true treasure lies in the simple pleasures of life.

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