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!

Sam’s Snowy Day

A cheeky little boy named Sam has a day full of funny mishaps and unexpected surprises in the snowy landscape.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once there was a boy named Sam who lived in a small town. One morning, he saw that everything outside was white with snow. Sam was very happy. He put on his warm clothes fast and was ready to go out to play.

Sam took his sled and ran outside. He wanted to slide down a big hill. He went really fast down the hill. But he hit a bump and flew off his sled! Sam landed on soft snow and laughed.

Sam made a snowman but it looked funny. It had a big head and a small body. He called it “Snowy.” Then Sam tried to climb a tree. He slipped and was hanging upside down! Sam’s friend Lily helped him get down. They laughed a lot.

When Sam was going home, he found a little squirrel stuck in a tree. Sam helped the squirrel get down. He felt happy because he did something good. Sam went to sleep that night feeling great. He had a day full of fun and was ready for more adventures.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1snowSoft, white stuff that falls from the sky in winter
2sledSomething you slide down on the snow
3hillA big, tall place where you can go up and down
4bumpA little bump is like a small hill
5snowmanA funny person made out of snow
6treeA tall thing with branches and leaves
7squirrelA small animal with a fluffy tail
8stuckWhen you can’t move or get out of something
9helpWhen you do something nice for someone
10adventuresExciting and fun things that happen to you

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Sam see outside in the morning?
3. What did Sam do when he went outside to play?
4. What happened when Sam tried to climb a tree?
5. What did Sam find stuck in a tree?
6. How did Sam feel at the end of the day?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there was a boy named Sam who lived in a small town. One morning, he saw that everything outside was white with snow. Sam was very happy. He put on his (1)______ (2)______ fast and was ready to go out to play.

Sam took his sled and ran outside. He wanted to slide down a big (3)______. He went really fast down the hill. But he hit a bump and flew off his sled! Sam landed on soft snow and laughed.

Sam made a snowman but it (4)______ funny. It had a big head and a small body. He called it “Snowy.” Then Sam tried to climb a (5)______. He slipped and was hanging upside down! Sam’s friend Lily helped him get down. They laughed a lot.

When Sam was (6)______ home, he found a little squirrel stuck in a tree. Sam helped the squirrel get down. He felt happy because he did something good. Sam went to sleep that night feeling (7)______. He had a day full of fun and was ready for (8)______ adventures.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is snow? Why is it fun to play in?
2. How would you feel if you hit a bump and flew off your sled? Why or why not?
3. Do you like making snowmen? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you slipped and got stuck upside down in a tree? Why or why not?
5. What is a squirrel? Have you ever seen a squirrel before?
6. How would you feel if you found a little squirrel stuck in a tree? Why or why not?
7. Do you like helping animals? Why or why not?
8. Do you like playing in the snow? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. snow
2. sled
3. hill
4. bump
5. snowman
6. tree
7. squirrel
8. stuck
9. help
10. adventures

Meanings:
(A) Something you slide down on the snow
(B) When you do something nice for someone
(C) A tall thing with branches and leaves
(D) Soft, white stuff that falls from the sky in winter
(E) A little bump is like a small hill
(F) A funny person made out of snow
(G) A big, tall place where you can go up and down
(H) Exciting and fun things that happen to you
(I) A small animal with a fluffy tail
(J) When you can’t move or get out of something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Sam see outside his house one morning?
(a) Snow
(b) Rain
(c) Sun
(d) Wind

2. What did Sam use to slide down the hill?
(a) Bike
(b) Sled
(c) Skateboard
(d) Rollerblades

3. What did Sam make out of the snow?
(a) Snowball
(b) Snowflake
(c) Snowman
(d) Snow cone

4. What did Sam call his snowman?
(a) Snowy
(b) Frosty
(c) Icy
(d) Chilly

5. What happened when Sam tried to climb a tree?
(a) He reached the top and waved
(b) He found a bird’s nest
(c) He saw a squirrel
(d) He slipped and hung upside down

6. Who helped Sam get down from the tree?
(a) Snowy
(b) The squirrel
(c) Lily
(d) Sam’s mom

7. What did Sam find stuck in a tree?
(a) Bird
(b) Cat
(c) Dog
(d) Squirrel

8. How did Sam feel at the end of the day?
(a) Sad
(b) Great
(c) Tired
(d) Angry

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sam tried to climb a tree but slipped and got stuck upside down.
2. Sam had a boring day and went to sleep feeling sad.
3. Sam went swimming down a small hill and flew off his sled.
4. Sam’s friend Lily hindered him get down from the tree.
5. Sam found a squirrel stuck in a tree and ignored it get down.
6. Sam saw that everything outside was covered in white snow.
7. Sam made a funny-looking snowman and named it “Snowy.”
8. Sam put on warm clothes and went outside to play.
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. Who is the main character in the story?
– The main character in the story is Sam.

2. What did Sam see outside in the morning?
– Sam saw that everything outside was white with snow in the morning.

3. What did Sam do when he went outside to play?
– Sam took his sled and went outside to play. He wanted to slide down a big hill.

4. What happened when Sam tried to climb a tree?
– When Sam tried to climb a tree, he slipped and ended up hanging upside down.

5. What did Sam find stuck in a tree?
– Sam found a little squirrel stuck in a tree.

6. How did Sam feel at the end of the day?
– Sam felt happy and great at the end of the day because he had a day full of fun and helped a squirrel get down from a tree.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) warm
(2) clothes
(3) hill
(4) looked
(5) tree
(6) going
(7) great
(8) more
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. snow
Answer: (D) Soft, white stuff that falls from the sky in winter

2. sled
Answer: (A) Something you slide down on the snow

3. hill
Answer: (G) A big, tall place where you can go up and down

4. bump
Answer: (E) A little bump is like a small hill

5. snowman
Answer: (F) A funny person made out of snow

6. tree
Answer: (C) A tall thing with branches and leaves

7. squirrel
Answer: (I) A small animal with a fluffy tail

8. stuck
Answer: (J) When you can’t move or get out of something

9. help
Answer: (B) When you do something nice for someone

10. adventures
Answer: (H) Exciting and fun things that happen to you
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Sam see outside his house one morning?
Answer: (a) Snow

2. What did Sam use to slide down the hill?
Answer: (b) Sled

3. What did Sam make out of the snow?
Answer: (c) Snowman

4. What did Sam call his snowman?
Answer: (a) Snowy

5. What happened when Sam tried to climb a tree?
Answer: (d) He slipped and hung upside down

6. Who helped Sam get down from the tree?
Answer: (c) Lily

7. What did Sam find stuck in a tree?
Answer: (d) Squirrel

8. How did Sam feel at the end of the day?
Answer: (b) Great
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sam tried to climb a tree but slipped and got stuck upside down. (Answer: True)
2. Sam had a boring day and went to sleep feeling sad. (Answer: False)
3. Sam went swimming down a small hill and flew off his sled. (Answer: False)
4. Sam’s friend Lily hindered him get down from the tree. (Answer: False)
5. Sam found a squirrel stuck in a tree and ignored it get down. (Answer: False)
6. Sam saw that everything outside was covered in white snow. (Answer: True)
7. Sam made a funny-looking snowman and named it “Snowy.” (Answer: True)
8. Sam put on warm clothes and went outside to play. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A determined cat named Fluffy builds a flying contraption and learns the importance of seeking guidance.

Fluffy’s Fantastic Flight

Fluffy the cat wanted to fly, so he made a flying thing, but got lost in the sky. Thankfully, friendly birds helped him come back down safely.

Polly's determination pays off when she finds her lost puppy safe and sound.

Polly’s New Puppy

Polly really wanted a puppy, so she worked hard and her mom and dad surprised her with one named Buttercup.

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

The Dragon’s Dream

Dillon the dragon had special dreams that showed him exciting adventures, like finding a shiny treasure!

A unique tiger with tangerine stripes leads his animal friends on a quest for a magical fruit, only to discover that true magic lies in friendship and laughter.

The Tale of the Tangerine Tiger

The Tangerine Tiger and his friends went on an adventure to find a special fruit that gives superpowers, but they realized that having fun and being friends is even better.

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