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.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small town, there was a colorful place where everyone loved their letterbox. One day, they found it broken! Everyone was sad because they loved to get letters.

They had a big meeting. A kind lady had a fun idea. They would play a game to fix the letterbox. She thought a playful squirrel might have broken it as a joke.

They made fun clues all around town for the squirrel. The squirrel followed the clues, laughing and playing. With each clue, he found a piece of the letterbox.

In the end, the squirrel fixed the letterbox. Everyone was happy and laughed a lot. They put flowers on the letterbox and loved it more. They learned that fixing things together can be fun.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1colorfulFull of many colors like a rainbow
2letterboxA box outside your house where you get mail
3squirrelA small, cute animal with a big, fluffy tail
4cluesHints or secrets that help you find something
5brokenWhen something is not working or is damaged
6meetingWhen people come together to talk about something important
7playfulFull of fun and liking to play games
8laughingMaking sounds with your mouth when something is funny
9flowersPretty plants that smell nice and look beautiful
10fixingMaking something that was broken work again

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did this story take place?
2. Why were the people in the town sad?
3. What did the kind lady suggest they do to fix the letterbox?
4. Who did they think might have broken the letterbox?
5. What did they do to help the squirrel find the pieces of the letterbox?
6. How did everyone feel when the letterbox was fixed?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small town, there was a (1)______ place where everyone loved their letterbox. One day, they (2)______ it broken! Everyone was sad because they loved to get letters.

They had a big meeting. A kind lady had a fun idea. They would play a game to fix the letterbox. She thought a playful (3)______ might have (4)______ it as a joke.

They made fun (5)______ all around (6)______ for the squirrel. The squirrel followed the clues, laughing and playing. With each clue, he found a piece of the letterbox.

In the end, the squirrel fixed the letterbox. Everyone was happy and (7)______ a lot. They put flowers on the letterbox and loved it more. They learned that fixing (8)______ together can be fun.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a letterbox? Why do people love it?
2. How would you feel if your favorite thing was broken?
3. Do you like playing games? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the squirrel thought about the clues? Why?
5. How did the squirrel feel when he found the pieces of the letterbox?
6. Do you think it’s important to fix things? Why or why not?
7. How did the people feel when the letterbox was fixed? Why?
8. Why do you think they put flowers on the letterbox?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. colorful
2. letterbox
3. squirrel
4. clues
5. broken
6. meeting
7. playful
8. laughing
9. flowers
10. fixing

Meanings:
(A) Hints or secrets that help you find something
(B) Making something that was broken work again
(C) Full of many colors like a rainbow
(D) Making sounds with your mouth when something is funny
(E) A small, cute animal with a big, fluffy tail
(F) Full of fun and liking to play games
(G) A box outside your house where you get mail
(H) When something is not working or is damaged
(I) When people come together to talk about something important
(J) Pretty plants that smell nice and look beautiful
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did everyone in the town love?
(a) Their mailbox
(b) Their mailbox
(c) Their letterbox
(d) Their post office

2. How did the letterbox get broken?
(a) A playful squirrel
(b) A big storm
(c) A naughty dog
(d) A strong wind

3. What did the kind lady suggest they do to fix the letterbox?
(a) Call a repairman
(b) Play a game
(c) Buy a new one
(d) Ignore it

4. Who did they think might have broken the letterbox?
(a) A sneaky cat
(b) A playful squirrel
(c) A mischievous bird
(d) A friendly dog

5. What did they do to help the squirrel find the pieces of the letterbox?
(a) Called for help
(b) Looked everywhere
(c) Asked their neighbors
(d) Made fun clues

6. How did the squirrel feel while following the clues?
(a) Happy and playful
(b) Sad and lonely
(c) Angry and upset
(d) Scared and worried

7. What did they do when the squirrel fixed the letterbox?
(a) Took it down
(b) Threw it away
(c) Put flowers on it
(d) Ignored it

8. What did they learn from the experience?
(a) Letterboxes are not important
(b) Squirrels are naughty
(c) Clues are not helpful
(d) Fixing things together can be fun

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. In the end, the squirrel left the letterbox broken and everyone was upset and cried a lot.
2. One day, they discovered their letterbox intact and it made them happy.
3. They believed a mischievous squirrel might have fixed the letterbox as a prank.
4. The people in the small town loved their letterbox a lot.
5. They had a big meeting to come up with a plan to fix the letterbox.
6. They made fun clues all around town for the squirrel to follow.
7. The squirrel ignored the hints and couldn’t locate any part of the letterbox with each clue.
8. A kind lady had a fun idea to play a game and find the pieces of the letterbox.
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 did this story take place?
The story took place in a small town.

2. Why were the people in the town sad?
The people in the town were sad because their letterbox was broken and they couldn’t get letters anymore.

3. What did the kind lady suggest they do to fix the letterbox?
The kind lady suggested that they play a game to fix the letterbox.

4. Who did they think might have broken the letterbox?
They thought a playful squirrel might have broken the letterbox as a joke.

5. What did they do to help the squirrel find the pieces of the letterbox?
They made fun clues all around town for the squirrel to follow and find the pieces of the letterbox.

6. How did everyone feel when the letterbox was fixed?
Everyone felt happy and laughed a lot when the letterbox was fixed.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) colorful
(2) found
(3) squirrel
(4) broken
(5) clues
(6) town
(7) laughed
(8) things
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. colorful
Answer: (C) Full of many colors like a rainbow

2. letterbox
Answer: (G) A box outside your house where you get mail

3. squirrel
Answer: (E) A small, cute animal with a big, fluffy tail

4. clues
Answer: (A) Hints or secrets that help you find something

5. broken
Answer: (H) When something is not working or is damaged

6. meeting
Answer: (I) When people come together to talk about something important

7. playful
Answer: (F) Full of fun and liking to play games

8. laughing
Answer: (D) Making sounds with your mouth when something is funny

9. flowers
Answer: (J) Pretty plants that smell nice and look beautiful

10. fixing
Answer: (B) Making something that was broken work again
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did everyone in the town love?
Answer: (c) Their letterbox

2. How did the letterbox get broken?
Answer: (a) A playful squirrel

3. What did the kind lady suggest they do to fix the letterbox?
Answer: (b) Play a game

4. Who did they think might have broken the letterbox?
Answer: (b) A playful squirrel

5. What did they do to help the squirrel find the pieces of the letterbox?
Answer: (d) Made fun clues

6. How did the squirrel feel while following the clues?
Answer: (a) Happy and playful

7. What did they do when the squirrel fixed the letterbox?
Answer: (c) Put flowers on it

8. What did they learn from the experience?
Answer: (d) Fixing things together can be fun
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. In the end, the squirrel left the letterbox broken and everyone was upset and cried a lot. (Answer: False)
2. One day, they discovered their letterbox intact and it made them happy. (Answer: False)
3. They believed a mischievous squirrel might have fixed the letterbox as a prank. (Answer: False)
4. The people in the small town loved their letterbox a lot. (Answer: True)
5. They had a big meeting to come up with a plan to fix the letterbox. (Answer: True)
6. They made fun clues all around town for the squirrel to follow. (Answer: True)
7. The squirrel ignored the hints and couldn’t locate any part of the letterbox with each clue. (Answer: False)
8. A kind lady had a fun idea to play a game and find the pieces of the letterbox. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

The Lazy Lion

Once upon a time, in a beautiful jungle, there lived a lion named Leo. Leo was the laziest lion in

The Giant’s Garden

Greg and Whiskers had a pretty garden, but mean Goblins took the seeds. Whiskers helped and they made it pretty again.

Maya's wish for endless laughter brings joy and unity to her village, making her the laughter ambassador.

The Mysterious Mango

Maya found a magical mango that granted her a wish, and she wished for laughter for everyone!

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.

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