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 Dragon’s Dream

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, there was a dragon named Dillon who could dream about the future. Dillon did not breathe fire like other dragons. Every night, he went to sleep and saw adventures that could happen tomorrow.

One night, Dillon dreamed about a shiny treasure in a secret cave. This treasure was very special and could make everyone happy and safe. Dillon woke up and wanted to find this treasure because it was his dragon job.

Dillon got lost in a big forest while looking for the cave. Then, he met a squirrel named Sam who said he knew where the cave was. But the squirrel tricked Dillon and made him more lost. Dillon was sad but had a new idea. He sat down and dreamed again. The new dream showed him the cave was very close!

Dillon found the cave, and inside, he met another dragon named Daisy. Daisy had dreams about the treasure too. Together, they used their dreams to open the treasure. It made their land peaceful and everyone was happy. Dillon and Daisy learned that friends can solve problems together, and they had many more fun adventures.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1dragonA big, pretend animal that can fly and sometimes breathe fire
2dreamWhen you see stories in your head while you sleep
3treasureSomething very special and shiny that people want to find
4caveA big hole in the side of a mountain or under the ground
5adventuresFun trips where exciting things happen
6squirrelA small animal with a big, fluffy tail that climbs trees
7trickedWhen someone makes you believe something that is not true
8peacefulVery quiet and calm, with no fighting
9solveTo find an answer to a problem
10adventuresFun trips where exciting things happen

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
2. What was special about Dillon the dragon?
3. What did Dillon dream about one night?
4. Who tricked Dillon in the forest?
5. How did Dillon and Daisy open the treasure?
6. What did Dillon and Daisy learn at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, there was a dragon (1)______ Dillon who could dream about the future. Dillon did not breathe fire like other dragons. Every night, he went to sleep and saw (2)______ that could happen tomorrow.

One night, Dillon dreamed about a shiny treasure in a (3)______ cave. This treasure was very special and could make everyone happy and safe. Dillon woke up and wanted to find this treasure because it was his dragon job.

Dillon got lost in a big forest while (4)______ for the cave. Then, he met a squirrel named Sam who said he knew where the cave was. But the squirrel (5)______ Dillon and made him more lost. Dillon was sad but had a new idea. He sat down and dreamed again. The new dream (6)______ him the cave was very close!

Dillon found the cave, and inside, he met another dragon named Daisy. Daisy had dreams about the treasure too. Together, they used their dreams to open the treasure. It made their land peaceful and everyone was (7)______. Dillon and Daisy learned that friends can (8)______ problems together, and they had many more fun adventures.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dragon?
2. How would you feel if you could dream about the future?
3. Do you like adventures? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to help others? Why or why not?
5. What is a treasure?
6. How would you feel if you were lost in a big forest?
7. Do you think friends are important? Why or why not?
8. What do you think the dragon friends will do next?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. dragon
2. dream
3. treasure
4. cave
5. adventures
6. squirrel
7. tricked
8. peaceful
9. solve
10. adventures

Meanings:
(A) A big, pretend animal that can fly and sometimes breathe fire
(B) Fun trips where exciting things happen
(C) When you see stories in your head while you sleep
(D) A small animal with a big, fluffy tail that climbs trees
(E) When someone makes you believe something that is not true
(F) Something very special and shiny that people want to find
(G) A big hole in the side of a mountain or under the ground
(H) To find an answer to a problem
(I) Fun trips where exciting things happen
(J) Very quiet and calm, with no fighting
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the dragon in the story?
(a) Dillon
(b) Sam
(c) Daisy
(d) Watson

2. What could Dillon do that other dragons couldn’t?
(a) Breathe fire
(b) Dream about the future
(c) Fly very high
(d) Swim in the ocean

3. What did Dillon dream about one night?
(a) A big forest
(b) A squirrel named Sam
(c) A dragon named Daisy
(d) A shiny treasure in a secret cave

4. Who tricked Dillon in the forest?
(a) Daisy the dragon
(b) Sam the squirrel
(c) A shiny treasure
(d) Dillon’s friend

5. What did Dillon and Daisy use to open the treasure?
(a) A key
(b) A map
(c) Their dreams
(d) A magic spell

6. What did the treasure do for their land?
(a) Made it dangerous
(b) Made it noisy
(c) Made it dark
(d) Made it peaceful

7. What did Dillon and Daisy learn about solving problems?
(a) Dreams can solve problems
(b) Treasures can solve problems
(c) Friends can solve problems together
(d) Dragons can solve problems

8. What did Dillon and Daisy have after finding the treasure?
(a) Many more fun adventures
(b) Many more sad dreams
(c) Many more tricks from Sam
(d) Many more forests to explore

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Dillon got lost in a big forest while looking for the cave.
2. The treasure could make everyone happy and safe.
3. Dillon dreamed about a dull treasure in a public cave.
4. Dillon sat down and dreamed again, and found out the cave was very close.
5. Dillon breathed fire like other dragons.
6. Dillon met a raccoon named Sam who tricked him and made him more lost.
7. There was a dragon named Dillon who could dream about the future.
8. Inside the cave, Dillon met another turtle named Daisy and they opened the treasure together.
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 of the story?
Dillon the dragon.

2. What was special about Dillon the dragon?
Dillon could dream about the future.

3. What did Dillon dream about one night?
Dillon dreamed about a shiny treasure in a secret cave.

4. Who tricked Dillon in the forest?
A squirrel named Sam tricked Dillon.

5. How did Dillon and Daisy open the treasure?
They used their dreams to open the treasure.

6. What did Dillon and Daisy learn at the end of the story?
They learned that friends can solve problems together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) adventures
(3) secret
(4) looking
(5) tricked
(6) showed
(7) happy
(8) solve
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. dragon
Answer: (A) A big, pretend animal that can fly and sometimes breathe fire

2. dream
Answer: (C) When you see stories in your head while you sleep

3. treasure
Answer: (F) Something very special and shiny that people want to find

4. cave
Answer: (G) A big hole in the side of a mountain or under the ground

5. adventures
Answer: (B) Fun trips where exciting things happen

6. squirrel
Answer: (D) A small animal with a big, fluffy tail that climbs trees

7. tricked
Answer: (E) When someone makes you believe something that is not true

8. peaceful
Answer: (J) Very quiet and calm, with no fighting

9. solve
Answer: (H) To find an answer to a problem

10. adventures
Answer: (B) Fun trips where exciting things happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the dragon in the story?
Answer: (a) Dillon

2. What could Dillon do that other dragons couldn’t?
Answer: (b) Dream about the future

3. What did Dillon dream about one night?
Answer: (d) A shiny treasure in a secret cave

4. Who tricked Dillon in the forest?
Answer: (b) Sam the squirrel

5. What did Dillon and Daisy use to open the treasure?
Answer: (c) Their dreams

6. What did the treasure do for their land?
Answer: (d) Made it peaceful

7. What did Dillon and Daisy learn about solving problems?
Answer: (c) Friends can solve problems together

8. What did Dillon and Daisy have after finding the treasure?
Answer: (a) Many more fun adventures
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Dillon got lost in a big forest while looking for the cave. (Answer: True)
2. The treasure could make everyone happy and safe. (Answer: True)
3. Dillon dreamed about a dull treasure in a public cave. (Answer: False)
4. Dillon sat down and dreamed again, and found out the cave was very close. (Answer: True)
5. Dillon breathed fire like other dragons. (Answer: False)
6. Dillon met a raccoon named Sam who tricked him and made him more lost. (Answer: False)
7. There was a dragon named Dillon who could dream about the future. (Answer: True)
8. Inside the cave, Dillon met another turtle named Daisy and they opened the treasure together. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Freddie the squirrel learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of happiness and unity.

The Peacock Parade

Freddie the squirrel wanted to see pretty peacock colors, but naughty monkeys tricked him with a secret feather.

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!

disaster into a triumph, creating a beautiful and unforgettable moment for everyone involved.

The Carnival of Colors

In Rainbowland, everyone had a big fun day with colors, parades, and tasty snacks. Timmy’s costume flew away, but his friends helped him fix it and win a prize.

A little girl named Mia embarks on a magical adventure through the Candy Kingdom after awakening a Jelly Bean Tree.

The Jelly Bean Tree

Mia found a magical jelly bean tree that turned into a talking candy carriage, and they went on a yummy adventure together.

Oliver, the tiniest elf, surprises everyone with his clever strategies and magical find at the Great Elf Games.

The Littlest Elf

Oliver, the small elf, showed everyone that being small doesn’t stop you from doing great things.

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