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 Great Grape Escape

George and his grape friends escape the vineyard, overcoming obstacles and finding a world full of adventures.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, in a place with lots of sun and grapes, there was a grape named George. George didn’t want to become wine like the other grapes. He wanted to run away with his friends.

One night, when it was very quiet, George and his friends rolled away. They went through leaves and bugs, and even passed a scarecrow that tried to grab them!

George and his grape buddies kept going. They went down a hill and into some water. They were happy and wet! Then, they met a squirrel named Sammy who wanted to come too.

They came to a big fence and didn’t know how to get past it. But they worked together and climbed over. They made it to a place with soft grass and sunshine. George and his friends were free and ready for new fun.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1grapeA small, round, purple or green fruit that you can eat
2wineA drink made from crushed fruits that grown-ups like
3rolledMoved by turning over and over on the ground
4scarecrowA fake person made of old clothes and straw that stands in fields
5buddiesFriends who like to do things together
6squirrelA cute animal with a big bushy tail that likes to climb trees
7fenceA tall structure outside that keeps people and animals in or out
8climbedWent up something using your hands and feet
9grassThe green stuff on the ground that feels soft to sit on
10sunshineThe warm, bright light that comes from the sky during the day

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who didn’t want to become wine like the other grapes?
2. What did George and his friends do one night?
3. What did they go through on their adventure?
4. Who did they meet by the water?
5. What did they have to climb over to get to the soft grass and sunshine?
6. How did George and his friends feel when they made it to the new place?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a (1)______, in a place with lots of sun and grapes, there was a grape named George. George didn’t (2)______ to become wine like the other grapes. He wanted to run away with his friends.

One night, when it was very quiet, (3)______ and his friends rolled away. They went through leaves and bugs, and even passed a scarecrow that tried to (4)______ them!

George and his grape buddies kept going. They went down a hill and into some water. They were happy and wet! Then, they met a squirrel named (5)______ who wanted to come too.

They (6)______ to a big fence and didn’t know how to get past it. But they (7)______ together and (8)______ over. They made it to a place with soft grass and sunshine. George and his friends were free and ready for new fun.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a grape?
2. How would you feel if you were a grape and everyone wanted to turn you into wine?
3. Do you like running away with your friends? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it was scary for George and his friends to pass the scarecrow? Why or why not?
5. What do you think it feels like to roll down a hill?
6. Do you have any friends who are squirrels?
7. Have you ever climbed over a big fence? How did you do it?
8. How do you feel when you are outside in the sunshine and soft grass?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. grape
2. wine
3. rolled
4. scarecrow
5. buddies
6. squirrel
7. fence
8. climbed
9. grass
10. sunshine

Meanings:
(A) A drink made from crushed fruits that grown-ups like
(B) The green stuff on the ground that feels soft to sit on
(C) Went up something using your hands and feet
(D) A tall structure outside that keeps people and animals in or out
(E) A cute animal with a big bushy tail that likes to climb trees
(F) The warm, bright light that comes from the sky during the day
(G) Moved by turning over and over on the ground
(H) A fake person made of old clothes and straw that stands in fields
(I) A small, round, purple or green fruit that you can eat
(J) Friends who like to do things together
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the grape who didn’t want to become wine?
(a) Jack
(b) Emily
(c) George
(d) Lily

2. Where did George and his friends roll away to?
(a) Unknown
(b) The city
(c) The forest
(d) The beach

3. What did George and his friends pass on their adventure?
(a) Cars and trucks
(b) Buildings and houses
(c) Toys and games
(d) Leaves and bugs

4. Who tried to grab George and his friends?
(a) A squirrel
(b) A bird
(c) A scarecrow
(d) A rabbit

5. What did George and his friends do when they reached the water?
(a) They built a sandcastle
(b) They jumped in and got wet
(c) They went fishing
(d) They had a picnic

6. Who wanted to come with George and his friends?
(a) A rabbit named Rosie
(b) A squirrel named Sammy
(c) A bird named Bobby
(d) A cat named Charlie

7. How did George and his friends get past the big fence?
(a) They climbed over it
(b) They dug under it
(c) They flew over it
(d) They broke it down

8. Where did George and his friends end up?
(a) A dark and scary cave
(b) A busy city street
(c) A tall mountain top
(d) A place with soft grass and sunshine

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They met a squirrel named Sammy who didn’t want to come with them.
2. George and his friends rolled away one night when it was very quiet.
3. They even passed a scarecrow that tried to grab them!
4. They climbed over a big fence together to get to a new place.
5. False: George and his grape buddies went up a hill and out of some water.
6. They went through leaves and bugs on their adventure.
7. In the new place, they found hard grass and rain and were sad and not ready for new fun.
8. George is a grape who wants to become wine like the other grapes.
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 didn’t want to become wine like the other grapes?
George didn’t want to become wine like the other grapes.

2. What did George and his friends do one night?
George and his friends rolled away one night.

3. What did they go through on their adventure?
They went through leaves and bugs on their adventure.

4. Who did they meet by the water?
They met a squirrel named Sammy by the water.

5. What did they have to climb over to get to the soft grass and sunshine?
They had to climb over a big fence to get to the soft grass and sunshine.

6. How did George and his friends feel when they made it to the new place?
George and his friends felt happy when they made it to the new place.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) time
(2) want
(3) George
(4) grab
(5) Sammy
(6) came
(7) worked
(8) climbed
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. grape
Answer: (I) A small, round, purple or green fruit that you can eat

2. wine
Answer: (A) A drink made from crushed fruits that grown-ups like

3. rolled
Answer: (G) Moved by turning over and over on the ground

4. scarecrow
Answer: (H) A fake person made of old clothes and straw that stands in fields

5. buddies
Answer: (J) Friends who like to do things together

6. squirrel
Answer: (E) A cute animal with a big bushy tail that likes to climb trees

7. fence
Answer: (D) A tall structure outside that keeps people and animals in or out

8. climbed
Answer: (C) Went up something using your hands and feet

9. grass
Answer: (B) The green stuff on the ground that feels soft to sit on

10. sunshine
Answer: (F) The warm, bright light that comes from the sky during the day
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the grape who didn’t want to become wine?
Answer: (c) George

2. Where did George and his friends roll away to?
Answer: (a) Unknown

3. What did George and his friends pass on their adventure?
Answer: (d) Leaves and bugs

4. Who tried to grab George and his friends?
Answer: (c) A scarecrow

5. What did George and his friends do when they reached the water?
Answer: (b) They jumped in and got wet

6. Who wanted to come with George and his friends?
Answer: (b) A squirrel named Sammy

7. How did George and his friends get past the big fence?
Answer: (a) They climbed over it

8. Where did George and his friends end up?
Answer: (d) A place with soft grass and sunshine
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They met a squirrel named Sammy who didn’t want to come with them. (Answer: False)
2. George and his friends rolled away one night when it was very quiet. (Answer: True)
3. They even passed a scarecrow that tried to grab them! (Answer: True)
4. They climbed over a big fence together to get to a new place. (Answer: True)
5. False: George and his grape buddies went up a hill and out of some water. (Answer: False)
6. They went through leaves and bugs on their adventure. (Answer: True)
7. In the new place, they found hard grass and rain and were sad and not ready for new fun. (Answer: False)
8. George is a grape who wants to become wine like the other grapes. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

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

Lily found a secret harbor and learned that the best treasure is having fun with friends.

A little girl named Lily discovers a jar of magical marmalade that brings everything to life.

The Magical Marmalade

Lily and Bubbles had a magical day in the garden, making things dance and telling jokes, but grumpy Grumblebore learned to smile and have fun too.

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