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 Journey Beyond the Silver Hills

The friends discover that true treasure lies in laughter and friendship, not gold or jewels.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Freddy the fox, Olga the owl, and Benny the bear lived in Whimsytown. They wanted to go on an adventure. One morning, they decided to climb the big Silver Hills. They heard that there might be treasure on the other side.

As they climbed, they met a funny squirrel named Nutty. Nutty was carrying acorns and joked with them. “Are you looking for treasure or trouble?” he asked. Benny laughed and said they wanted treasure and adventure. Nutty decided to join them.

When they reached the top of the hill, they found a big, grumpy troll. The troll’s name was Grizzlebump. He said, “You must answer my riddle to pass!” Freddy said they were ready. Grizzlebump asked, “What has keys but can’t open locks?” Nutty quickly answered, “A piano!” The troll laughed and let them go.

Next, they found dancing flowers called Dancing Daisies. The flowers made them dance too! After lots of fun, they saw a shiny pond. This was their treasure! It made them very happy. They learned that the best treasure was their fun and friendship. Then they went back home to Whimsytown, promising more adventures.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventureA fun and exciting journey
2treasureSomething very valuable or special
3climbTo go up something, like a hill or a tree
4squirrelA small animal with a bushy tail that likes nuts
5acornsSmall nuts that fall from oak trees
6riddleA tricky question that needs a clever answer
7trollA big, scary creature that lives under bridges in stories
8keysSmall metal things that open doors
9pondA small body of water, like a tiny lake
10friendshipA special bond between friends

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the three friends in the story?
2. What did Freddy, Olga, and Benny want to do?
3. What did Nutty the squirrel carry with him?
4. What did Grizzlebump the troll ask them to do?
5. What was the treasure they found at the shiny pond?
6. What did the friends learn about treasure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Freddy the fox, Olga the owl, and (1)______ the bear lived in Whimsytown. They (2)______ to go on an adventure. One morning, they decided to climb the big Silver Hills. They heard that there might be treasure on the other side.

As they climbed, they met a funny squirrel named Nutty. Nutty was (3)______ acorns and joked with them. “Are you looking for (4)______ or trouble?” he asked. Benny laughed and said they wanted treasure and adventure. Nutty decided to join them.

When they reached the top of the hill, they found a big, grumpy troll. The troll’s name was Grizzlebump. He said, “You must answer my riddle to pass!” Freddy said they were ready. Grizzlebump asked, “What has keys but can’t open locks?” Nutty quickly answered, “A piano!” The troll laughed and let them go.

Next, they found (5)______ flowers (6)______ Dancing Daisies. The flowers (7)______ them dance too! After lots of fun, they saw a shiny pond. This was their treasure! It made them very (8)______. They learned that the best treasure was their fun and friendship. Then they went back home to Whimsytown, promising more adventures.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite animal?
2. How would you feel if you found treasure?
3. Do you like to go on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What is a funny animal you know?
5. How would you feel if you met a grumpy troll?
6. Do you think friendship is important? Why?
7. What is your favorite place to play?
8. How would you feel if you danced with flowers?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventure
2. treasure
3. climb
4. squirrel
5. acorns
6. riddle
7. troll
8. keys
9. pond
10. friendship

Meanings:
(A) A small body of water, like a tiny lake
(B) A tricky question that needs a clever answer
(C) A fun and exciting journey
(D) Small metal things that open doors
(E) A small animal with a bushy tail that likes nuts
(F) Something very valuable or special
(G) Small nuts that fall from oak trees
(H) A big, scary creature that lives under bridges in stories
(I) A special bond between friends
(J) To go up something, like a hill or a tree
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is the funny squirrel in the story?
(a) Benny
(b) Nutty
(c) Freddy
(d) Grizzlebump

2. What did Freddy, Olga, and Benny want to find?
(a) Food
(b) A house
(c) Treasure
(d) A pet

3. What did the troll ask them?
(a) A riddle
(b) A question
(c) A song
(d) A game

4. What did Nutty carry with him?
(a) Flowers
(b) Rocks
(c) Toys
(d) Acorns

5. What did they find at the top of the hill?
(a) A castle
(b) A river
(c) A troll
(d) A tree

6. What made them dance?
(a) Dancing Daisies
(b) Singing birds
(c) Jumping frogs
(d) Happy clouds

7. What was their treasure at the end?
(a) A big box
(b) A golden coin
(c) A magic wand
(d) A shiny pond

8. Where did they live?
(a) Funland
(b) Whimsytown
(c) Dreamville
(d) Happy Town

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Nutty solved the mystery about a guitar.
2. They encountered a serious squirrel named Nutty who accompanied them.
3. They climbed the big Silver Hills together.
4. They live in a place called Whimsytown.
5. They wanted to go on an adventure to find treasure.
6. Freddy the fox, Olga the owl, and Benny the bear are enemies.
7. They discovered a dull pond and realized that work and solitude are the best treasures.
8. They had to answer a riddle from a troll named Grizzlebump.
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 are the three friends in the story?
Freddy the fox, Olga the owl, and Benny the bear.

2. What did Freddy, Olga, and Benny want to do?
They wanted to go on an adventure.

3. What did Nutty the squirrel carry with him?
Nutty carried acorns.

4. What did Grizzlebump the troll ask them to do?
Grizzlebump asked them to answer his riddle.

5. What was the treasure they found at the shiny pond?
The treasure was the shiny pond itself.

6. What did the friends learn about treasure?
They learned that the best treasure is fun and friendship.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Benny
(2) wanted
(3) carrying
(4) treasure
(5) dancing
(6) called
(7) made
(8) happy
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventure
Answer: (C) A fun and exciting journey

2. treasure
Answer: (F) Something very valuable or special

3. climb
Answer: (J) To go up something, like a hill or a tree

4. squirrel
Answer: (E) A small animal with a bushy tail that likes nuts

5. acorns
Answer: (G) Small nuts that fall from oak trees

6. riddle
Answer: (B) A tricky question that needs a clever answer

7. troll
Answer: (H) A big, scary creature that lives under bridges in stories

8. keys
Answer: (D) Small metal things that open doors

9. pond
Answer: (A) A small body of water, like a tiny lake

10. friendship
Answer: (I) A special bond between friends
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is the funny squirrel in the story?
Answer: (b) Nutty

2. What did Freddy, Olga, and Benny want to find?
Answer: (c) Treasure

3. What did the troll ask them?
Answer: (a) A riddle

4. What did Nutty carry with him?
Answer: (d) Acorns

5. What did they find at the top of the hill?
Answer: (c) A troll

6. What made them dance?
Answer: (a) Dancing Daisies

7. What was their treasure at the end?
Answer: (d) A shiny pond

8. Where did they live?
Answer: (b) Whimsytown
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Nutty solved the mystery about a guitar. (Answer: False)
2. They encountered a serious squirrel named Nutty who accompanied them. (Answer: False)
3. They climbed the big Silver Hills together. (Answer: True)
4. They live in a place called Whimsytown. (Answer: True)
5. They wanted to go on an adventure to find treasure. (Answer: True)
6. Freddy the fox, Olga the owl, and Benny the bear are enemies. (Answer: False)
7. They discovered a dull pond and realized that work and solitude are the best treasures. (Answer: False)
8. They had to answer a riddle from a troll named Grizzlebump. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Lily discovers a hidden door in the enchanted forest and befriends a sparkling fairy named Hazel.

The Fairy’s Secret

Lily found a secret door in the woods and met a fairy named Hazel. They danced with fairies and made the woods 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!

Whiskers, the Queen of Cats, unites animals of all kinds and teaches them the power of compassion.

The Queen of Cats

Whiskers the cat was so kind that all the animals became friends and lived happily together.

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