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 Land of Flying Pancakes

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a faraway place, there was Pancakeland where pancakes had wings and flew in the sky. Every morning, you could see these flying pancakes.

A girl named Lily found a secret map in Pancakeland. It showed the way to a mountain made of chocolate pancakes. She wanted to go there.

Lily met sticky trolls who wanted her map. She tricked them with honey and kept going. Then, a big pancake asked her a question, and she answered it right to keep going.

Lily got to the top of the chocolate pancake mountain. She saw so many pancakes and was very happy. She took some pancakes home and shared with everyone. Every year, they have a big pancake party to remember Lily’s adventure and to share with friends.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1farawayA place that is very, very far
2secretSomething that is not supposed to be seen or known by others
3mountainA very big hill that touches the clouds
4stickySomething like glue, it makes things stay together
5trickedWhen you make someone believe something that is not true
6questionWhen someone asks you something and you have to give an answer
7adventureA fun trip where you see and do new things
8pancakesA yummy food that is flat and round, and you can eat it for breakfast
9sharedWhen you let others have some of what you have
10partyA happy time with music, dancing, and cake, where you celebrate with friends

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did the pancakes have wings and fly?
2. What did Lily find in Pancakeland?
3. Who wanted Lily’s map?
4. How did Lily trick the sticky trolls?
5. What did Lily see when she got to the top of the mountain?
6. Why do they have a big pancake party every year?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ place, there was Pancakeland where pancakes had wings and flew in the sky. Every morning, you could see these flying pancakes.

A girl (2)______ Lily found a secret map in Pancakeland. It showed the way to a mountain (3)______ of (4)______ pancakes. She wanted to go there.

Lily met sticky trolls who wanted her map. She tricked them with honey and (5)______ going. Then, a big pancake asked her a question, and she answered it right to keep going.

Lily got to the top of the chocolate pancake (6)______. She saw so many pancakes and was very happy. She took some pancakes home and (7)______ with everyone. Every year, they have a big pancake party to (8)______ Lily’s adventure and to share with friends.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Pancakeland?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret map?
3. Do you like pancakes? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the trolls wanted with Lily’s map?
5. How would you trick the trolls with honey?
6. What do you think the big pancake asked Lily?
7. How would you feel if you saw a mountain made of chocolate pancakes?
8. Do you think it’s fun to have a big pancake party? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. faraway
2. secret
3. mountain
4. sticky
5. tricked
6. question
7. adventure
8. pancakes
9. shared
10. party

Meanings:
(A) A place that is very, very far
(B) When you make someone believe something that is not true
(C) A yummy food that is flat and round, and you can eat it for breakfast
(D) A fun trip where you see and do new things
(E) Something that is not supposed to be seen or known by others
(F) A very big hill that touches the clouds
(G) A happy time with music, dancing, and cake, where you celebrate with friends
(H) When you let others have some of what you have
(I) When someone asks you something and you have to give an answer
(J) Something like glue, it makes things stay together
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the pancakes in Pancakeland have?
(a) Tails
(b) Ears
(c) Wings
(d) Fins

2. What did Lily find in Pancakeland?
(a) A magic wand
(b) A talking dog
(c) A shiny rock
(d) A secret map

3. What did the sticky trolls want from Lily?
(a) Her shoes
(b) Her hat
(c) Her toy car
(d) Her map

4. How did Lily trick the sticky trolls?
(a) With a banana
(b) With honey
(c) With a book
(d) With a toy

5. What did the big pancake ask Lily?
(a) A riddle
(b) A question
(c) A secret
(d) A joke

6. Where did Lily go with the secret map?
(a) To a mountain
(b) To a beach
(c) To a forest
(d) To a city

7. What was the mountain made of?
(a) Chocolate pancakes
(b) Strawberry pancakes
(c) Blueberry pancakes
(d) Banana pancakes

8. What did Lily do with the pancakes she found?
(a) Ate them all by herself
(b) Threw them away
(c) Shared them with everyone
(d) Sold them at the store

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Lily met some sticky trolls who wanted her map, but she tricked them with honey so she could keep going.
2. A small pancake asked Lily a question, and she answered it incorrectly so she could not continue on her journey.
3. The pancakes in Pancakeland are very special and can bring joy and fun to everyone.
4. She did not take any pancakes home with her and did not share them with anyone.
5. Lily failed to reach the top of the chocolate pancake mountain and was very disappointed to see so few pancakes.
6. A girl named Lily found a worthless map in Pancakeland that showed her how to get to a mountain made of chocolate pancakes.
7. In Pancakeland, pancakes can fly in the sky because they have wings.
8. Every year, they have a big pancake party to remember Lily’s adventure and share pancakes with their friends.
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 the pancakes have wings and fly?
In Pancakeland.

2. What did Lily find in Pancakeland?
She found a secret map.

3. Who wanted Lily’s map?
The sticky trolls wanted her map.

4. How did Lily trick the sticky trolls?
She tricked them with honey.

5. What did Lily see when she got to the top of the mountain?
She saw so many pancakes.

6. Why do they have a big pancake party every year?
They have a big pancake party every year to remember Lily’s adventure and to share with friends.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) faraway
(2) named
(3) made
(4) chocolate
(5) kept
(6) mountain
(7) shared
(8) remember
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. faraway
Answer: (A) A place that is very, very far

2. secret
Answer: (E) Something that is not supposed to be seen or known by others

3. mountain
Answer: (F) A very big hill that touches the clouds

4. sticky
Answer: (J) Something like glue, it makes things stay together

5. tricked
Answer: (B) When you make someone believe something that is not true

6. question
Answer: (I) When someone asks you something and you have to give an answer

7. adventure
Answer: (D) A fun trip where you see and do new things

8. pancakes
Answer: (C) A yummy food that is flat and round, and you can eat it for breakfast

9. shared
Answer: (H) When you let others have some of what you have

10. party
Answer: (G) A happy time with music, dancing, and cake, where you celebrate with friends
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the pancakes in Pancakeland have?
Answer: (c) Wings

2. What did Lily find in Pancakeland?
Answer: (d) A secret map

3. What did the sticky trolls want from Lily?
Answer: (d) Her map

4. How did Lily trick the sticky trolls?
Answer: (b) With honey

5. What did the big pancake ask Lily?
Answer: (b) A question

6. Where did Lily go with the secret map?
Answer: (a) To a mountain

7. What was the mountain made of?
Answer: (a) Chocolate pancakes

8. What did Lily do with the pancakes she found?
Answer: (c) Shared them with everyone
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Lily met some sticky trolls who wanted her map, but she tricked them with honey so she could keep going. (Answer: True)
2. A small pancake asked Lily a question, and she answered it incorrectly so she could not continue on her journey. (Answer: False)
3. The pancakes in Pancakeland are very special and can bring joy and fun to everyone. (Answer: True)
4. She did not take any pancakes home with her and did not share them with anyone. (Answer: False)
5. Lily failed to reach the top of the chocolate pancake mountain and was very disappointed to see so few pancakes. (Answer: False)
6. A girl named Lily found a worthless map in Pancakeland that showed her how to get to a mountain made of chocolate pancakes. (Answer: False)
7. In Pancakeland, pancakes can fly in the sky because they have wings. (Answer: True)
8. Every year, they have a big pancake party to remember Lily’s adventure and share pancakes with their friends. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Three children embark on a thrilling adventure to outsmart a mischievous genie and discover the true meaning of happiness.

The Wishing Well Mystery

Once upon a time, three friends found a special well that could make wishes come true. They solved tricky riddles and met a funny genie who played tricks. But they learned that making others happy is more important than just getting what you wish for.

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.

Stella the unicorn uses her magical rainbow to spread happiness and love to all creatures.

The Rainbow Bridge

Stella the unicorn loves making rainbows and goes on an adventure to win special magic dust.

The Magic Pony

Once upon a time, in a beautiful meadow, there lived a magic pony named Sparkle. Sparkle was a kind and

The Land of Wizards

Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom, there lived a group of wizards. These wizards were very powerful

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.

Three siblings embark on a daring quest to solve the mystery of the Sapphire Sphinx.

The Secret of the Sapphire Sphinx

Three siblings named Mia, Max, and Ben found a special book about a secret. They went on an adventure to find it. They had to answer tricky questions from a big blue sphinx. They worked together and used their knowledge to solve the puzzles. They found out that the real treasure was learning new things. They were happy and shared their adventure with everyone.

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