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 Lonely Turtle

A lonely turtle named Timothy embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a hidden cove.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once, there was a turtle named Timothy who lived in the big blue sea. He felt sad because he had no friends. Other turtles played together, but they never asked Timothy to join. Timothy felt alone.

One sunny day, Timothy found a shiny, magical compass in the water. It pointed where his heart wanted to go. Timothy was excited to follow it.

Timothy went on a big adventure, swimming past jellyfish and playing with seahorses. Even when it was tough, he didn’t give up. Timothy hoped the compass would lead him to friends.

At last, Timothy found a hidden place with many other turtles. They were happy and welcomed Timothy to play. Timothy felt happy because he finally had friends. The story shows if we are brave and keep trying, we can find friends who make us happy.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventureGoing on a big trip to see new things
2turtleA slow-moving animal with a hard shell on its back
3seaA large area of salty water
4compassA tool that shows which way is north
5waterWhat you drink and sometimes swim in
6jellyfishSquishy sea animals that can sting
7excitedFeeling very happy and full of energy
8hiddenSomething that is not easy to see or find
9friendsPeople who play with you and make you happy
10braveBeing strong and not afraid

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. Why did Timothy feel sad at the beginning of the story?
3. What did Timothy find in the water?
4. What did Timothy do when he found the compass?
5. What did Timothy hope the compass would help him find?
6. How did Timothy feel when he found the hidden place with other turtles?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once, there was a turtle named Timothy who lived in the big blue sea. He (1)______ sad because he had no friends. Other (2)______ played together, but they never asked Timothy to join. Timothy felt alone.

One sunny day, (3)______ found a shiny, magical compass in the water. It pointed where his heart wanted to go. Timothy was excited to follow it.

Timothy went on a big (4)______, swimming past jellyfish and playing with seahorses. Even when it was tough, he didn’t give up. Timothy hoped the compass would lead him to friends.

At last, Timothy (5)______ a hidden (6)______ with many other turtles. They were happy and welcomed Timothy to play. Timothy felt happy because he finally had friends. The story shows if we are (7)______ and keep trying, we can (8)______ friends who make us happy.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a turtle?
2. How would you feel if you had no friends?
3. Do you like swimming in the sea?
4. Do you think it is important to be brave?
5. Why do you think Timothy felt happy when he found friends?
6. How would you feel if you found a magical compass?
7. What other animals did Timothy meet on his adventure?
8. Why do you think the other turtles didn’t ask Timothy to play before?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventure
2. turtle
3. sea
4. compass
5. water
6. jellyfish
7. excited
8. hidden
9. friends
10. brave

Meanings:
(A) A slow-moving animal with a hard shell on its back
(B) People who play with you and make you happy
(C) A large area of salty water
(D) Going on a big trip to see new things
(E) What you drink and sometimes swim in
(F) Being strong and not afraid
(G) Something that is not easy to see or find
(H) Squishy sea animals that can sting
(I) A tool that shows which way is north
(J) Feeling very happy and full of energy
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the turtle in the story?
(a) Thomas
(b) Timothy
(c) Tyler
(d) Tony

2. Where did Timothy find the magical compass?
(a) In the sky
(b) In the forest
(c) In the water
(d) In a cave

3. What did the compass do?
(a) It made Timothy invisible
(b) It pointed where Timothy’s heart wanted to go
(c) It gave Timothy superpowers
(d) It made Timothy fly

4. What did Timothy hope the compass would lead him to?
(a) Friends
(b) Treasure
(c) Food
(d) Toys

5. What did Timothy find when he followed the compass?
(a) A hidden place with many other turtles
(b) A big mountain
(c) A scary monster
(d) A beautiful flower

6. How did the other turtles feel when Timothy joined them?
(a) Sad
(b) Angry
(c) Scared
(d) Happy

7. What did Timothy feel when he finally had friends?
(a) Sad
(b) Angry
(c) Scared
(d) Happy

8. What does the story teach us?
(a) Turtles can fly
(b) Compasses can talk
(c) If we are brave and keep trying, we can find friends who make us happy
(d) Friends are not important

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The compass pointed away from where Timothy wanted to go.
2. One day, Timothy found a shiny, magical compass in the water.
3. There was a turtle named Timothy who lived in the small green sea.
4. Timothy never found a hidden place with many other turtles.
5. Even when things were hard, Timothy didn’t give up.
6. Timothy went on a big adventure and saw jellyfish and seahorses.
7. Timothy felt happy because he didn’t have any friends.
8. Timothy was happy because he finally had 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. Who is the main character in the story?
Timothy is the main character in the story.

2. Why did Timothy feel sad at the beginning of the story?
Timothy felt sad because he had no friends.

3. What did Timothy find in the water?
Timothy found a shiny, magical compass in the water.

4. What did Timothy do when he found the compass?
Timothy followed the compass and went on a big adventure.

5. What did Timothy hope the compass would help him find?
Timothy hoped the compass would help him find friends.

6. How did Timothy feel when he found the hidden place with other turtles?
Timothy felt happy when he found the hidden place with other turtles.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) felt
(2) turtles
(3) Timothy
(4) adventure
(5) found
(6) place
(7) brave
(8) find
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventure
Answer: (D) Going on a big trip to see new things

2. turtle
Answer: (A) A slow-moving animal with a hard shell on its back

3. sea
Answer: (C) A large area of salty water

4. compass
Answer: (I) A tool that shows which way is north

5. water
Answer: (E) What you drink and sometimes swim in

6. jellyfish
Answer: (H) Squishy sea animals that can sting

7. excited
Answer: (J) Feeling very happy and full of energy

8. hidden
Answer: (G) Something that is not easy to see or find

9. friends
Answer: (B) People who play with you and make you happy

10. brave
Answer: (F) Being strong and not afraid
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the turtle in the story?
Answer: (b) Timothy

2. Where did Timothy find the magical compass?
Answer: (c) In the water

3. What did the compass do?
Answer: (b) It pointed where Timothy’s heart wanted to go

4. What did Timothy hope the compass would lead him to?
Answer: (a) Friends

5. What did Timothy find when he followed the compass?
Answer: (a) A hidden place with many other turtles

6. How did the other turtles feel when Timothy joined them?
Answer: (d) Happy

7. What did Timothy feel when he finally had friends?
Answer: (d) Happy

8. What does the story teach us?
Answer: (c) If we are brave and keep trying, we can find friends who make us happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The compass pointed away from where Timothy wanted to go. (Answer: False)
2. One day, Timothy found a shiny, magical compass in the water. (Answer: True)
3. There was a turtle named Timothy who lived in the small green sea. (Answer: False)
4. Timothy never found a hidden place with many other turtles. (Answer: False)
5. Even when things were hard, Timothy didn’t give up. (Answer: True)
6. Timothy went on a big adventure and saw jellyfish and seahorses. (Answer: True)
7. Timothy felt happy because he didn’t have any friends. (Answer: False)
8. Timothy was happy because he finally had friends. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A mischievous penguin named Percy and a wise snow owl named Oliver form an unbreakable friendship on their journey to the legendary "Penguin Parade."

The Penguin Parade

Percy the penguin found a secret map and went on an adventure with his new friend Oliver.

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