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 Penguin Parade

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a snowy place, there was a penguin named Percy. He loved to have fun and find new things. One day, he found a secret map when he was playing. The map showed the way to a special party with lots of penguins.

Percy was very excited. He took the map and walked through the snow. He climbed big ice hills and stayed away from seals. After a long walk, he found a tunnel from the map.

Inside the tunnel, Percy met an owl named Oliver. They became friends. They laughed and helped each other. Then they met old penguins who talked about the ice cliffs. Percy and Oliver worked together to get past the cliffs and vultures.

At the top, Percy and Oliver saw the Penguin Party. Penguins were singing, dancing, and playing. Percy and Oliver had lots of fun. They learned that friends can do anything together. They went home happy, knowing they had a great adventure and a new friend.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1penguinA black and white bird that cannot fly and lives where it is very cold
2excitedFeeling very happy and full of energy because something good is going to happen
3mapA picture that shows where things are
4tunnelA big hole in the ground or in a mountain that you can go through
5cliffsVery steep sides of rock, like a big wall made by nature
6vulturesBig birds that sometimes eat things that are not alive anymore
7singingMaking music with your voice
8dancingMoving your body to music
9adventureA fun trip where you do and see new things
10friendSomeone you like to be with and play with

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Percy find when he was playing?
3. Who did Percy meet inside the tunnel?
4. What did Percy and Oliver do to get past the ice cliffs?
5. What were the penguins doing at the Penguin Party?
6. What did Percy and Oliver learn from their adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a snowy place, there was a penguin named Percy. He loved to have fun and find new things. One day, he (1)______ a secret map when he was playing. The map (2)______ the way to a special party with lots of penguins.

Percy was very excited. He took the map and (3)______ed through the snow. He (4)______ big ice hills and stayed away from seals. After a long walk, he found a tunnel from the map.

Inside the tunnel, Percy met an owl named Oliver. They became friends. They (5)______ and (6)______ each other. Then they met old penguins who talked about the ice cliffs. Percy and Oliver worked together to get past the cliffs and vultures.

At the top, Percy and Oliver saw the Penguin Party. Penguins were singing, dancing, and playing. Percy and Oliver had lots of fun. They (7)______ that friends can do anything together. They went home happy, knowing they had a (8)______ adventure and a new friend.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a penguin?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret map?
3. Do you like to climb big ice hills? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s fun to have friends to laugh and help you? Why or why not?
5. What do you think the penguins were doing at the Penguin Party?
6. Do you like to sing, dance, and play? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you went on a great adventure? Why?
8. Do you think it’s important to have friends? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. penguin
2. excited
3. map
4. tunnel
5. cliffs
6. vultures
7. singing
8. dancing
9. adventure
10. friend

Meanings:
(A) A fun trip where you do and see new things
(B) A picture that shows where things are
(C) Very steep sides of rock, like a big wall made by nature
(D) Feeling very happy and full of energy because something good is going to happen
(E) Someone you like to be with and play with
(F) Big birds that sometimes eat things that are not alive anymore
(G) Moving your body to music
(H) A big hole in the ground or in a mountain that you can go through
(I) A black and white bird that cannot fly and lives where it is very cold
(J) Making music with your voice
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the penguin in the story?
(a) Oliver
(b) Percy
(c) Watson
(d) Smith

2. What did Percy find when he was playing?
(a) A shiny rock
(b) A secret map
(c) A big tree
(d) A colorful flower

3. Where did Percy and Oliver meet?
(a) Inside a tunnel
(b) On a hill
(c) Under the sea
(d) In a cave

4. What did Percy and Oliver do together?
(a) Slept and ate
(b) Fought and argued
(c) Laughed and helped each other
(d) Cried and ran away

5. What did the old penguins talk about?
(a) The sandy beach
(b) The sunny sky
(c) The ice cliffs
(d) The deep ocean

6. What did Percy and Oliver see at the top?
(a) The big mountain
(b) The tall tree
(c) The small river
(d) The Penguin Party

7. What were the penguins doing at the party?
(a) Singing, dancing, and playing
(b) Sleeping, eating, and swimming
(c) Fighting, crying, and running
(d) Talking, reading, and drawing

8. What did Percy and Oliver learn?
(a) Friends should stay apart
(b) Friends should never talk to each other
(c) Friends should always be alone
(d) Friends can do anything together

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. On his way to the party, Percy had to climb big hills made of ice and be careful of seals.
2. One day, Percy found a secret map that showed him where a boring gathering with a few penguins was happening.
3. Percy was very disappointed and decided to ignore the map and avoid the party.
4. Finally, Percy and Oliver reached the top of the cliffs and saw the Penguin Party, where they had a lot of misery sitting quietly, not participating, and avoiding the other penguins.
5. They met some old penguins who told them about the ice cliffs they had to pass.
6. Inside a tunnel from the map, Percy met a new friend named Oliver, who was an owl.
7. Percy and Oliver hindered each other and frowned a lot as they continued their journey.
8. Percy the penguin loved to play and explore in the snow.
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?
The main character in the story is Percy.

2. What did Percy find when he was playing?
Percy found a secret map when he was playing.

3. Who did Percy meet inside the tunnel?
Percy met an owl named Oliver inside the tunnel.

4. What did Percy and Oliver do to get past the ice cliffs?
Percy and Oliver worked together to get past the ice cliffs.

5. What were the penguins doing at the Penguin Party?
The penguins were singing, dancing, and playing at the Penguin Party.

6. What did Percy and Oliver learn from their adventure?
Percy and Oliver learned that friends can do anything together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) found
(2) showed
(3) walk
(4) climbed
(5) laughed
(6) helped
(7) learned
(8) great
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. penguin
Answer: (I) A black and white bird that cannot fly and lives where it is very cold

2. excited
Answer: (D) Feeling very happy and full of energy because something good is going to happen

3. map
Answer: (B) A picture that shows where things are

4. tunnel
Answer: (H) A big hole in the ground or in a mountain that you can go through

5. cliffs
Answer: (C) Very steep sides of rock, like a big wall made by nature

6. vultures
Answer: (F) Big birds that sometimes eat things that are not alive anymore

7. singing
Answer: (J) Making music with your voice

8. dancing
Answer: (G) Moving your body to music

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

10. friend
Answer: (E) Someone you like to be with and play with
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the penguin in the story?
Answer: (b) Percy

2. What did Percy find when he was playing?
Answer: (b) A secret map

3. Where did Percy and Oliver meet?
Answer: (a) Inside a tunnel

4. What did Percy and Oliver do together?
Answer: (c) Laughed and helped each other

5. What did the old penguins talk about?
Answer: (c) The ice cliffs

6. What did Percy and Oliver see at the top?
Answer: (d) The Penguin Party

7. What were the penguins doing at the party?
Answer: (a) Singing, dancing, and playing

8. What did Percy and Oliver learn?
Answer: (d) Friends can do anything together
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. On his way to the party, Percy had to climb big hills made of ice and be careful of seals. (Answer: True)
2. One day, Percy found a secret map that showed him where a boring gathering with a few penguins was happening. (Answer: False)
3. Percy was very disappointed and decided to ignore the map and avoid the party. (Answer: False)
4. Finally, Percy and Oliver reached the top of the cliffs and saw the Penguin Party, where they had a lot of misery sitting quietly, not participating, and avoiding the other penguins. (Answer: False)
5. They met some old penguins who told them about the ice cliffs they had to pass. (Answer: True)
6. Inside a tunnel from the map, Percy met a new friend named Oliver, who was an owl. (Answer: True)
7. Percy and Oliver hindered each other and frowned a lot as they continued their journey. (Answer: False)
8. Percy the penguin loved to play and explore in the snow. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

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.

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.

Mia and Ben conquer the Maze of Mirrors, learning the value of perseverance and laughter.

The Maze of Mirrors

Mia and Ben went into a mirror maze and got all mixed up, but they kept going because they were brave.

Polly's determination pays off when she finds her lost puppy safe and sound.

Polly’s New Puppy

Polly really wanted a puppy, so she worked hard and her mom and dad surprised her with one named Buttercup.

A jolly jellyfish named Finley gets lost in the deep sea but finds new friends along the way.

The Jolly Jellyfish

Finley the jellyfish got lost in the sea, but with the help of new friends, he found his way home.

The Rainbow Ribbons work together to fix a chaotic rainbow and teach us about unity.

Rainbow Ribbons in the Sky

Once upon a time, there were colorful Ribbons in the sky who made pretty rainbows. One day, a naughty cloud messed up their rainbow, but they worked together to fix it and make it even better!

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