Once there was a pretty swan named Saffron who had orange feathers. When he flew, he sparkled in the sky. One day, a boy named Milo was running after his kite. Saffron used his beak to grab the kite and gave it back to Milo. Milo was very happy and they became friends.

One bad man, Malachi, put Saffron in a tall tower because he wanted the swan’s shiny feathers. Milo was brave and went to save his friend Saffron. He passed talking animals and hard puzzles, but he kept going because he wanted to help his friend.

Milo found the tower, but there was a big storm with loud thunder. Lightning hit the tower and made Saffron even stronger. Saffron broke the tower’s wall and got out. Milo and Saffron worked together to stop the bad man, Malachi.

After that, Saffron and Milo stayed friends. Saffron used his magic to help people feel better and happy. When Saffron flew by, everyone smiled and felt love. The stories of Milo and Saffron showed that being kind and having friends is the best kind of magic.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What color were Saffron’s feathers?
2. How did Saffron help Milo?
3. Who put Saffron in the tall tower?
4. Why did Milo want to save Saffron?
5. What happened to Saffron when lightning hit the tower?
6. What did Saffron do to help people feel better and happy?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there was a pretty swan named (1)______ who had orange feathers. When he flew, he sparkled in the sky. One day, a boy named Milo was (2)______ after his kite. Saffron used his beak to grab the kite and gave it back to Milo. Milo was very happy and they became (3)______s.

One bad man, Malachi, put Saffron in a tall tower because he wanted the swan’s shiny feathers. Milo was brave and (4)______ to save his friend Saffron. He passed talking animals and hard puzzles, but he kept going because he wanted to help his friend.

Milo found the tower, but there was a big storm with loud (5)______. Lightning hit the tower and made Saffron even stronger. Saffron (6)______ the tower’s wall and got out. Milo and Saffron worked together to stop the bad man, Malachi.

After that, Saffron and Milo stayed friends. Saffron used his (7)______ to help (8)______ feel better and happy. When Saffron flew by, everyone smiled and felt love. The stories of Milo and Saffron showed that being kind and having friends is the best kind of magic.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a swan?
2. How would you feel if you had orange feathers like Saffron?
3. Do you like flying kites? Why or why not?
4. How do you think Milo felt when Saffron saved his kite?
5. What do you think a tall tower looks like?
6. Do you think it was brave of Milo to go save Saffron? Why or why not?
7. How do you feel when there is a big storm with loud thunder?
8. Do you think it’s important to be kind and have friends? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. swan
2. sparkled
3. kite
4. tower
5. puzzles
6. storm
7. thunder
8. lightning
9. magic
10. kind

Meanings:
(A) A toy that flies in the sky when it’s windy, with a long string
(B) The loud noise that comes from the sky during a storm
(C) Shined very brightly with little lights
(D) Games that make you think hard to solve them
(E) A lot of rain and wind happening together
(F) Special power that can do amazing things
(G) A big white bird that swims on water
(H) Being nice to others
(I) A very tall building, like a castle
(J) Bright flashes of light in the sky during a storm
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the swan in the story?
(a) Saffron
(b) Ruby
(c) Emerald
(d) Topaz

2. What color were Saffron’s feathers?
(a) Blue
(b) Green
(c) Red
(d) Orange

3. Who did Saffron help by grabbing the kite?
(a) Malachi
(b) Milo
(c) Watson
(d) Robert

4. Why did Malachi put Saffron in the tower?
(a) He wanted to be friends with Saffron
(b) He wanted to play a game with Saffron
(c) He wanted to give Saffron a present
(d) He wanted the swan’s shiny feathers

5. Who went to save Saffron from the tower?
(a) Milo
(b) Watson
(c) Malachi
(d) Robert

6. What made Saffron even stronger?
(a) Rain
(b) Sunlight
(c) Lightning
(d) Wind

7. What did Saffron and Milo do together?
(a) Fly in the sky
(b) Play with other animals
(c) Stop the bad man, Malachi
(d) Build a tower

8. What did Saffron use his magic for?
(a) Fly faster in the sky
(b) Help people feel better and happy
(c) Make loud thunder sounds
(d) Break the tower’s wall

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A bad man named Malachi put Saffron in a tall tower because he wanted his shiny feathers.
2. There was a pretty swan named Saffron who had orange feathers.
3. Saffron disappeared in the sky when he flew.
4. Saffron broke the tower’s wall and got out with the help of a lightning storm.
5. Saffron used his talons to grab the kite and kept it away from Milo.
6. Milo was cowardly and avoided saving his friend Saffron.
7. A girl named Milo was walking towards her house.
8. Saffron and Milo became friends and used their magic to make people feel better and happy.
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. What color were Saffron’s feathers?
Saffron’s feathers were orange.

2. How did Saffron help Milo?
Saffron helped Milo by grabbing his kite with his beak and giving it back to him.

3. Who put Saffron in the tall tower?
A bad man named Malachi put Saffron in the tall tower.

4. Why did Milo want to save Saffron?
Milo wanted to save Saffron because they were friends and he wanted to help him.

5. What happened to Saffron when lightning hit the tower?
When lightning hit the tower, Saffron became stronger and broke the tower’s wall to get out.

6. What did Saffron do to help people feel better and happy?
Saffron used his magic to help people feel better and happy. When he flew by, everyone smiled and felt love.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Saffron
(2) running
(3) friend
(4) went
(5) thunder
(6) broke
(7) magic
(8) people
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. swan
Answer: (G) A big white bird that swims on water

2. sparkled
Answer: (C) Shined very brightly with little lights

3. kite
Answer: (A) A toy that flies in the sky when it’s windy, with a long string

4. tower
Answer: (I) A very tall building, like a castle

5. puzzles
Answer: (D) Games that make you think hard to solve them

6. storm
Answer: (E) A lot of rain and wind happening together

7. thunder
Answer: (B) The loud noise that comes from the sky during a storm

8. lightning
Answer: (J) Bright flashes of light in the sky during a storm

9. magic
Answer: (F) Special power that can do amazing things

10. kind
Answer: (H) Being nice to others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the swan in the story?
Answer: (a) Saffron

2. What color were Saffron’s feathers?
Answer: (d) Orange

3. Who did Saffron help by grabbing the kite?
Answer: (b) Milo

4. Why did Malachi put Saffron in the tower?
Answer: (d) He wanted the swan’s shiny feathers

5. Who went to save Saffron from the tower?
Answer: (a) Milo

6. What made Saffron even stronger?
Answer: (c) Lightning

7. What did Saffron and Milo do together?
Answer: (c) Stop the bad man, Malachi

8. What did Saffron use his magic for?
Answer: (b) Help people feel better and happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A bad man named Malachi put Saffron in a tall tower because he wanted his shiny feathers. (Answer: True)
2. There was a pretty swan named Saffron who had orange feathers. (Answer: True)
3. Saffron disappeared in the sky when he flew. (Answer: False)
4. Saffron broke the tower’s wall and got out with the help of a lightning storm. (Answer: True)
5. Saffron used his talons to grab the kite and kept it away from Milo. (Answer: False)
6. Milo was cowardly and avoided saving his friend Saffron. (Answer: False)
7. A girl named Milo was walking towards her house. (Answer: False)
8. Saffron and Milo became friends and used their magic to make people feel better and happy. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧