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 Superhero Squirrel

A mischievous squirrel with the power to fly becomes the forest's superhero and saves the day.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a big forest, a little squirrel named Sammy could fly. He wore a superhero cape made of leaves and nuts. When friends were in trouble, Sammy would fly to help them.

One day, Sammy saw a bunny named Billy stuck in a tree. Sammy flew down and climbed up to save Billy. Then they went on adventures to help their friends in the forest.

A fox named Felix wanted to take all the acorns. He tried to trick Sammy, but Sammy was smart. Sammy made a plan to stop the fox with help from his friends.

At night, they put a net with nuts and leaves. When Felix came to take the acorns, he got caught in the net! Sammy’s friends were happy, and Felix said sorry. Sammy became the Forest Guardian because he showed that friends are strong together.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1superheroA person in stories who can do amazing things to help others
2capeA piece of cloth that you wear on your back like a hero
3adventuresFun trips where you discover new things
4squirrelA small animal with a big fluffy tail that climbs trees
5forestA place with lots of trees, plants, and animals
6acornsLittle brown things that fall from oak trees and can be eaten
7trickWhen someone tries to make you believe something that’s not true
8planThinking about what you will do before you do it
9netA thing made of string or rope that can catch things
10guardianSomeone who looks after and protects others

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Sammy wear to fly?
2. Who did Sammy save from the tree?
3. What did Felix want to take?
4. How did Sammy stop Felix?
5. What did Sammy’s friends do when Felix got caught?
6. What did Sammy become because of his actions?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a big forest, a little squirrel named (1)______ could fly. He wore a (2)______ cape made of leaves and nuts. When friends were in trouble, Sammy would fly to help them.

One day, Sammy saw a bunny named Billy (3)______ in a tree. Sammy flew down and climbed up to save Billy. Then they (4)______ on adventures to help their friends in the forest.

A fox named Felix wanted to take all the acorns. He tried to trick Sammy, but Sammy was smart. Sammy (5)______ a plan to (6)______ the fox with help from his friends.

At night, they put a net with nuts and leaves. When Felix came to take the acorns, he got caught in the net! Sammy’s friends were happy, and Felix said (7)______. Sammy became the (8)______ Guardian because he showed that friends are strong together.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a superhero?
2. How would you feel if you could fly like Sammy?
3. Do you like helping your friends? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Felix learned from getting caught in the net?
5. Have you ever seen a squirrel in a tree? What did it look like?
6. Do you think it’s important to work together with friends? Why or why not?
7. What kind of adventures do you like to go on with your friends?
8. Why do you think Sammy became the Forest Guardian?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. superhero
2. cape
3. adventures
4. squirrel
5. forest
6. acorns
7. trick
8. plan
9. net
10. guardian

Meanings:
(A) Fun trips where you discover new things
(B) Someone who looks after and protects others
(C) A place with lots of trees, plants, and animals
(D) When someone tries to make you believe something that’s not true
(E) A thing made of string or rope that can catch things
(F) Thinking about what you will do before you do it
(G) A small animal with a big fluffy tail that climbs trees
(H) A person in stories who can do amazing things to help others
(I) A piece of cloth that you wear on your back like a hero
(J) Little brown things that fall from oak trees and can be eaten
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the little squirrel?
(a) Billy
(b) Sammy
(c) Felix
(d) Watson

2. What did Sammy wear as a superhero cape?
(a) Feathers and sticks
(b) Flowers and rocks
(c) Leaves and nuts
(d) Shells and twigs

3. Who did Sammy save from a tree?
(a) Felix
(b) Watson
(c) Sammy
(d) Billy

4. What did Sammy and Billy do after Sammy saved him?
(a) Played hide and seek
(b) Went on adventures
(c) Climbed more trees
(d) Ate lots of acorns

5. What did the fox named Felix want to take?
(a) Acorns
(b) Leaves
(c) Nuts
(d) Berries

6. How did Sammy stop Felix?
(a) With a stick
(b) With a rock
(c) With a flower
(d) With a net

7. What did Sammy become after stopping Felix?
(a) The Forest Guardian
(b) The Tree Climber
(c) The Acorn Collector
(d) The Leaf Jumper

8. What did Sammy show by stopping Felix with help from his friends?
(a) Friends are not important
(b) Friends are not helpful
(c) Friends are strong together
(d) Friends are not fun

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. One day, Sammy abandoned a bunny named Billy who was stuck in a tree.
2. Sammy and Billy went on boring journeys together to hinder their friends in the forest.
3. Sammy wore a superhero cape made of leaves and nuts.
4. Sammy became the Forest Guardian because he showed that friends are strong together.
5. There was a fox named Felix who wanted to take all the acorns.
6. Sammy the squirrel couldn’t fly in the big forest.
7. Sammy was dumb and couldn’t make a plan to stop the fox without help from his friends.
8. When his friends were in trouble, Sammy would fly to help them.
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 did Sammy wear to fly?
Sammy wore a superhero cape made of leaves and nuts.

2. Who did Sammy save from the tree?
Sammy saved a bunny named Billy from the tree.

3. What did Felix want to take?
Felix wanted to take all the acorns.

4. How did Sammy stop Felix?
Sammy stopped Felix by setting a trap with a net made of nuts and leaves.

5. What did Sammy’s friends do when Felix got caught?
Sammy’s friends were happy when Felix got caught in the net.

6. What did Sammy become because of his actions?
Sammy became the Forest Guardian because he showed that friends are strong together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Sammy
(2) superhero
(3) stuck
(4) went
(5) made
(6) stop
(7) sorry
(8) Forest
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. superhero
Answer: (H) A person in stories who can do amazing things to help others

2. cape
Answer: (I) A piece of cloth that you wear on your back like a hero

3. adventures
Answer: (A) Fun trips where you discover new things

4. squirrel
Answer: (G) A small animal with a big fluffy tail that climbs trees

5. forest
Answer: (C) A place with lots of trees, plants, and animals

6. acorns
Answer: (J) Little brown things that fall from oak trees and can be eaten

7. trick
Answer: (D) When someone tries to make you believe something that’s not true

8. plan
Answer: (F) Thinking about what you will do before you do it

9. net
Answer: (E) A thing made of string or rope that can catch things

10. guardian
Answer: (B) Someone who looks after and protects others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the little squirrel?
Answer: (b) Sammy

2. What did Sammy wear as a superhero cape?
Answer: (c) Leaves and nuts

3. Who did Sammy save from a tree?
Answer: (d) Billy

4. What did Sammy and Billy do after Sammy saved him?
Answer: (b) Went on adventures

5. What did the fox named Felix want to take?
Answer: (a) Acorns

6. How did Sammy stop Felix?
Answer: (d) With a net

7. What did Sammy become after stopping Felix?
Answer: (a) The Forest Guardian

8. What did Sammy show by stopping Felix with help from his friends?
Answer: (c) Friends are strong together
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. One day, Sammy abandoned a bunny named Billy who was stuck in a tree. (Answer: False)
2. Sammy and Billy went on boring journeys together to hinder their friends in the forest. (Answer: False)
3. Sammy wore a superhero cape made of leaves and nuts. (Answer: True)
4. Sammy became the Forest Guardian because he showed that friends are strong together. (Answer: True)
5. There was a fox named Felix who wanted to take all the acorns. (Answer: True)
6. Sammy the squirrel couldn’t fly in the big forest. (Answer: False)
7. Sammy was dumb and couldn’t make a plan to stop the fox without help from his friends. (Answer: False)
8. When his friends were in trouble, Sammy would fly to help them. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A determined cat named Fluffy builds a flying contraption and learns the importance of seeking guidance.

Fluffy’s Fantastic Flight

Fluffy the cat wanted to fly, so he made a flying thing, but got lost in the sky. Thankfully, friendly birds helped him come back down safely.

The Golden Egg Hunt in Fantasia turns into a heartwarming display of unity and selflessness.

The Golden Egg Hunt

Once upon a time, there was a magical egg hunt where people found special eggs and made wishes.

Four friends embark on a magical adventure, only to discover that the real treasure is their friendship.

The Four Leaf Clover Quest

Four friends named Lily, Max, Oliver, and Sophie went on an adventure to find a magic clover, but they learned that friendship is the best treasure of all.

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.

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