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!

Rainbow Ribbons in the Sky

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical place above the clouds, there were small colorful beings called the Rainbow Ribbons. Each one had its own color and magic power. Rosy Ribbon, the pink one, could make flowers grow. Sunny Ribbon, the yellow one, could make the sun shine bright. Blueberry Ribbon, the blue one, could change the shapes of clouds. And Emerald Ribbon, the green one, could help plants grow big. Together, they made rainbows for people to see.

One day, when they were about to make a new rainbow, a naughty cloud called Stormy came by. He blew a strong wind and mixed up all their colors, ruining the rainbow. The Rainbow Ribbons were upset and didn’t know what to do.

They decided to work as a team to fix the rainbow. Rosy Ribbon helped calm Stormy down. Sunny Ribbon made Stormy laugh. Blueberry Ribbon and Emerald Ribbon worked together to put the colors back in the right order.

With everyone’s help, they made a new rainbow that was even prettier than before. All the colors looked really nice together, and it made the people down below look up and feel happy. The Rainbow Ribbons were proud and learned that by helping each other they could fix any problem.

The story of the Rainbow Ribbons is about helping and working with others. It shows us that we can get through tough times if we use our different skills and stick together. Now, when we see a rainbow, we think of the Rainbow Ribbons and how they joined hands to turn something messy into something wonderful.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that is like a fairy tale or has special powers
2naughtyBehaving badly or causing trouble
3upsetFeeling sad because something didn’t go the way you wanted
4calmTo make someone or something less angry or worried
5proudFeeling very pleased with yourself or something you did
6toughHard or difficult
7skillsThe things you’re good at doing
8joinedCame together or connected
9ribbonsLong, narrow strips of fabric or material
10shapesThe forms or outlines of things
11prettierMore beautiful or attractive
12ruiningDestroying or spoiling something

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What were the small colorful beings in the story called?
2. What was Rosy Ribbon’s magic power?
3. Who blew a strong wind and mixed up all the colors of the rainbow?
4. How did the Rainbow Ribbons fix the rainbow?
5. What did the people down below feel when they saw the new rainbow?
6. What does the story teach us about working with others?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical place above the clouds, there were small colorful beings called the Rainbow Ribbons. Each one had its own color and magic power. Rosy Ribbon, the pink one, could (1)______ flowers grow. Sunny Ribbon, the (2)______ one, could make the sun shine bright. (3)______ Ribbon, the blue one, could change the shapes of clouds. And Emerald Ribbon, the green one, could help plants grow big. Together, they made rainbows for people to see.

One day, when they were about to make a new rainbow, a (4)______ cloud called Stormy came by. He blew a (5)______ wind and mixed up all their colors, ruining the rainbow. The Rainbow Ribbons were upset and didn’t know what to do.

They (6)______ to work as a team to fix the rainbow. Rosy Ribbon helped calm Stormy down. (7)______ Ribbon made Stormy laugh. Blueberry Ribbon and Emerald Ribbon worked together to put the colors back in the right order.

With everyone’s help, they made a new rainbow that was even prettier than before. All the colors (8)______ed really nice together, and it made the people down below look up and feel happy. The Rainbow Ribbons were (9)______ and learned that by helping each other they could fix any (10)______.

The story of the Rainbow Ribbons is about helping and working with others. It (11)______ us that we can get through tough times if we use our different (12)______ and stick together. Now, when we see a rainbow, we think of the Rainbow Ribbons and how they joined hands to turn something messy into something wonderful.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a rainbow?
2. How would you feel if you had a special power like the Rainbow Ribbons?
3. Do you like working with others to solve problems? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to help others when they’re upset? Why or why not?
5. How would you feel if someone came and ruined something you were working on?
6. What is your favorite color? Why do you like it?
7. Have you ever seen a rainbow? How did it make you feel?
8. Do you think it’s important to work together as a team? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. naughty
3. upset
4. calm
5. proud
6. tough
7. skills
8. joined
9. ribbons
10. shapes
11. prettier
12. ruining

Meanings:
(A) Long, narrow strips of fabric or material
(B) Feeling sad because something didn’t go the way you wanted
(C) Hard or difficult
(D) Something that is like a fairy tale or has special powers
(E) Came together or connected
(F) Behaving badly or causing trouble
(G) More beautiful or attractive
(H) Feeling very pleased with yourself or something you did
(I) The things you’re good at doing
(J) The forms or outlines of things
(K) Destroying or spoiling something
(L) To make someone or something less angry or worried
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the pink Rainbow Ribbon?
(a) Sunny Ribbon
(b) Rosy Ribbon
(c) Blueberry Ribbon
(d) Emerald Ribbon

2. What is the magic power of the yellow Rainbow Ribbon?
(a) Making flowers grow
(b) Changing the shapes of clouds
(c) Making the sun shine bright
(d) Helping plants grow big

3. Who mixed up the colors of the rainbow?
(a) Stormy
(b) Rosy Ribbon
(c) Sunny Ribbon
(d) Blueberry Ribbon

4. How did Rosy Ribbon help fix the rainbow?
(a) By making Stormy laugh
(b) By putting the colors back in order
(c) By making the sun shine bright
(d) By calming down Stormy

5. What did the Rainbow Ribbons learn from this experience?
(a) They should never work together
(b) They should give up when things get tough
(c) By helping each other they can fix any problem
(d) They should always work alone

6. What did the people down below feel when they saw the new rainbow?
(a) Happy
(b) Sad
(c) Angry
(d) Scared

7. What did the Rainbow Ribbons do when Stormy mixed up the colors?
(a) They gave up and went home
(b) They worked together to fix the rainbow
(c) They blamed each other for the problem
(d) They ran away and hid

8. What do we think of when we see a rainbow?
(a) Stormy and how he mixed up the colors
(b) The different colors of the rainbow
(c) Nothing in particular
(d) The Rainbow Ribbons and how they worked together

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sunny Ribbon’s magic power is making the sun shine bright.
2. Each Rainbow Ribbon has its own color but not a magic power.
3. Stormy is a nice cloud who mixed up the colors of the rainbow.
4. Rosy Ribbon’s magic power is making trees grow.
5. Emerald Ribbon’s magic power is helping plants grow small.
6. Blueberry Ribbon’s magic power is changing the shapes of clouds.
7. The Rainbow Ribbons are small colorful beings who live above the clouds.
8. The Rainbow Ribbons worked together to fix the rainbow and made it even prettier than before.
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 were the small colorful beings in the story called?
The small colorful beings in the story were called the Rainbow Ribbons.

2. What was Rosy Ribbon’s magic power?
Rosy Ribbon’s magic power was being able to make flowers grow.

3. Who blew a strong wind and mixed up all the colors of the rainbow?
Stormy, the naughty cloud, blew a strong wind and mixed up all the colors of the rainbow.

4. How did the Rainbow Ribbons fix the rainbow?
The Rainbow Ribbons fixed the rainbow by working together. Rosy Ribbon calmed Stormy down, Sunny Ribbon made Stormy laugh, and Blueberry Ribbon and Emerald Ribbon put the colors back in the right order.

5. What did the people down below feel when they saw the new rainbow?
The people down below felt happy when they saw the new rainbow.

6. What does the story teach us about working with others?
The story teaches us that by working with others and using our different skills, we can overcome tough times and fix any problem.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) make
(2) yellow
(3) Blueberry
(4) naughty
(5) strong
(6) decided
(7) Sunny
(8) look
(9) proud
(10) problem
(11) shows
(12) skills
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (D) Something that is like a fairy tale or has special powers

2. naughty
Answer: (F) Behaving badly or causing trouble

3. upset
Answer: (B) Feeling sad because something didn’t go the way you wanted

4. calm
Answer: (L) To make someone or something less angry or worried

5. proud
Answer: (H) Feeling very pleased with yourself or something you did

6. tough
Answer: (C) Hard or difficult

7. skills
Answer: (I) The things you’re good at doing

8. joined
Answer: (E) Came together or connected

9. ribbons
Answer: (A) Long, narrow strips of fabric or material

10. shapes
Answer: (J) The forms or outlines of things

11. prettier
Answer: (G) More beautiful or attractive

12. ruining
Answer: (K) Destroying or spoiling something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the pink Rainbow Ribbon?
Answer: (b) Rosy Ribbon

2. What is the magic power of the yellow Rainbow Ribbon?
Answer: (c) Making the sun shine bright

3. Who mixed up the colors of the rainbow?
Answer: (a) Stormy

4. How did Rosy Ribbon help fix the rainbow?
Answer: (d) By calming down Stormy

5. What did the Rainbow Ribbons learn from this experience?
Answer: (c) By helping each other they can fix any problem

6. What did the people down below feel when they saw the new rainbow?
Answer: (a) Happy

7. What did the Rainbow Ribbons do when Stormy mixed up the colors?
Answer: (b) They worked together to fix the rainbow

8. What do we think of when we see a rainbow?
Answer: (d) The Rainbow Ribbons and how they worked together
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sunny Ribbon’s magic power is making the sun shine bright. (Answer: True)
2. Each Rainbow Ribbon has its own color but not a magic power. (Answer: False)
3. Stormy is a nice cloud who mixed up the colors of the rainbow. (Answer: False)
4. Rosy Ribbon’s magic power is making trees grow. (Answer: False)
5. Emerald Ribbon’s magic power is helping plants grow small. (Answer: False)
6. Blueberry Ribbon’s magic power is changing the shapes of clouds. (Answer: True)
7. The Rainbow Ribbons are small colorful beings who live above the clouds. (Answer: True)
8. The Rainbow Ribbons worked together to fix the rainbow and made it even prettier than before. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Jack and Emma's lives are forever changed when they discover a tiny dinosaur in an enormous egg.

The Dinosaur Egg

Jack and Emma find a dinosaur egg, but it hatches into a tiny dinosaur named Biscuit.

A young boy named Milo solves the mystery of the missing moon with the help of woodland creatures.

The Mystery of the Missing Moon

One night, the moon disappeared in Sunfield, and Milo wanted to find out where it went. He discovered that the animals in Dark Forest had hidden it while playing a game, so he and his new friend Oliver the owl gathered everyone to search for it. Finally, they found the moon and put it back in the sky, teaching everyone the power of teamwork and friendship.

In the magical land of Sprinkleville, a mischievous gnome named Minty Mischief plots to steal all the cupcakes from the famous cupcake castle, but a young girl named Ella is determined to stop him and save the town from chaos.

The Cupcake Castle Caper

In Sprinkleville, there was a castle made of cupcakes. A sneaky gnome named Minty Mischief stole the cupcakes and made yucky ones instead. Ella caught him and they made yummy cupcakes together, teaching everyone a lesson.

Freddie the squirrel learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of happiness and unity.

The Peacock Parade

Freddie the squirrel goes on an adventure to find a secret feather, but learns that happiness is about being together, not finding things.

A young boy's discovery of a mysterious fossil leads to a village's newfound fame and unity.

The Fantastic Fossil

Max, a curious boy, found an ancient fossil and made his village famous, but he chose to keep it there.

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