Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Adventures of Freddie Firefly

Freddie Firefly embarks on a daring adventure, encountering a spider, a lost caterpillar, and wise owls.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical forest, there was a friendly firefly named Freddie. Freddie loved adventure and lighting up the forest when it got dark.

One night, Freddie flew to the top of the tallest tree but got caught in a spider’s web. Luckily, Freddie was smart and escaped without being eaten.

On his way up, Freddie found a sad caterpillar who was lost. He used his light to show the caterpillar the way home and they became friends.

When Freddie got to the top, he met wise owls who taught him about trying new things and helping others. They told him it’s okay to mess up if you learn from it.

Freddie went back to the spider and made friends with it, too. He returned to the forest feeling happy and told everyone about being brave, making friends, and saying sorry. The forest was happier because of Freddie and his glowing light.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that is like a fairy tale, where amazing things can happen
2adventureAn exciting experience or journey
3lightingMaking a place bright with light
4escapedGot away from danger or a trap
5caterpillarA small, long creature that will change into a butterfly
6wiseHaving a lot of knowledge, often because of age
7mess upTo make a mistake or do something wrong
8braveHaving courage, not being afraid
9friendsPeople you like to spend time with and who like to spend time with you
10sorryWhat you say when you feel bad about something you did
11happierFeeling more joy or pleasure
12glowingShining brightly

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Freddie like to do in the forest?
3. What happened to Freddie when he flew to the top of the tallest tree?
4. How did Freddie help the lost caterpillar?
5. What did the wise owls teach Freddie?
6. How did Freddie make the forest a happier place?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical forest, there was a friendly firefly (1)______ Freddie. Freddie loved adventure and lighting up the forest when it got (2)______.

One (3)______, Freddie flew to the top of the tallest tree but got caught in a spider’s web. Luckily, (4)______ was smart and (5)______ without being eaten.

On his way up, Freddie (6)______ a sad caterpillar who was lost. He used his light to show the caterpillar the way home and they became friends.

When Freddie got to the top, he met wise (7)______ who (8)______ him about trying new things and helping (9)______. They told him it’s okay to mess up if you learn from it.

Freddie went back to the spider and (10)______ (11)______ with it, too. He returned to the forest (12)______ happy and told everyone about being brave, making friends, and saying sorry. The forest was happier because of Freddie and his glowing light.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a firefly and what do they do?
2. How would you feel if you were caught in a spider’s web?
3. Do you like making new friends? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it means to be brave?
5. How would you feel if you were lost and someone helped you find your way home?
6. Do you think it’s important to try new things? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think Freddie made friends with the spider?
8. How do you think Freddie’s glowing light made the forest happier?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. adventure
3. lighting
4. escaped
5. caterpillar
6. wise
7. mess up
8. brave
9. friends
10. sorry
11. happier
12. glowing

Meanings:
(A) Having courage, not being afraid
(B) An exciting experience or journey
(C) Something that is like a fairy tale, where amazing things can happen
(D) Got away from danger or a trap
(E) To make a mistake or do something wrong
(F) Having a lot of knowledge, often because of age
(G) Shining brightly
(H) A small, long creature that will change into a butterfly
(I) Feeling more joy or pleasure
(J) Making a place bright with light
(K) People you like to spend time with and who like to spend time with you
(L) What you say when you feel bad about something you did
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the friendly firefly in the story?
(a) Freddie
(b) Bobby
(c) Sammy
(d) Tommy

2. Where did Freddie get caught?
(a) In a bird’s nest
(b) In a squirrel’s burrow
(c) In a spider’s web
(d) In a rabbit’s hole

3. What did Freddie use to show the caterpillar the way home?
(a) His wings
(b) His voice
(c) His legs
(d) His light

4. What did Freddie learn from the wise owls?
(a) It’s okay to be scared
(b) It’s okay to be mean to others
(c) It’s okay to try new things
(d) It’s okay to never apologize

5. Who did Freddie make friends with at the end of the story?
(a) The spider
(b) The squirrel
(c) The rabbit
(d) The bird

6. What did Freddie tell everyone in the forest?
(a) To be scared, avoid making friends, and never apologize
(b) To be brave, make friends, and say sorry
(c) To be mean, avoid trying new things, and never apologize
(d) To be brave, avoid making friends, and never apologize

7. How did the forest feel after Freddie returned?
(a) Sadder
(b) Happier
(c) Angrier
(d) Bored

8. What was Freddie’s special ability?
(a) Flying really fast
(b) Singing beautiful songs
(c) Building intricate webs
(d) Lighting up the forest

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The owls told Freddie that it’s not okay to make mistakes even if he learns from them.
2. At the top of the tree, Freddie met ignorant owls who taught him about avoiding new things and not helping others.
3. Freddie is a firefly who loves going on adventures and lighting up the forest at night.
4. When Freddie returned to the forest, he shared his stories of bravery, making friends, and saying sorry with everyone.
5. One night, Freddie got stuck in a spider’s web but managed to escape without getting eaten.
6. While trying to find his way back up, Freddie met a joyful caterpillar and helped it find its way home.
7. Freddie went back to the spider and became friends with it, too.
8. The forest became sadder because of Freddie and his glowing light.
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?
Freddie is the main character in the story.

2. What did Freddie like to do in the forest?
Freddie liked to go on adventures and light up the forest when it got dark.

3. What happened to Freddie when he flew to the top of the tallest tree?
Freddie got caught in a spider’s web but managed to escape without being eaten.

4. How did Freddie help the lost caterpillar?
Freddie used his light to show the caterpillar the way home.

5. What did the wise owls teach Freddie?
The wise owls taught Freddie about trying new things and helping others. They also taught him that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.

6. How did Freddie make the forest a happier place?
Freddie made friends with the spider and told everyone in the forest about being brave, making friends, and saying sorry. His glowing light and positive attitude made the forest a happier place.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) dark
(3) night
(4) Freddie
(5) escaped
(6) found
(7) owls
(8) taught
(9) others
(10) made
(11) friends
(12) feeling
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (C) Something that is like a fairy tale, where amazing things can happen

2. adventure
Answer: (B) An exciting experience or journey

3. lighting
Answer: (J) Making a place bright with light

4. escaped
Answer: (D) Got away from danger or a trap

5. caterpillar
Answer: (H) A small, long creature that will change into a butterfly

6. wise
Answer: (F) Having a lot of knowledge, often because of age

7. mess up
Answer: (E) To make a mistake or do something wrong

8. brave
Answer: (A) Having courage, not being afraid

9. friends
Answer: (K) People you like to spend time with and who like to spend time with you

10. sorry
Answer: (L) What you say when you feel bad about something you did

11. happier
Answer: (I) Feeling more joy or pleasure

12. glowing
Answer: (G) Shining brightly
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the friendly firefly in the story?
Answer: (a) Freddie

2. Where did Freddie get caught?
Answer: (c) In a spider’s web

3. What did Freddie use to show the caterpillar the way home?
Answer: (d) His light

4. What did Freddie learn from the wise owls?
Answer: (c) It’s okay to try new things

5. Who did Freddie make friends with at the end of the story?
Answer: (a) The spider

6. What did Freddie tell everyone in the forest?
Answer: (b) To be brave, make friends, and say sorry

7. How did the forest feel after Freddie returned?
Answer: (b) Happier

8. What was Freddie’s special ability?
Answer: (d) Lighting up the forest
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The owls told Freddie that it’s not okay to make mistakes even if he learns from them. (Answer: False)
2. At the top of the tree, Freddie met ignorant owls who taught him about avoiding new things and not helping others. (Answer: False)
3. Freddie is a firefly who loves going on adventures and lighting up the forest at night. (Answer: True)
4. When Freddie returned to the forest, he shared his stories of bravery, making friends, and saying sorry with everyone. (Answer: True)
5. One night, Freddie got stuck in a spider’s web but managed to escape without getting eaten. (Answer: True)
6. While trying to find his way back up, Freddie met a joyful caterpillar and helped it find its way home. (Answer: False)
7. Freddie went back to the spider and became friends with it, too. (Answer: True)
8. The forest became sadder because of Freddie and his glowing light. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A group of adventurous children discover a hidden cave filled with riddles and magical trials.

The Enigma of Echo Cave

Emma, Ben, and Lucy find a secret cave and get trapped, but with the help of a creature named Enigma, they solve riddles and learn about friendship.

A young girl named Lily embarks on a daring adventure to find a hidden harbor and discovers that true treasure lies in the simple pleasures of life.

The Hidden Harbor

Lily went on an exciting adventure to find a secret harbor and discovered that the real treasure is spending time with loved ones.

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