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 Great Grape Escape

George and his grape friends escape the vineyard, overcoming obstacles and finding a world full of adventures.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a sunny field full of grapevines, loads of ripe grapes were ready for picking. Most of them were excited to be turned into wine, but one grape named George didn’t want that at all. George dreamed of getting away with some grape friends.

One night, when it was really quiet and dark, George and his friends rolled away to the edge of the field. They moved carefully through the vines and started their big adventure. On their path, they had to dodge leaves, bugs, and a naughty scarecrow that reached out to catch them.

George and the other grapes kept going, even when it got tough. They slid down a hill covered in green, soft moss and fell into a stream. They splashed in the water, having fun. Then, they met a squirrel named Sammy who was so surprised to see grapes rolling around and decided to go with them.

When they almost got out, a big wooden fence blocked their way. But George knew that if they worked together, they could do anything. So the grapes made a pile, like a ladder, and climbed over the fence to the other side, where they were free.

Finally, George and his friends found themselves in a grassy meadow. They were happy and proud to have escaped. The bright sun made their skins shine as they enjoyed their new home. They learned that by taking chances and sticking together, they could have amazing new adventures. They rolled on, ready for whatever fun would come next.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1grapevinesPlants that grow grapes
2adventureA fun journey with new experiences
3carefullyDoing something with a lot of attention to not make mistakes
4dodgeMove quickly to avoid being hit by something
5naughtyBehaving badly or causing trouble
6toughHard or difficult
7mossA type of small green plant that grows in a soft, thick layer on wet ground or on rocks
8splashedTo hit water so that drops of it go everywhere
9squirrelA small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
10blockedWhen something is in the way and stops you from moving forward
11pileA stack or heap of things placed on top of each other
12meadowA large area of open land covered with grass

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did George and his friends roll away to?
2. What did they have to dodge on their adventure?
3. What did they slide down that was covered in green, soft moss?
4. Who did they meet while they were splashing in the water?
5. How did they get over the big wooden fence?
6. Where did George and his friends end up after they escaped?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ field full of grapevines, (2)______ of ripe grapes were ready for picking. Most of them were excited to be turned into wine, but one grape named George didn’t want that at all. George dreamed of getting away with some grape friends.

One (3)______, when it was really quiet and dark, George and his friends rolled away to the edge of the field. They moved carefully through the vines and started their big adventure. On their path, they had to dodge leaves, bugs, and a naughty scarecrow that reached out to catch them.

(4)______ and the other grapes kept going, even when it got tough. They slid down a (5)______ covered in green, soft (6)______ and fell into a stream. They splashed in the water, having fun. Then, they met a squirrel named Sammy who was so surprised to see (7)______ rolling around and decided to go with them.

When they almost got out, a big (8)______ fence blocked their way. But George knew that if they worked together, they could do anything. So the grapes made a pile, like a ladder, and (9)______ over the fence to the other side, where they were (10)______.

Finally, George and his friends found themselves in a grassy meadow. They were happy and proud to have escaped. The (11)______ sun made their skins shine as they (12)______ their new home. They learned that by taking chances and sticking together, they could have amazing new adventures. They rolled on, ready for whatever fun would come next.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a grape?
2. How would you feel if you were a grape and you didn’t want to be turned into wine?
3. Do you like adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it was like for George and his friends to roll away in the dark?
5. How would you feel if you were splashing in a stream with your friends?
6. Do you think it was a good idea for the grapes to work together to climb over the fence? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the grassy meadow looked like?
8. Do you think George and his friends made the right choice by escaping? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. grapevines
2. adventure
3. carefully
4. dodge
5. naughty
6. tough
7. moss
8. splashed
9. squirrel
10. blocked
11. pile
12. meadow

Meanings:
(A) A type of small green plant that grows in a soft, thick layer on wet ground or on rocks
(B) A small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
(C) Move quickly to avoid being hit by something
(D) Hard or difficult
(E) A stack or heap of things placed on top of each other
(F) Behaving badly or causing trouble
(G) When something is in the way and stops you from moving forward
(H) To hit water so that drops of it go everywhere
(I) A large area of open land covered with grass
(J) Plants that grow grapes
(K) A fun journey with new experiences
(L) Doing something with a lot of attention to not make mistakes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did George and his friends want to avoid?
(a) Being eaten by bugs
(b) Being turned into wine
(c) Being caught by the scarecrow
(d) Being splashed in the water

2. What did George and his friends have to dodge on their adventure?
(a) Rocks, trees, and a squirrel
(b) Flowers, birds, and a stream
(c) Leaves, bugs, and a scarecrow
(d) Grass, worms, and a fence

3. What did George and his friends slide down?
(a) A hill covered in green, soft moss
(b) A mountain covered in snow
(c) A slide at the playground
(d) A staircase in a castle

4. Who did George and his friends meet in the stream?
(a) A fish named Fred
(b) A bird named Bella
(c) A rabbit named Rosie
(d) A squirrel named Sammy

5. What did George and his friends use to climb over the fence?
(a) A ladder made of wood
(b) A rope made of leaves
(c) A pile of grapes
(d) A bridge made of rocks

6. Where did George and his friends find themselves after climbing over the fence?
(a) In a dark cave
(b) In a grassy meadow
(c) In a deep forest
(d) In a crowded city

7. What made George and his friends happy in their new home?
(a) The tall trees
(b) The colorful flowers
(c) The cool breeze
(d) The bright sun

8. What did George and his friends learn from their adventure?
(a) By taking chances and sticking together, they could have amazing new adventures
(b) By staying in the field, they would be safe and happy
(c) By hiding from the scarecrow, they could avoid being caught
(d) By rolling away, they could find more grapes to play with

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. On their adventure, the grapes had to chase leaves, bugs, and a scarecrow.
2. The grapes slid down a hill covered in soft moss and fell into a stream.
3. They met a squirrel named Sammy who decided to join them on their adventure.
4. One grape named George didn’t want to be turned into wine.
5. The story takes place in a forest full of grapevines.
6. Most of the grapes in the field were excited to be turned into wine.
7. George and his friends stayed in the field one night to go on an adventure.
8. The grapes struggled together to climb over a small wooden fence and escape to a muddy meadow.
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. Where did George and his friends roll away to?
They rolled away to the edge of the field.

2. What did they have to dodge on their adventure?
They had to dodge leaves, bugs, and a scarecrow.

3. What did they slide down that was covered in green, soft moss?
They slid down a hill covered in green, soft moss.

4. Who did they meet while they were splashing in the water?
They met a squirrel named Sammy.

5. How did they get over the big wooden fence?
They made a pile, like a ladder, and climbed over the fence.

6. Where did George and his friends end up after they escaped?
They ended up in a grassy meadow.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) sunny
(2) loads
(3) night
(4) George
(5) hill
(6) moss
(7) grapes
(8) wooden
(9) climbed
(10) free
(11) bright
(12) enjoyed
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. grapevines
Answer: (J) Plants that grow grapes

2. adventure
Answer: (K) A fun journey with new experiences

3. carefully
Answer: (L) Doing something with a lot of attention to not make mistakes

4. dodge
Answer: (C) Move quickly to avoid being hit by something

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

6. tough
Answer: (D) Hard or difficult

7. moss
Answer: (A) A type of small green plant that grows in a soft, thick layer on wet ground or on rocks

8. splashed
Answer: (H) To hit water so that drops of it go everywhere

9. squirrel
Answer: (B) A small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees

10. blocked
Answer: (G) When something is in the way and stops you from moving forward

11. pile
Answer: (E) A stack or heap of things placed on top of each other

12. meadow
Answer: (I) A large area of open land covered with grass
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did George and his friends want to avoid?
Answer: (b) Being turned into wine

2. What did George and his friends have to dodge on their adventure?
Answer: (c) Leaves, bugs, and a scarecrow

3. What did George and his friends slide down?
Answer: (a) A hill covered in green, soft moss

4. Who did George and his friends meet in the stream?
Answer: (d) A squirrel named Sammy

5. What did George and his friends use to climb over the fence?
Answer: (c) A pile of grapes

6. Where did George and his friends find themselves after climbing over the fence?
Answer: (b) In a grassy meadow

7. What made George and his friends happy in their new home?
Answer: (d) The bright sun

8. What did George and his friends learn from their adventure?
Answer: (a) By taking chances and sticking together, they could have amazing new adventures
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. On their adventure, the grapes had to chase leaves, bugs, and a scarecrow. (Answer: False)
2. The grapes slid down a hill covered in soft moss and fell into a stream. (Answer: True)
3. They met a squirrel named Sammy who decided to join them on their adventure. (Answer: True)
4. One grape named George didn’t want to be turned into wine. (Answer: True)
5. The story takes place in a forest full of grapevines. (Answer: False)
6. Most of the grapes in the field were excited to be turned into wine. (Answer: True)
7. George and his friends stayed in the field one night to go on an adventure. (Answer: False)
8. The grapes struggled together to climb over a small wooden fence and escape to a muddy meadow. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Amy and the Magic Book

Amy found a magical book that let her make anything she wanted, but she realized that the real world is already full of wonder.

A detective solves the mystery of the missing blueberry pies and brings together a bear family and the town.

The Blueberry Pie Mystery

Detective Graspberry finds the pie thief, but instead of getting in trouble, the bears become friends with everyone!

Three friends stumble upon a magical peach palace filled with talking animals and enchanted treasures, unlocking their own creativity and joy.

The Peculiar Peach Palace

Three friends find a magical palace full of talking animals, fairies, and fruits that do funny things. They unlock a special room that helps them feel creative and make the world happier.

A sleepy snowman named Frosty embarks on a quest to find his missing carrot nose.

The Sleepy Snowman

Frosty the snowman loves to sleep, but when his carrot nose goes missing, he goes on an adventure to find it and learns about friendship along the way.

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