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 Littlest Elf

Oliver, the tiniest elf, surprises everyone with his clever strategies and magical find at the Great Elf Games.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a faraway magic forest, there was a tiny elf named Oliver. Even though Oliver was the smallest elf, he didn’t mind when other elves made fun of him. He knew that just because he was little didn’t mean he couldn’t do big things.

One day, all the elves were excited for the Great Elf Games, a competition to see who was the best at different tasks. Oliver really wanted to join in and show everyone that he could do well too.

During the games, Oliver had to cross a river on a wobbly branch. The bigger elves got across easily, but the branch shook when Oliver tried. He cleverly rolled himself up in leaves and crossed like a ball. This made the other elves see that you don’t always need to be strong; sometimes, you just need to think of a smart way to solve the problem.

Next, there was a race through a twisty maze. While the others ran inside, Oliver climbed a tall mushroom and looked over the maze. He figured out how to skip all the twists and walked on the edges straight to the end. Everyone was amazed at how Oliver found a different way to win.

Lastly, they had a treasure hunt for shiny gems hidden in the forest. Oliver found glowing mushrooms, and with his wand, he turned them into gems! This magical trick helped him win, and it showed that even if you’re small, you can still do something big and surprising.

The elves gathered around Oliver, celebrating him as “The Great Littlest Elf.” Nobody made fun of his size anymore. They all learned that it’s good to see what special things each person can do. And Oliver showed everyone that being small doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1farawayA place that is very, very far from where you are
2competitionA contest where people try to be the best at something
3wobblyNot steady and moves a lot when you touch it
4cleverlyIn a smart or intelligent way
5tasksJobs or activities you have to do
6twistySomething full of turns and bends
7mazeA big puzzle made of many confusing paths
8edgesThe outer lines or borders of something
9treasureA collection of valuable things that are often hidden
10celebratingHaving a happy time because something good happened
11achievingReaching a goal or making something happen
12magicalSomething that seems to have special powers, like in a fairy tale

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the name of the tiny elf in the magic forest?
2. Why did the other elves make fun of Oliver?
3. What did Oliver do to cross the river on the wobbly branch?
4. How did Oliver win the race through the twisty maze?
5. What did Oliver turn the glowing mushrooms into?
6. What did the other elves learn from Oliver?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ magic forest, there was a tiny elf named Oliver. Even though Oliver was the smallest elf, he didn’t mind when other elves made fun of him. He knew that just because he was little didn’t mean he couldn’t do big things.

One day, all the elves were (2)______ for the Great Elf Games, a (3)______ to see who was the best at different tasks. Oliver really wanted to join in and show everyone that he could do well too.

During the games, Oliver had to cross a river on a wobbly branch. The bigger elves got across easily, but the branch shook when Oliver tried. He cleverly (4)______ himself up in leaves and crossed like a ball. This made the (5)______ elves see that you don’t always need to be strong; sometimes, you just need to think of a (6)______ way to solve the problem.

Next, there was a race through a twisty maze. While the others ran inside, Oliver (7)______ a tall mushroom and looked over the maze. He figured out how to skip all the twists and walked on the edges straight to the end. Everyone was amazed at how Oliver found a different way to win.

Lastly, they had a (8)______ hunt for shiny gems hidden in the forest. Oliver found glowing mushrooms, and with his (9)______, he turned them into gems! This magical trick helped him win, and it showed that even if you’re small, you can still do something big and (10)______.

The elves gathered around Oliver, celebrating him as “The Great Littlest Elf.” Nobody made fun of his size anymore. They all learned that it’s good to see what special things each (11)______ can do. And Oliver showed everyone that being small doesn’t stop you from (12)______ your dreams.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a treasure hunt? Have you ever been on a treasure hunt?
2. How would you feel if someone made fun of you because you were small? Why?
3. Do you think it’s important to be strong to solve problems? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you were the smallest person in a competition? Why?
5. Do you like playing games with your friends? Why or why not?
6. What special things can you do? How does it make you feel?
7. How would you feel if you won a competition and everyone celebrated you? Why?
8. Do you think being small can stop you from achieving your dreams? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. faraway
2. competition
3. wobbly
4. cleverly
5. tasks
6. twisty
7. maze
8. edges
9. treasure
10. celebrating
11. achieving
12. magical

Meanings:
(A) A place that is very, very far from where you are
(B) Having a happy time because something good happened
(C) The outer lines or borders of something
(D) Jobs or activities you have to do
(E) Not steady and moves a lot when you touch it
(F) A big puzzle made of many confusing paths
(G) In a smart or intelligent way
(H) A collection of valuable things that are often hidden
(I) Something that seems to have special powers, like in a fairy tale
(J) A contest where people try to be the best at something
(K) Something full of turns and bends
(L) Reaching a goal or making something happen
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the tiny elf in the story?
(a) Oliver
(b) Jack
(c) Henry
(d) Liam

2. What was the competition called that the elves were excited for?
(a) The Magical Forest Race
(b) The Tiny Elf Challenge
(c) The Great Elf Games
(d) The Secret Treasure Hunt

3. How did Oliver cross the river on the wobbly branch?
(a) He asked the bigger elves to carry him across.
(b) He built a bridge out of sticks and rocks.
(c) He swam across the river using his tiny wings.
(d) He rolled himself up in leaves and crossed like a ball.

4. How did Oliver win the race through the twisty maze?
(a) He ran faster than all the other elves.
(b) He climbed a tall mushroom and walked on the edges of the maze.
(c) He followed the twists and turns of the maze like everyone else.
(d) He flew over the maze using his magic powers.

5. What did Oliver find in the forest during the treasure hunt?
(a) Glowing mushrooms
(b) Sparkling diamonds
(c) Hidden scrolls
(d) Colorful flowers

6. What did Oliver do with the glowing mushrooms he found?
(a) He ate them for a magical boost.
(b) He used them to light up the forest at night.
(c) He gave them to the other elves as gifts.
(d) He turned them into gems using his wand.

7. What did the other elves learn from Oliver’s achievements?
(a) Being small doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams.
(b) Sometimes, you just need to think of a smart way to solve a problem.
(c) It’s good to see what special things each person can do.
(d) All of the above.

8. How did the other elves feel about Oliver after the competition?
(a) They made fun of his size even more.
(b) They celebrated him as “The Great Littlest Elf.”
(c) They ignored him and didn’t talk to him.
(d) They were jealous of his success.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Oliver is the tallest elf in the magic forest.
2. The Great Elf Games is a competition for the elves to show off their skills.
3. Oliver fails to find a different way to win the race through the twisty maze.
4. Oliver doesn’t let the other elves making fun of him bother him.
5. Oliver clumsily rolls himself up in leaves to cross the wobbly branch.
6. Oliver teaches the other elves that being small doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams.
7. The other elves ignore Oliver as “The Great Littlest Elf” after he wins the games.
8. Oliver uses his wand to turn glowing mushrooms into gems during the treasure hunt.
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 was the name of the tiny elf in the magic forest?
Oliver.

2. Why did the other elves make fun of Oliver?
Because he was the smallest elf.

3. What did Oliver do to cross the river on the wobbly branch?
He rolled himself up in leaves and crossed like a ball.

4. How did Oliver win the race through the twisty maze?
He climbed a tall mushroom and walked on the edges of the maze.

5. What did Oliver turn the glowing mushrooms into?
He turned them into gems using his wand.

6. What did the other elves learn from Oliver?
They learned that being small doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) faraway
(2) excited
(3) competition
(4) rolled
(5) other
(6) smart
(7) climbed
(8) treasure
(9) wand
(10) surprising
(11) person
(12) achieving
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. faraway
Answer: (A) A place that is very, very far from where you are

2. competition
Answer: (J) A contest where people try to be the best at something

3. wobbly
Answer: (E) Not steady and moves a lot when you touch it

4. cleverly
Answer: (G) In a smart or intelligent way

5. tasks
Answer: (D) Jobs or activities you have to do

6. twisty
Answer: (K) Something full of turns and bends

7. maze
Answer: (F) A big puzzle made of many confusing paths

8. edges
Answer: (C) The outer lines or borders of something

9. treasure
Answer: (H) A collection of valuable things that are often hidden

10. celebrating
Answer: (B) Having a happy time because something good happened

11. achieving
Answer: (L) Reaching a goal or making something happen

12. magical
Answer: (I) Something that seems to have special powers, like in a fairy tale
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the tiny elf in the story?
Answer: (a) Oliver

2. What was the competition called that the elves were excited for?
Answer: (c) The Great Elf Games

3. How did Oliver cross the river on the wobbly branch?
Answer: (d) He rolled himself up in leaves and crossed like a ball.

4. How did Oliver win the race through the twisty maze?
Answer: (b) He climbed a tall mushroom and walked on the edges of the maze.

5. What did Oliver find in the forest during the treasure hunt?
Answer: (a) Glowing mushrooms

6. What did Oliver do with the glowing mushrooms he found?
Answer: (d) He turned them into gems using his wand.

7. What did the other elves learn from Oliver’s achievements?
Answer: (c) It’s good to see what special things each person can do.

8. How did the other elves feel about Oliver after the competition?
Answer: (b) They celebrated him as “The Great Littlest Elf.”
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Oliver is the tallest elf in the magic forest. (Answer: False)
2. The Great Elf Games is a competition for the elves to show off their skills. (Answer: True)
3. Oliver fails to find a different way to win the race through the twisty maze. (Answer: False)
4. Oliver doesn’t let the other elves making fun of him bother him. (Answer: True)
5. Oliver clumsily rolls himself up in leaves to cross the wobbly branch. (Answer: False)
6. Oliver teaches the other elves that being small doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams. (Answer: True)
7. The other elves ignore Oliver as “The Great Littlest Elf” after he wins the games. (Answer: False)
8. Oliver uses his wand to turn glowing mushrooms into gems during the treasure hunt. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A llama farmer builds an obstacle course to keep his mischievous llamas entertained and happy.

The Llama Farmer

Mr. Thompson’s llamas loved to run away, so he made a fun obstacle course to keep them busy.

The broken letterbox becomes a source of laughter and connection as the townsfolk turn it into an interactive game for a mischievous squirrel named Nutkin.

The Broken Letterbox

In a town called Blossomville, the letterbox broke and everyone got worried. They made puzzles for a squirrel named Nutkin to fix it, and it turned into a fun adventure.

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