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 Mystery of the Missing Moon

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a tiny place called Sunfield, the moon went missing one clear night. Without the moon’s light, the people didn’t know what to do. Milo, a kid who loved mysteries, decided to figure out where the moon went.

Milo asked around and heard about a loud noise in Dark Forest. He bravely went into the forest and found animals playing with the wise owl, Oliver. They told Milo they hid the moon while playing a game but now couldn’t find it.

Milo and Oliver made a plan to get the moon back. They got all the animals to help search the forest. After looking for a long time, a small squirrel named Sammy found the moon behind a big tree. They all cheered as Milo put the moon back in the sky.

The people threw a party because the moon was back. Milo felt proud and learned that solving problems is easier with friends. He told everyone that working together is powerful. They all learned the lesson of unity and solving problems as a team.

The people in Sunfield were so grateful and happy from then on. Milo’s adventure taught them to be thankful and to love the nature around them. Every night when they saw the moon, they remembered how important friends are and the happiness of solving problems together.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1mysteriesPuzzles or things that are hard to understand or explain
2bravelyDoing something with a lot of courage, not being scared
3wiseKnowing a lot because of experience, smart in a deep way
4searchLooking for something very carefully
5cheeredShouted for joy because they were so happy
6proudFeeling very pleased with yourself for doing something good
7solvingFiguring out a problem or finding an answer
8powerfulVery strong or able to change things a lot
9unityBeing together and working as one group
10gratefulFeeling thankful for something nice that happened
11adventureA fun or exciting trip where you do new things
12happinessFeeling very pleased, joyful, or content

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who went missing one night in Sunfield?
2. What did Milo love to do?
3. Where did Milo hear about a loud noise?
4. Who did Milo find in the Dark Forest?
5. Who helped Milo and Oliver search for the moon?
6. What did Milo learn from his adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a tiny place called Sunfield, the (1)______ went missing one clear night. Without the moon’s light, the (2)______ didn’t know what to do. (3)______, a kid who loved mysteries, decided to figure out where the moon went.

Milo asked around and heard about a loud noise in Dark Forest. He bravely went into the forest and (4)______ animals playing with the wise owl, Oliver. They told Milo they hid the moon while playing a game but now couldn’t find it.

Milo and Oliver (5)______ a plan to get the moon back. They got all the animals to help search the forest. After looking for a long time, a (6)______ squirrel named Sammy found the moon behind a big (7)______. They all cheered as Milo put the moon back in the sky.

The people (8)______ a party because the moon was back. Milo felt proud and learned that solving problems is (9)______ with friends. He told everyone that working together is powerful. They all learned the lesson of unity and solving (10)______ as a team.

The people in Sunfield were so (11)______ and (12)______ from then on. Milo’s adventure taught them to be thankful and to love the nature around them. Every night when they saw the moon, they remembered how important friends are and the happiness of solving problems together.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a mystery? Have you ever tried to solve a mystery before? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if the moon disappeared one night? Why?
3. Do you like playing games with your friends? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to work together with others to solve problems? Why or why not?
5. What is something you are grateful for in nature? Why?
6. How does it make you feel when you help someone solve a problem? Why?
7. Have you ever been to a party to celebrate something? How did it make you feel?
8. Do you think it’s important to remember lessons we learn from stories? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. mysteries
2. bravely
3. wise
4. search
5. cheered
6. proud
7. solving
8. powerful
9. unity
10. grateful
11. adventure
12. happiness

Meanings:
(A) Feeling thankful for something nice that happened
(B) Doing something with a lot of courage, not being scared
(C) Feeling very pleased, joyful, or content
(D) Shouted for joy because they were so happy
(E) Being together and working as one group
(F) A fun or exciting trip where you do new things
(G) Feeling very pleased with yourself for doing something good
(H) Puzzles or things that are hard to understand or explain
(I) Looking for something very carefully
(J) Knowing a lot because of experience, smart in a deep way
(K) Figuring out a problem or finding an answer
(L) Very strong or able to change things a lot
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did the people in Sunfield not know what to do when the moon went missing?
(a) They didn’t like the dark.
(b) They relied on the moon’s light.
(c) They were scared of the moon.
(d) They didn’t care about the moon.

2. What did Milo love?
(a) Sports
(b) Cooking
(c) Painting
(d) Mysteries

3. Where did Milo hear about a loud noise?
(a) Dark Forest
(b) Bright Meadow
(c) Sunny Beach
(d) Quiet Valley

4. Who did Milo find playing with the wise owl?
(a) Animals
(b) People
(c) Aliens
(d) Monsters

5. Why did the animals hide the moon?
(a) They didn’t like the moon.
(b) They wanted to scare the people.
(c) They were playing a game.
(d) They wanted to keep the moon for themselves.

6. Who found the moon behind a big tree?
(a) Milo
(b) Sammy
(c) Oliver
(d) The people of Sunfield

7. How did the people feel when the moon was back?
(a) Sad and angry
(b) Scared and worried
(c) Grateful and happy
(d) Indifferent and bored

8. What did Milo’s adventure teach the people of Sunfield?
(a) To be selfish and never help others.
(b) To be scared of the dark.
(c) To ignore their problems.
(d) To be thankful and love nature.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The animals denied that they had hidden the moon while playing a game.
2. In the forest, Milo found animals playing with the wise owl, Oliver.
3. Milo, a kid who loved mysteries, decided to find out where the moon went.
4. Milo heard about a loud noise in Dark Forest and went to investigate.
5. Milo and Oliver came up with a plan to find the moon.
6. Milo’s adventure failed to teach the people of Sunfield the importance of teamwork and gratitude.
7. The moon vanished one night in a small place called Sunfield.
8. Sammy, a small squirrel, failed to find the moon behind a big tree.
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 went missing one night in Sunfield?
The moon went missing one night in Sunfield.

2. What did Milo love to do?
Milo loved to solve mysteries.

3. Where did Milo hear about a loud noise?
Milo heard about a loud noise in the Dark Forest.

4. Who did Milo find in the Dark Forest?
Milo found animals playing with the wise owl, Oliver, in the Dark Forest.

5. Who helped Milo and Oliver search for the moon?
All the animals in the forest helped Milo and Oliver search for the moon.

6. What did Milo learn from his adventure?
Milo learned that solving problems is easier with friends and that working together is powerful.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) moon
(2) people
(3) Milo
(4) found
(5) made
(6) small
(7) tree
(8) threw
(9) easier
(10) problems
(11) grateful
(12) happy
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. mysteries
Answer: (H) Puzzles or things that are hard to understand or explain

2. bravely
Answer: (B) Doing something with a lot of courage, not being scared

3. wise
Answer: (J) Knowing a lot because of experience, smart in a deep way

4. search
Answer: (I) Looking for something very carefully

5. cheered
Answer: (D) Shouted for joy because they were so happy

6. proud
Answer: (G) Feeling very pleased with yourself for doing something good

7. solving
Answer: (K) Figuring out a problem or finding an answer

8. powerful
Answer: (L) Very strong or able to change things a lot

9. unity
Answer: (E) Being together and working as one group

10. grateful
Answer: (A) Feeling thankful for something nice that happened

11. adventure
Answer: (F) A fun or exciting trip where you do new things

12. happiness
Answer: (C) Feeling very pleased, joyful, or content
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did the people in Sunfield not know what to do when the moon went missing?
Answer: (b) They relied on the moon’s light.

2. What did Milo love?
Answer: (d) Mysteries

3. Where did Milo hear about a loud noise?
Answer: (a) Dark Forest

4. Who did Milo find playing with the wise owl?
Answer: (a) Animals

5. Why did the animals hide the moon?
Answer: (c) They were playing a game.

6. Who found the moon behind a big tree?
Answer: (b) Sammy

7. How did the people feel when the moon was back?
Answer: (c) Grateful and happy

8. What did Milo’s adventure teach the people of Sunfield?
Answer: (d) To be thankful and love nature.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The animals denied that they had hidden the moon while playing a game. (Answer: False)
2. In the forest, Milo found animals playing with the wise owl, Oliver. (Answer: True)
3. Milo, a kid who loved mysteries, decided to find out where the moon went. (Answer: True)
4. Milo heard about a loud noise in Dark Forest and went to investigate. (Answer: True)
5. Milo and Oliver came up with a plan to find the moon. (Answer: True)
6. Milo’s adventure failed to teach the people of Sunfield the importance of teamwork and gratitude. (Answer: False)
7. The moon vanished one night in a small place called Sunfield. (Answer: False)
8. Sammy, a small squirrel, failed to find the moon behind a big tree. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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

The Four Leaf Clover Quest

Four friends go on an adventure to find a special clover that grants wishes, but learn that friendship is the real magic.

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

The Golden Egg Hunt

In Fantasia, there’s a cool game called the Golden Egg Hunt where you find shiny eggs and make wishes, but this time there’s a special egg with magic powers that helps everyone find the eggs and make good wishes for their friends.

Lily conquers the Marshmallow Mountains, learns the secret recipe, and shares everlasting marshmallows with the world.

The Marshmallow Mountains

Lily goes to the Marshmallow Mountains and meets animals who help her find a secret recipe for everlasting marshmallows.

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

The Adventures of Freddie Firefly

Freddie the firefly had an exciting adventure in the magical forest, where he made new friends and learned important lessons about bravery and 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.