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 Patchwork Path

A little girl named Lily embarks on a magical adventure along the Patchwork Path.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small village with lots of green fields, there was a girl named Lily. She liked to find out about things and use her imagination. One day, she found a colorful blanket in her grandma’s attic. When she asked, her grandma told her it was a magical path for an adventure.

With the blanket on her, Lily walked on the Patchwork Path. It started moving and took her through woods, over rivers, and up big hills. She saw animals that could talk, found secret treasures, and answered tricky questions, which made her very happy.

But then, Lily met a big gap in the path. She didn’t think she could get across until a squirrel named Sammy showed her how. He used a rope to swing over and told her to do the same. Lily held on tight to the rope and made it across safely.

Next, Lily came across a dark cave that looked scary. She could hear strange sounds and see shadows. Lily was scared but remembered that she needed to believe in herself. She took a deep breath and went into the cave, showing how brave she was.

In the end, the path took Lily back home. She had changed a lot during her trip. She told her family everything about her amazing adventure. Her little sister, Sophie, decided that she wanted to have her own adventure someday. The Patchwork Path stayed ready in the attic for someone new to find.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1villageA small place where people live, usually in the countryside
2imaginationThe part of your mind that creates ideas and pictures of things that are not real
3atticThe space at the top of a house, under the roof, often used for storing things
4magicalHaving special powers that can do things that seem impossible
5adventureAn exciting journey or experience
6gapA space where something is missing
7squirrelA small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
8ropeA long, thick cord used for tying or climbing
9safelyIn a way that keeps you out of danger
10shadowsDark areas created when something blocks the light
11braveHaving courage, not being afraid
12amazingReally wonderful or surprising

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. Where did Lily find the magical path?
3. What did Lily see and find while she was on the Patchwork Path?
4. How did Lily get across the big gap in the path?
5. What did Lily do when she came across the scary dark cave?
6. What did Lily tell her family when she got back home?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village with lots of green fields, there was a girl named Lily. She liked to find out about things and use her imagination. One day, she found a colorful (1)______ in her (2)______’s attic. When she asked, her grandma told her it was a magical path for an adventure.

With the blanket on her, Lily (3)______ on the Patchwork Path. It started moving and took her through woods, over rivers, and up big (4)______. She saw animals that could talk, found secret treasures, and answered tricky questions, which made her very happy.

But then, (5)______ met a big gap in the path. She didn’t think she could get across until a squirrel (6)______ Sammy showed her how. He used a rope to swing over and told her to do the same. Lily held on tight to the rope and made it across safely.

Next, Lily came across a dark cave that looked (7)______. She could hear strange sounds and see shadows. Lily was scared but remembered that she needed to (8)______ in herself. She took a deep breath and (9)______ into the cave, showing how brave she was.

In the end, the path took Lily back home. She had (10)______ a lot during her trip. She told her family everything about her amazing adventure. Her little sister, Sophie, decided that she (11)______ to have her own adventure someday. The Patchwork Path stayed ready in the attic for someone new to (12)______.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an adventure? Why do you think Lily liked going on an adventure?
2. How would you feel if you found a magical blanket like Lily did? What would you do with it?
3. Do you think it’s important to be brave? Why or why not? Have you ever had to be brave?
4. What kind of things do you think Lily saw on her adventure? Would you like to see talking animals and find secret treasures? Why or why not?
5. How do you think Lily felt when she couldn’t cross the big gap in the path? Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t think you could do something? How did you handle it?
6. Have you ever been scared of something like the dark cave? How did you overcome your fear? Do you think it’s important to face your fears? Why or why not?
7. Do you think it’s important to share your experiences with your family and friends? Why or why not? What do you think Lily’s family felt when she told them about her adventure?
8. If you had the chance, would you go on an adventure like Lily did? Why or why not? What kind of adventure would you like to have?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. imagination
3. attic
4. magical
5. adventure
6. gap
7. squirrel
8. rope
9. safely
10. shadows
11. brave
12. amazing

Meanings:
(A) Dark areas created when something blocks the light
(B) The space at the top of a house, under the roof, often used for storing things
(C) A small place where people live, usually in the countryside
(D) A small animal with a bushy tail that climbs trees
(E) The part of your mind that creates ideas and pictures of things that are not real
(F) Having special powers that can do things that seem impossible
(G) An exciting journey or experience
(H) Having courage, not being afraid
(I) A long, thick cord used for tying or climbing
(J) A space where something is missing
(K) Really wonderful or surprising
(L) In a way that keeps you out of danger
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Lily find in her grandma’s attic?
(a) A secret treasure
(b) A talking animal
(c) A scary cave
(d) A colorful blanket

2. What did Lily do when she put on the blanket?
(a) The blanket started moving and took her on an adventure
(b) The blanket turned into a talking animal
(c) The blanket disappeared
(d) The blanket made her invisible

3. How did Lily get across the big gap in the path?
(a) By flying over it
(b) By building a bridge
(c) By swinging on a rope
(d) By walking around it

4. What did Lily find in the dark cave?
(a) A secret treasure
(b) Talking animals
(c) A colorful blanket
(d) Strange sounds and shadows

5. How did Lily feel about going into the scary cave?
(a) Excited and curious
(b) Scared, but she remembered to believe in herself
(c) Indifferent, it didn’t bother her
(d) Angry and frustrated

6. What happened to Lily at the end of her adventure?
(a) She got lost in the woods
(b) The path took her back home
(c) She found a secret treasure
(d) She met a talking animal

7. Who wanted to have their own adventure someday?
(a) Lily’s little sister, Sophie
(b) Lily’s grandma
(c) Lily’s best friend
(d) Lily’s mom

8. Where did the Patchwork Path stay after Lily’s adventure?
(a) In Lily’s room
(b) In the forest
(c) In the attic, ready for someone new to find
(d) It disappeared, never to be found again

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Lily did not share her incredible adventure with her family.
2. Lily’s little sister, Sophie, was inspired to have her own adventure someday.
3. Sammy the squirrel helped Lily cross a big gap in the path using a rope.
4. Lily faced her fear and bravely entered a scary cave.
5. The blanket did not take Lily on an adventure through different landscapes.
6. Lily found a magical blanket in her grandma’s attic.
7. Lily never encountered talking animals or discovered hidden treasures on her journey.
8. The path did not eventually lead Lily back home.
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?
The main character in the story is Lily.

2. Where did Lily find the magical path?
Lily found the magical path in her grandma’s attic.

3. What did Lily see and find while she was on the Patchwork Path?
While she was on the Patchwork Path, Lily saw animals that could talk and found secret treasures.

4. How did Lily get across the big gap in the path?
Lily got across the big gap in the path by using a rope to swing over, just like the squirrel Sammy showed her.

5. What did Lily do when she came across the scary dark cave?
When she came across the scary dark cave, Lily took a deep breath and went inside, showing how brave she was.

6. What did Lily tell her family when she got back home?
When she got back home, Lily told her family everything about her amazing adventure on the Patchwork Path.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) blanket
(2) grandma
(3) walked
(4) hills
(5) Lily
(6) named
(7) scary
(8) believe
(9) went
(10) changed
(11) wanted
(12) find
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (C) A small place where people live, usually in the countryside

2. imagination
Answer: (E) The part of your mind that creates ideas and pictures of things that are not real

3. attic
Answer: (B) The space at the top of a house, under the roof, often used for storing things

4. magical
Answer: (F) Having special powers that can do things that seem impossible

5. adventure
Answer: (G) An exciting journey or experience

6. gap
Answer: (J) A space where something is missing

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

8. rope
Answer: (I) A long, thick cord used for tying or climbing

9. safely
Answer: (L) In a way that keeps you out of danger

10. shadows
Answer: (A) Dark areas created when something blocks the light

11. brave
Answer: (H) Having courage, not being afraid

12. amazing
Answer: (K) Really wonderful or surprising
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Lily find in her grandma’s attic?
Answer: (d) A colorful blanket

2. What did Lily do when she put on the blanket?
Answer: (a) The blanket started moving and took her on an adventure

3. How did Lily get across the big gap in the path?
Answer: (c) By swinging on a rope

4. What did Lily find in the dark cave?
Answer: (d) Strange sounds and shadows

5. How did Lily feel about going into the scary cave?
Answer: (b) Scared, but she remembered to believe in herself

6. What happened to Lily at the end of her adventure?
Answer: (b) The path took her back home

7. Who wanted to have their own adventure someday?
Answer: (a) Lily’s little sister, Sophie

8. Where did the Patchwork Path stay after Lily’s adventure?
Answer: (c) In the attic, ready for someone new to find
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Lily did not share her incredible adventure with her family. (Answer: False)
2. Lily’s little sister, Sophie, was inspired to have her own adventure someday. (Answer: True)
3. Sammy the squirrel helped Lily cross a big gap in the path using a rope. (Answer: True)
4. Lily faced her fear and bravely entered a scary cave. (Answer: True)
5. The blanket did not take Lily on an adventure through different landscapes. (Answer: False)
6. Lily found a magical blanket in her grandma’s attic. (Answer: True)
7. Lily never encountered talking animals or discovered hidden treasures on her journey. (Answer: False)
8. The path did not eventually lead Lily back home. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Blaze, the Blue Tiger

Once upon a time, in a magical forest, there lived a beautiful blue tiger named Blaze. Blaze was very special

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

The Great Grape Escape

George the grape and his friends escape from the vineyard, dodge obstacles, make a new friend, and find a new home.

A dazzling doughnut brings magic and happiness to a sleepy town, teaching the power of kindness.

The Dazzling Doughnut

A special doughnut named Mr. Sprinkles brings happiness to a town called Sugarville with its magic.

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!

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