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 Rainbow Bridge

Stella the unicorn uses her magical rainbow to spread happiness and love to all creatures.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, in a land full of magic, there was a small unicorn named Stella who lived in a green field near big mountains. Stella could make rainbows any time she wanted by jumping and twirling. When she did this, bright lights from her hair would stretch across the sky into a pretty rainbow. Stella loved to make rainbows, and all the animals in the field felt happy when they saw them.

One morning, Stella found a note on her horn. It was an invite to a special contest at the end of the rainbow bridge, with a prize of magic dust that could make any wish come true. Feeling excited, Stella ran towards the rainbow bridge, leaving a trail of rainbow colors behind her.

When Stella got to the bridge, she saw a tricky troll named Grumble who tried to scare others with his bad tooth. Stella wasn’t afraid. She told Grumble he had great hair, and he felt so pleased that he let her pass.

As she crossed the bridge, a strong wind almost pushed Stella away. Her rainbow started to disappear, and she needed something to grab onto. Quickly, she turned her rainbow into a rope and caught a cloud. Riding the cloud, she moved safely across the bridge. Everyone who saw it was amazed.

Stella made it to the contest, where she saw animals doing amazing things. Squirrels were surfing on leaves, birds sang special songs, and there was even a kind dragon. When it was Stella’s turn, she made the biggest and brightest rainbow that anyone had ever seen. The crowd cheered loudly, and Stella felt so proud.

In the end, Stella won. When she got the magic dust, she didn’t use it just for herself. Instead, she wished for all the animals to always feel happy and loved. The field became a place where everyone laughed and was friends. Stella learned that the best thing about rainbows wasn’t how they looked but the happiness they brought to others. From that day on, every rainbow Stella made was to share joy and remind everyone to be kind and loving.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1unicornA magical horse with a horn on its head
2twirlingSpinning around quickly
3contestA competition where people try to win
4inviteA written or spoken request to come to an event
5trollA creature in stories that is often mean and ugly
6amazedVery surprised and impressed
7disappearVanished, could not be seen anymore
8grabbedTook hold of something quickly and firmly
9cheeredShouted happily because they were excited
10proudFeeling very happy about something you did
11wishedHoped for something to happen
12joyA feeling of great happiness

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story?
2. What could Stella do by jumping and twirling?
3. What did Stella find on her horn one morning?
4. Who did Stella meet on the rainbow bridge?
5. How did Stella cross the bridge safely?
6. What did Stella wish for with the magic dust she won?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a land (1)______ of magic, there was a small unicorn named Stella who lived in a green field near big mountains. Stella could make (2)______s any time she wanted by jumping and twirling. When she did this, bright (3)______ from her hair would stretch across the sky into a pretty rainbow. Stella loved to make rainbows, and all the animals in the field felt happy when they saw them.

One morning, Stella found a note on her horn. It was an invite to a special contest at the end of the rainbow bridge, with a prize of (4)______ dust that could make any wish come true. (5)______ excited, Stella ran towards the rainbow bridge, leaving a trail of rainbow colors behind her.

When Stella got to the bridge, she saw a tricky troll named Grumble who tried to scare others with his bad tooth. Stella wasn’t afraid. She told Grumble he had (6)______ hair, and he felt so pleased that he let her pass.

As she crossed the bridge, a strong wind almost pushed Stella away. Her rainbow started to disappear, and she needed something to grab onto. Quickly, she turned her rainbow into a rope and caught a cloud. Riding the cloud, she (7)______ safely across the bridge. Everyone who saw it was amazed.

Stella made it to the contest, where she saw animals doing amazing things. Squirrels were surfing on leaves, birds sang special songs, and there was even a kind dragon. When it was Stella’s turn, she made the biggest and (8)______ rainbow that anyone had ever (9)______. The crowd cheered loudly, and Stella felt so proud.

In the end, Stella won. When she got the magic dust, she didn’t use it just for herself. Instead, she wished for all the animals to always feel happy and loved. The field became a place where everyone (10)______ and was friends. Stella learned that the best thing about rainbows wasn’t how they looked but the happiness they brought to others. From that day on, every rainbow Stella (11)______ was to share joy and remind everyone to be (12)______ and loving.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a rainbow and why do you think Stella liked making them?
2. How would you feel if you received an invitation to a special contest? Why?
3. Do you think it was brave of Stella to talk to the tricky troll? Why or why not?
4. If you had the power to make rainbows, what would you do with it? Why?
5. How do you think the animals in the field felt when they saw Stella’s rainbows? Why?
6. What do you think is the most amazing thing you can do? Why?
7. Do you think it was fair for Stella to win the contest? Why or why not?
8. Why do you think Stella used her wish to make all the animals happy instead of using it for herself?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. unicorn
2. twirling
3. contest
4. invite
5. troll
6. amazed
7. disappear
8. grabbed
9. cheered
10. proud
11. wished
12. joy

Meanings:
(A) A magical horse with a horn on its head
(B) A creature in stories that is often mean and ugly
(C) A written or spoken request to come to an event
(D) Spinning around quickly
(E) Feeling very happy about something you did
(F) Very surprised and impressed
(G) Vanished, could not be seen anymore
(H) Took hold of something quickly and firmly
(I) A competition where people try to win
(J) A feeling of great happiness
(K) Hoped for something to happen
(L) Shouted happily because they were excited
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What could Stella do whenever she wanted?
(a) Fly in the sky
(b) Talk to animals
(c) Make rainbows
(d) Grant wishes

2. Where did Stella live?
(a) In a green field near big mountains
(b) In a castle made of clouds
(c) In a deep, dark forest
(d) In a busy city

3. What did Stella find on her horn one morning?
(a) A shiny gemstone
(b) A magical wand
(c) A secret map
(d) An invite to a special contest

4. Who tried to scare Stella at the rainbow bridge?
(a) Sparkle the friendly fairy
(b) Fluffy the cuddly bunny
(c) Grumble the tricky troll
(d) Oliver the wise owl

5. How did Stella overcome the strong wind at the bridge?
(a) She flew over the bridge on the back of a bird
(b) She used her magic dust to create a shield
(c) She called for help from the other animals
(d) She turned her rainbow into a rope and caught a cloud

6. What did Stella see animals doing at the contest?
(a) Amazing things
(b) Sleeping and eating
(c) Playing games
(d) Building a castle

7. What did Stella wish for when she won the contest?
(a) For a lifetime supply of rainbow-colored ice cream
(b) For all the animals to always feel happy and loved
(c) For a mansion made of gold and diamonds
(d) For the ability to fly like a bird

8. What did Stella learn about rainbows?
(a) They were made of magic dust
(b) The best thing about them was the happiness they brought to others
(c) They could grant any wish
(d) They were a symbol of good luck

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. As Stella crosses the bridge, a strong wind threatens to blow her away, but she turns her rainbow into a rope and catches a cloud to save herself.
2. Stella encounters a tricky troll named Grumble who tries to scare her with his bad tooth.
3. Stella loses the contest and uses her wish to make all the animals in the field always feel sad and unloved.
4. Stella received an invitation to a special contest at the end of the rainbow bridge.
5. Stella insensitively insults Grumble’s hair, which makes him upset and prevents her from passing.
6. The prize for the contest is magic dust that can grant any wish.
7. At the contest, Stella sees other animals doing ordinary things like crawling on leaves and humming regular songs.
8. Stella is a large unicorn who lives in a mundane land and cannot make rainbows whenever she wants.
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 of the story?
The main character of the story is Stella, a small unicorn.

2. What could Stella do by jumping and twirling?
Stella could make rainbows by jumping and twirling.

3. What did Stella find on her horn one morning?
Stella found an invite to a special contest on her horn one morning.

4. Who did Stella meet on the rainbow bridge?
Stella met a tricky troll named Grumble on the rainbow bridge.

5. How did Stella cross the bridge safely?
Stella turned her rainbow into a rope and caught a cloud to cross the bridge safely.

6. What did Stella wish for with the magic dust she won?
Stella wished for all the animals to always feel happy and loved with the magic dust she won.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) full
(2) rainbow
(3) lights
(4) magic
(5) Feeling
(6) great
(7) moved
(8) brightest
(9) seen
(10) laughed
(11) made
(12) kind
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. unicorn
Answer: (A) A magical horse with a horn on its head

2. twirling
Answer: (D) Spinning around quickly

3. contest
Answer: (I) A competition where people try to win

4. invite
Answer: (C) A written or spoken request to come to an event

5. troll
Answer: (B) A creature in stories that is often mean and ugly

6. amazed
Answer: (F) Very surprised and impressed

7. disappear
Answer: (G) Vanished, could not be seen anymore

8. grabbed
Answer: (H) Took hold of something quickly and firmly

9. cheered
Answer: (L) Shouted happily because they were excited

10. proud
Answer: (E) Feeling very happy about something you did

11. wished
Answer: (K) Hoped for something to happen

12. joy
Answer: (J) A feeling of great happiness
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What could Stella do whenever she wanted?
Answer: (c) Make rainbows

2. Where did Stella live?
Answer: (a) In a green field near big mountains

3. What did Stella find on her horn one morning?
Answer: (d) An invite to a special contest

4. Who tried to scare Stella at the rainbow bridge?
Answer: (c) Grumble the tricky troll

5. How did Stella overcome the strong wind at the bridge?
Answer: (d) She turned her rainbow into a rope and caught a cloud

6. What did Stella see animals doing at the contest?
Answer: (a) Amazing things

7. What did Stella wish for when she won the contest?
Answer: (b) For all the animals to always feel happy and loved

8. What did Stella learn about rainbows?
Answer: (b) The best thing about them was the happiness they brought to others
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. As Stella crosses the bridge, a strong wind threatens to blow her away, but she turns her rainbow into a rope and catches a cloud to save herself. (Answer: True)
2. Stella encounters a tricky troll named Grumble who tries to scare her with his bad tooth. (Answer: True)
3. Stella loses the contest and uses her wish to make all the animals in the field always feel sad and unloved. (Answer: False)
4. Stella received an invitation to a special contest at the end of the rainbow bridge. (Answer: True)
5. Stella insensitively insults Grumble’s hair, which makes him upset and prevents her from passing. (Answer: False)
6. The prize for the contest is magic dust that can grant any wish. (Answer: True)
7. At the contest, Stella sees other animals doing ordinary things like crawling on leaves and humming regular songs. (Answer: False)
8. Stella is a large unicorn who lives in a mundane land and cannot make rainbows whenever she wants. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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

The Mystery of the Missing Moon

One night, the moon disappeared in Sunfield, and Milo wanted to find out where it went. He discovered that the animals in Dark Forest had hidden it while playing a game, so he and his new friend Oliver the owl gathered everyone to search for it. Finally, they found the moon and put it back in the sky, teaching everyone the power of teamwork and friendship.

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.

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

The Patchwork Path

Lily goes on an exciting adventure using a magical blanket that takes her on a journey full of talking animals, secret treasures, and brave moments.

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!

The Magic of Friendship

Once upon a time, there were two best friends named Susan and Sarah. They were always together and shared a

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