Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Rainbow Fish’s Journey

A fish named Rainbow learns the importance of sharing its unique beauty with others.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In the ocean, there was a special fish called Rainbow. Rainbow had shiny, colorful scales that looked like a rainbow. Other fish liked to watch Rainbow swim because it was so pretty.

One day, Rainbow noticed it was alone. It asked a small fish named Finny why. Finny told Rainbow that the other fish thought Rainbow didn’t want to share its shiny scales and that it was acting selfish.

Rainbow felt bad and wanted to fix things. It decided to ask for help from a smart octopus that lived deep in the sea. On its way, Rainbow met a big whale and a little hermit crab, who showed Rainbow interesting things in the ocean.

When Rainbow found the octopus, it told the octopus the problem. The octopus gave Rainbow a magic pearl that could make more scales. The octopus said sharing would make Rainbow even more special.

Rainbow used the magic pearl to give scales to the other fish. They were so happy and realized Rainbow was kind. They all swam together, looking like a moving rainbow. The fish learned that it’s more beautiful to share and be kind to each other.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1specialNot like others, unique or different in a good way
2colorfulHaving many different colors
3selfishThinking only about yourself, not caring about others
4smartHaving a good brain, able to think well
5octopusA sea creature with eight long arms
6magicNot real, like in fairy tales, can do amazing things
7pearlA small, round, shiny object that comes from inside an oyster
8sharingGiving some of what you have to others
9realizedUnderstood something after thinking about it
10kindNice and caring towards others
11togetherWith someone else, not alone
12beautifulVery pretty or nice to look at

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What made Rainbow special?
2. Why did the other fish think Rainbow was being selfish?
3. Who did Rainbow ask for help?
4. What did the octopus give Rainbow?
5. How did the other fish feel when Rainbow shared its scales?
6. What did the fish learn at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In the ocean, there was a special fish called (1)______. Rainbow had shiny, (2)______ scales that looked like a rainbow. Other fish liked to watch Rainbow swim because it was so pretty.

One day, Rainbow noticed it was alone. It asked a small fish (3)______ Finny why. Finny told Rainbow that the other fish thought Rainbow didn’t want to share its shiny scales and that it was acting selfish.

Rainbow (4)______ bad and wanted to fix (5)______. It decided to ask for help from a (6)______ octopus that lived deep in the sea. On its way, Rainbow met a big whale and a little hermit crab, who showed Rainbow interesting things in the ocean.

When Rainbow found the octopus, it (7)______ the octopus the problem. The octopus gave Rainbow a magic pearl that could (8)______ more scales. The octopus said (9)______ would make Rainbow even more special.

Rainbow used the magic (10)______ to give scales to the other fish. They were so happy and realized Rainbow was (11)______. They all swam together, looking like a moving rainbow. The fish (12)______ that it’s more beautiful to share and be kind to each other.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a special fish called Rainbow?
2. How would you feel if you were Rainbow and all the other fish thought you were selfish?
3. Do you like the idea of a magic pearl that can make more scales? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the other fish learned from Rainbow?
5. How would you feel if you were one of the other fish and Rainbow gave you shiny scales?
6. What interesting things do you think the big whale and little hermit crab showed Rainbow in the ocean?
7. Do you think it’s important to share and be kind to each other? Why or why not?
8. How do you think the other fish felt when they realized Rainbow was kind?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. special
2. colorful
3. selfish
4. smart
5. octopus
6. magic
7. pearl
8. sharing
9. realized
10. kind
11. together
12. beautiful

Meanings:
(A) Understood something after thinking about it
(B) Having many different colors
(C) Very pretty or nice to look at
(D) Nice and caring towards others
(E) Not real, like in fairy tales, can do amazing things
(F) Giving some of what you have to others
(G) A small, round, shiny object that comes from inside an oyster
(H) Thinking only about yourself, not caring about others
(I) A sea creature with eight long arms
(J) With someone else, not alone
(K) Having a good brain, able to think well
(L) Not like others, unique or different in a good way
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did the other fish think Rainbow was acting selfish?
(a) Rainbow was swimming too fast.
(b) They thought Rainbow didn’t want to share its shiny scales.
(c) Rainbow was hiding from the other fish.
(d) The other fish were jealous of Rainbow’s colorful scales.

2. Who did Rainbow ask for help?
(a) A friendly seahorse.
(b) A wise dolphin.
(c) A clever shark.
(d) A smart octopus.

3. What did the octopus give Rainbow?
(a) A shiny shell.
(b) A golden crown.
(c) A secret map.
(d) A magic pearl.

4. What did Rainbow do with the magic pearl?
(a) Kept it hidden for itself.
(b) Used it to make more scales to share with the other fish.
(c) Gave it to the octopus as a thank you gift.
(d) Threw it back into the ocean.

5. How did the other fish react when Rainbow shared its scales?
(a) They were happy and realized Rainbow was kind.
(b) They became jealous and swam away.
(c) They didn’t care and ignored Rainbow.
(d) They thought Rainbow was showing off.

6. What did the fish learn from this experience?
(a) It’s more beautiful to share and be kind to each other.
(b) It’s better to keep things to themselves.
(c) Rainbow’s scales were actually fake.
(d) The ocean is a dangerous place.

7. What did the big whale and the little hermit crab show Rainbow?
(a) A secret hiding spot.
(b) How to swim faster.
(c) Interesting things in the ocean.
(d) How to catch food.

8. Why did the other fish like to watch Rainbow swim?
(a) Rainbow was the fastest swimmer in the ocean.
(b) Rainbow could perform tricks underwater.
(c) Rainbow had shiny, colorful scales that looked like a rainbow.
(d) Rainbow was the only fish with scales.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Rainbow recognizes it is not alone and asks a small fish named Finny why.
2. Other fish enjoy watching Rainbow swim because it is very pretty.
3. Finny tells Rainbow that the other fish think it is selfish and doesn’t want to share its shiny scales.
4. Rainbow decides to avoid help from a smart octopus that lives deep in the sea.
5. Rainbow feels good and wants to maintain things.
6. On its way to find the octopus, Rainbow meets a big whale and a little hermit crab who show it interesting things in the ocean.
7. There is a fish named Rainbow who has shiny, colorful scales that look like a rainbow.
8. The octopus gives Rainbow a regular pearl that cannot create more scales, and Rainbow uses it to keep to itself, making them realize that Rainbow is unkind and they all swim apart, looking separate and not like a moving rainbow.
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 made Rainbow special?
Rainbow was special because it had shiny, colorful scales that looked like a rainbow.

2. Why did the other fish think Rainbow was being selfish?
The other fish thought Rainbow was being selfish because they thought Rainbow didn’t want to share its shiny scales.

3. Who did Rainbow ask for help?
Rainbow asked a smart octopus for help.

4. What did the octopus give Rainbow?
The octopus gave Rainbow a magic pearl that could make more scales.

5. How did the other fish feel when Rainbow shared its scales?
The other fish felt happy when Rainbow shared its scales.

6. What did the fish learn at the end of the story?
The fish learned that it’s more beautiful to share and be kind to each other.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Rainbow
(2) colorful
(3) named
(4) felt
(5) things
(6) smart
(7) told
(8) make
(9) sharing
(10) pearl
(11) kind
(12) learned
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. special
Answer: (L) Not like others, unique or different in a good way

2. colorful
Answer: (B) Having many different colors

3. selfish
Answer: (H) Thinking only about yourself, not caring about others

4. smart
Answer: (K) Having a good brain, able to think well

5. octopus
Answer: (I) A sea creature with eight long arms

6. magic
Answer: (E) Not real, like in fairy tales, can do amazing things

7. pearl
Answer: (G) A small, round, shiny object that comes from inside an oyster

8. sharing
Answer: (F) Giving some of what you have to others

9. realized
Answer: (A) Understood something after thinking about it

10. kind
Answer: (D) Nice and caring towards others

11. together
Answer: (J) With someone else, not alone

12. beautiful
Answer: (C) Very pretty or nice to look at
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did the other fish think Rainbow was acting selfish?
Answer: (b) They thought Rainbow didn’t want to share its shiny scales.

2. Who did Rainbow ask for help?
Answer: (d) A smart octopus.

3. What did the octopus give Rainbow?
Answer: (d) A magic pearl.

4. What did Rainbow do with the magic pearl?
Answer: (b) Used it to make more scales to share with the other fish.

5. How did the other fish react when Rainbow shared its scales?
Answer: (a) They were happy and realized Rainbow was kind.

6. What did the fish learn from this experience?
Answer: (a) It’s more beautiful to share and be kind to each other.

7. What did the big whale and the little hermit crab show Rainbow?
Answer: (c) Interesting things in the ocean.

8. Why did the other fish like to watch Rainbow swim?
Answer: (c) Rainbow had shiny, colorful scales that looked like a rainbow.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Rainbow recognizes it is not alone and asks a small fish named Finny why. (Answer: False)
2. Other fish enjoy watching Rainbow swim because it is very pretty. (Answer: True)
3. Finny tells Rainbow that the other fish think it is selfish and doesn’t want to share its shiny scales. (Answer: True)
4. Rainbow decides to avoid help from a smart octopus that lives deep in the sea. (Answer: False)
5. Rainbow feels good and wants to maintain things. (Answer: False)
6. On its way to find the octopus, Rainbow meets a big whale and a little hermit crab who show it interesting things in the ocean. (Answer: True)
7. There is a fish named Rainbow who has shiny, colorful scales that look like a rainbow. (Answer: True)
8. The octopus gives Rainbow a regular pearl that cannot create more scales, and Rainbow uses it to keep to itself, making them realize that Rainbow is unkind and they all swim apart, looking separate and not like a moving rainbow. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A lonely turtle named Timothy embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a hidden cove.

The Lonely Turtle

Timothy the turtle was sad because he didn’t have any friends to play with. But one day, he found a magical compass that could help him find friends. Timothy followed the compass on an exciting adventure and eventually found a group of turtles who welcomed him with open arms. Now, Timothy is no longer lonely because he has found friends who like him for who he is.

The Big Ghost

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a big ghost named Ghoulie. Ghoulie was a friendly ghost,

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