Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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The Adventures of Freddie Firefly

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical forest that was very colorful and full of cool animals, there was a firefly named Freddie. Freddie was playful and nice, and he liked to glow brightly. He loved going on wild adventures in the forest. Every night, when the sun went away, Freddie’s light would make the whole forest look amazing and feel like a dream.

One night, Freddie wanted to try something bold. He aimed to fly to the very top of the highest tree in the woods. As he was flying up, the wind was blowing the leaves around. But then a really strong wind pushed Freddie into a spider’s web. The spider wanted to eat Freddie, but Freddie was smart. He moved his wings fast and got away, leaving the spider surprised and still hungry.

Freddie didn’t give up on getting to the top of the tree. On his way, he met a sad caterpillar that was lost. Being nice, Freddie helped the caterpillar find its way home, shining his light so they could see the path. They became friends, and the caterpillar was happy again.

Finally, after a lot of flying, Freddie got to the treetop. Some wise owls lived there, and they taught him good lessons. They talked to Freddie about aiming high, trying new things, and helping others. They also said it’s fine to mess up sometimes if you learn from it.

As Freddie was heading back down, he thought about the spider he met before. Freddie realized the spider wasn’t just scary—it was also a creature that could be his friend. So Freddie went back to the spider, to show it how to be kind and make friends. When Freddie returned to the rest of the forest, he told everyone about his adventures. He taught them to be brave, to be friends, and to forgive. The forest became an even better place because of Freddie and everything he learned.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that seems to have special powers, like in a fairy tale
2adventuresExciting experiences that involve risks or discoveries
3aimTo have a goal or target in mind
4boldDaring or courageous, willing to take risks
5playfulFull of fun and liking to play around
6amazingSomething that is so impressive it almost doesn’t seem real
7wiseHaving a lot of knowledge, often because of age and experience
8mess upTo make a mistake or do something wrong
9forgiveTo stop blaming someone and no longer feel angry about their mistakes
10creatureA living being, especially one that is not a human or plant
11realizeTo understand or become aware of something
12taughtTo give someone knowledge or information
13headingTo go in a particular direction
14glowingShining with a soft and steady light
15forgiveTo stop blaming someone and no longer feel angry about their mistakes

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Freddie like to do in the forest?
3. Why did Freddie end up in a spider’s web?
4. How did Freddie escape from the spider?
5. Who did Freddie meet while trying to reach the top of the tree?
6. What lessons did the wise owls teach Freddie?
7. How did Freddie make the forest a better place?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ (2)______ that was very colorful and full of cool animals, there was a firefly named Freddie. Freddie was playful and nice, and he liked to glow brightly. He loved (3)______ on wild adventures in the forest. Every night, when the sun went away, Freddie’s light would make the whole forest look amazing and feel like a dream.

One night, Freddie wanted to try something bold. He aimed to fly to the very top of the (4)______ tree in the woods. As he was flying up, the wind was blowing the (5)______ around. But then a really strong wind pushed Freddie into a spider’s web. The spider wanted to eat Freddie, but Freddie was smart. He moved his (6)______ fast and got away, (7)______ the spider surprised and still (8)______.

Freddie didn’t give up on getting to the top of the tree. On his way, he met a sad caterpillar that was lost. Being nice, Freddie helped the caterpillar find its way home, shining his light so they could see the path. They became friends, and the caterpillar was happy again.

Finally, after a lot of flying, (9)______ got to the treetop. Some wise owls lived there, and they taught him good lessons. They talked to Freddie about aiming high, trying new things, and helping (10)______. They also said it’s fine to mess up sometimes if you (11)______ from it.

As Freddie was (12)______ back down, he thought about the (13)______ he met before. Freddie (14)______ the spider wasn’t just scary—it was also a (15)______ that could be his friend. So Freddie went back to the spider, to show it how to be kind and make (16)______. When Freddie returned to the rest of the forest, he told everyone about his adventures. He taught them to be brave, to be friends, and to forgive. The forest became an even better place because of Freddie and everything he learned.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a firefly and what do they do?
2. How would you feel if you were stuck in a spider’s web? Why?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to help others? Why or why not?
5. How do you think Freddie felt when he finally reached the treetop? Why?
6. What do you think the owls taught Freddie? Why do you think those lessons are important?
7. How would you feel if you met a scary spider? Why?
8. Do you think it’s important to forgive others? Why or why not?
9. How do you think Freddie’s adventures changed the forest? Why?
10. What lessons did Freddie teach the other animals in the forest? Why do you think those lessons are important?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. adventures
3. aim
4. bold
5. playful
6. amazing
7. wise
8. mess up
9. forgive
10. creature
11. realize
12. taught
13. heading
14. glowing
15. forgive

Meanings:
(A) To have a goal or target in mind
(B) Having a lot of knowledge, often because of age and experience
(C) Something that seems to have special powers, like in a fairy tale
(D) Daring or courageous, willing to take risks
(E) To stop blaming someone and no longer feel angry about their mistakes
(F) To give someone knowledge or information
(G) A living being, especially one that is not a human or plant
(H) Something that is so impressive it almost doesn’t seem real
(I) To make a mistake or do something wrong
(J) To go in a particular direction
(K) To stop blaming someone and no longer feel angry about their mistakes
(L) Full of fun and liking to play around
(M) Exciting experiences that involve risks or discoveries
(N) To understand or become aware of something
(O) Shining with a soft and steady light
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the firefly in the story?
(a) Bobby
(b) Freddie
(c) Charlie
(d) Sammy

2. What did Freddie like to do in the forest?
(a) Sleep all day
(b) Eat leaves
(c) Hide from other animals
(d) Go on wild adventures

3. What happened to Freddie when he was flying up to the top of the tree?
(a) He got caught in a spider’s web
(b) He found a treasure chest
(c) He met a group of wise owls
(d) He got lost in the forest

4. How did Freddie escape from the spider’s web?
(a) He moved his wings fast
(b) He called for help
(c) He pretended to be dead
(d) He asked the spider to let him go

5. Who did Freddie meet on his way to the treetop?
(a) A scary snake
(b) A playful squirrel
(c) A sad caterpillar
(d) A wise owl

6. What did Freddie do to help the caterpillar?
(a) Played a game with it
(b) Gave it a ride on his back
(c) Ignored it and flew away
(d) Shined his light to show the way

7. What did Freddie learn from the wise owls?
(a) To be scared of spiders
(b) To stay away from the treetop
(c) To aim high and try new things
(d) To never help others

8. What did Freddie do when he returned to the forest?
(a) Kept his adventures a secret
(b) Told everyone about his adventures and taught them to be brave and forgiving
(c) Went to sleep and didn’t talk to anyone
(d) Forgot about the spider and the caterpillar

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. One night, Freddie gets caught in a spider’s web but manages to escape.
2. Freddie returns to the spider to teach it how to be kind and make friends.
3. Freddie loves to go on exciting adventures in the forest.
4. Foolish crows living in the treetop confuse Freddie with pointless life lessons.
5. Freddie never reaches the top of the highest tree in the forest.
6. Freddie helps a lost caterpillar find its way home and they become friends.
7. Freddie is a spider who lives in a dull and colorless forest.
8. Freddie’s light makes the whole forest look dreary and nightmarish at night.
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?
Freddie.

2. What did Freddie like to do in the forest?
Freddie liked to go on wild adventures and glow brightly.

3. Why did Freddie end up in a spider’s web?
Freddie was pushed into the spider’s web by a strong wind.

4. How did Freddie escape from the spider?
Freddie moved his wings fast and got away from the spider.

5. Who did Freddie meet while trying to reach the top of the tree?
Freddie met a sad caterpillar who was lost.

6. What lessons did the wise owls teach Freddie?
The wise owls taught Freddie to aim high, try new things, help others, and learn from mistakes.

7. How did Freddie make the forest a better place?
Freddie made the forest a better place by teaching the other animals to be brave, be friends, and forgive.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) magical
(2) forest
(3) going
(4) highest
(5) leaves
(6) wings
(7) leaving
(8) hungry
(9) Freddie
(10) others
(11) learn
(12) heading
(13) spider
(14) realized
(15) creature
(16) friends
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (C) Something that seems to have special powers, like in a fairy tale

2. adventures
Answer: (M) Exciting experiences that involve risks or discoveries

3. aim
Answer: (A) To have a goal or target in mind

4. bold
Answer: (D) Daring or courageous, willing to take risks

5. playful
Answer: (L) Full of fun and liking to play around

6. amazing
Answer: (H) Something that is so impressive it almost doesn’t seem real

7. wise
Answer: (B) Having a lot of knowledge, often because of age and experience

8. mess up
Answer: (I) To make a mistake or do something wrong

9. forgive
Answer: (E) To stop blaming someone and no longer feel angry about their mistakes

10. creature
Answer: (G) A living being, especially one that is not a human or plant

11. realize
Answer: (N) To understand or become aware of something

12. taught
Answer: (F) To give someone knowledge or information

13. heading
Answer: (J) To go in a particular direction

14. glowing
Answer: (O) Shining with a soft and steady light

15. forgive
Answer: (E) To stop blaming someone and no longer feel angry about their mistakes
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the firefly in the story?
Answer: (b) Freddie

2. What did Freddie like to do in the forest?
Answer: (d) Go on wild adventures

3. What happened to Freddie when he was flying up to the top of the tree?
Answer: (a) He got caught in a spider’s web

4. How did Freddie escape from the spider’s web?
Answer: (a) He moved his wings fast

5. Who did Freddie meet on his way to the treetop?
Answer: (c) A sad caterpillar

6. What did Freddie do to help the caterpillar?
Answer: (d) Shined his light to show the way

7. What did Freddie learn from the wise owls?
Answer: (c) To aim high and try new things

8. What did Freddie do when he returned to the forest?
Answer: (b) Told everyone about his adventures and taught them to be brave and forgiving
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. One night, Freddie gets caught in a spider’s web but manages to escape. (Answer: True)
2. Freddie returns to the spider to teach it how to be kind and make friends. (Answer: True)
3. Freddie loves to go on exciting adventures in the forest. (Answer: True)
4. Foolish crows living in the treetop confuse Freddie with pointless life lessons. (Answer: False)
5. Freddie never reaches the top of the highest tree in the forest. (Answer: False)
6. Freddie helps a lost caterpillar find its way home and they become friends. (Answer: True)
7. Freddie is a spider who lives in a dull and colorless forest. (Answer: False)
8. Freddie’s light makes the whole forest look dreary and nightmarish at night. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

Freddie the squirrel learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of happiness and unity.

The Peacock Parade

Freddie the squirrel learns that the best things in life are experiences shared with friends.

The Ice Cream Island

Johnny’s adventure to Ice Cream Island taught everyone the importance of sharing and kindness.

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