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 Butterfly Who Lost Her Colors

Bella, a butterfly with vibrant wings, embarks on a treacherous journey to restore her colors.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical meadow, there was a pretty butterfly named Bella with bright, multi-colored wings. She loved to fly around, making all the other animals happy. One day, while visiting some new flowers, a cheeky squirrel who liked bright things sneaked up on Bella and took her colorful wings!

Bella felt really sad when she saw her plain wings; she couldn’t make her friends smile anymore. She wanted to fix this, so she flew to a wise old owl for help. The owl told her about a special flower on a faraway mountain that could fix her wings. He said the journey would be hard, but she could do it if she believed in herself.

Bella decided to be brave and look for the flower. She faced scary storms and climbed high cliffs, but she never gave up. After a long time, she made it to the top of the mountain and found the magic flower. Bella touched her wings to the flower and watched as they filled with color again.

Filled with happiness, Bella flew back home. She saw how beautiful the world was, even more than before. When she got back, all her friends, including the squirrel, were amazed by her wings. Bella learned an important lesson: that what makes you beautiful is who you are inside, and true friends like you for you, not just for how you look.

Bella spread love and was kind to everyone after that, flying around with confidence. She even forgave the squirrel and taught him not to take things that weren’t his. And the meadow? It was a happy place with bright flowers, lovely butterflies, and friends who appreciated each other’s true selves.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalHaving special powers or creating a feeling of enchantment
2cheekyBeing playful and slightly rude or disrespectful in a fun way
3sneakedMoved quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed
4plainSimple and not decorated or without any special features
5wiseHaving a lot of knowledge, especially because of age and experience
6journeyA trip from one place to another, often a long and difficult one
7braveHaving courage and not being afraid to face difficult situations
8stormsSevere weather with a lot of rain, wind, or thunder and lightning
9cliffsSteep and high rock faces, especially at the edge of the sea
10happinessA feeling of great pleasure and joy
11amazedExtremely surprised or impressed by something
12confidenceBelief in one’s own abilities and being sure of oneself
13forgaveTo stop being angry at someone for something they did wrong
14appreciatedTo recognize the value of someone or something and be grateful for them
15lovelyAttractive or beautiful, especially in a graceful way

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What happened to Bella’s wings?
3. Where did Bella go for help?
4. What did the owl tell Bella about?
5. What challenges did Bella face on her journey?
6. What did Bella find at the top of the mountain?
7. What lesson did Bella learn from her journey?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical meadow, there was a pretty butterfly named (1)______ with bright, multi-colored wings. She loved to fly around, making all the other animals happy. One day, while visiting some new (2)______, a cheeky squirrel who liked bright things sneaked up on Bella and took her (3)______ wings!

Bella felt really sad when she saw her (4)______ wings; she couldn’t make her friends smile anymore. She wanted to fix this, so she flew to a wise old owl for help. The owl told her about a special (5)______ on a faraway mountain that could fix her wings. He said the (6)______ would be hard, but she could do it if she believed in herself.

Bella (7)______ to be brave and look for the flower. She faced (8)______ storms and climbed high cliffs, but she never gave up. After a long time, she made it to the top of the mountain and found the magic flower. Bella touched her (9)______ to the flower and (10)______ as they filled with color again.

Filled with happiness, Bella flew back home. She saw how beautiful the world was, even more than before. When she got back, all her (11)______, (12)______ the squirrel, were amazed by her wings. Bella learned an important lesson: that what makes you beautiful is who you are inside, and true friends like you for you, not just for how you look.

Bella spread love and was kind to everyone after that, (13)______ around with confidence. She even forgave the squirrel and taught him not to take things that weren’t his. And the (14)______? It was a happy (15)______ with bright flowers, lovely (16)______, and friends who appreciated each other’s true selves.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a butterfly? Why do you think Bella loved to fly around and make the other animals happy?
2. How would you feel if someone took something important from you, like Bella’s colorful wings? Why?
3. Do you think it was a good idea for Bella to ask the wise old owl for help? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever faced a difficult challenge or journey in your life? How did you overcome it?
5. How do you think Bella felt when she finally found the magic flower and her wings became colorful again? Why?
6. Do you think Bella’s friends were surprised by her beautiful wings? Why or why not?
7. What do you think is the most important lesson Bella learned? Why is it important to be kind and forgive others?
8. How do you think Bella’s kindness and forgiveness changed the meadow? Why is it important to spread love and be kind to others?
9. Do you think it’s more important to be beautiful on the outside or on the inside? Why or why not?
10. Can you think of a time when someone appreciated you for who you are, not just for how you look? How did it make you feel?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. cheeky
3. sneaked
4. plain
5. wise
6. journey
7. brave
8. storms
9. cliffs
10. happiness
11. amazed
12. confidence
13. forgave
14. appreciated
15. lovely

Meanings:
(A) Moved quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed
(B) To recognize the value of someone or something and be grateful for them
(C) A feeling of great pleasure and joy
(D) Belief in one’s own abilities and being sure of oneself
(E) Steep and high rock faces, especially at the edge of the sea
(F) Having courage and not being afraid to face difficult situations
(G) A trip from one place to another, often a long and difficult one
(H) Severe weather with a lot of rain, wind, or thunder and lightning
(I) Being playful and slightly rude or disrespectful in a fun way
(J) Having special powers or creating a feeling of enchantment
(K) To stop being angry at someone for something they did wrong
(L) Having a lot of knowledge, especially because of age and experience
(M) Extremely surprised or impressed by something
(N) Simple and not decorated or without any special features
(O) Attractive or beautiful, especially in a graceful way
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the butterfly in the story?
(a) Daisy
(b) Bella
(c) Lily
(d) Rosie

2. What did the squirrel take from Bella?
(a) Her flowers
(b) Her food
(c) Her colorful wings
(d) Her home

3. Who did Bella go to for help?
(a) The mischievous squirrel
(b) The wise old owl
(c) The friendly rabbit
(d) The playful fox

4. Where did the owl tell Bella to find the special flower?
(a) In a hidden cave
(b) Underneath a waterfall
(c) In a secret garden
(d) On a faraway mountain

5. What happened to Bella’s wings when she touched them to the magic flower?
(a) They filled with color again
(b) They disappeared completely
(c) They turned into leaves
(d) They became transparent

6. What did Bella learn from her journey?
(a) True friends only like you for how you look
(b) It’s important to always be the best at everything
(c) What makes you beautiful is who you are inside
(d) Taking things that aren’t yours is okay

7. How did Bella feel when she saw her colorful wings again?
(a) Filled with happiness
(b) Disappointed
(c) Angry
(d) Confused

8. How did Bella’s friends react when they saw her colorful wings?
(a) They were jealous
(b) They were scared
(c) They were angry
(d) They were amazed

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A mischievous squirrel returns Bella’s colorful wings, leaving her feeling happy and able to make her friends smile.
2. Filled with sadness, Bella returns home to find her friends, including the squirrel, uninterested in her beautiful wings.
3. Bella eventually reaches the top of the mountain and discovers the special flower that restores her wings to their colorful state.
4. Bella seeks help from a wise old owl who tells her about a special flower on a faraway mountain that can restore her wings.
5. Bella learns no important lesson about inner beauty and the value of true friendship, spreading hate and unkindness to everyone she encounters.
6. Bella is a butterfly with bright, multi-colored wings who brings joy to the other animals in a magical meadow.
7. Despite facing challenges like storms and cliffs, Bella remains determined and never gives up on her journey to find the magic flower.
8. The meadow becomes a sad place filled with wilted flowers, ugly butterflies, and friends who don’t appreciate each other for who they truly are.
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 Bella, the pretty butterfly.

2. What happened to Bella’s wings?
Bella’s wings were taken by a cheeky squirrel who liked bright things.

3. Where did Bella go for help?
Bella went to a wise old owl for help.

4. What did the owl tell Bella about?
The owl told Bella about a special flower on a faraway mountain that could fix her wings.

5. What challenges did Bella face on her journey?
Bella faced scary storms and had to climb high cliffs on her journey.

6. What did Bella find at the top of the mountain?
At the top of the mountain, Bella found a magic flower that could fix her wings.

7. What lesson did Bella learn from her journey?
Bella learned that what makes you beautiful is who you are inside, and true friends like you for you, not just for how you look.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Bella
(2) flowers
(3) colorful
(4) plain
(5) flower
(6) journey
(7) decided
(8) scary
(9) wings
(10) watched
(11) friends
(12) including
(13) flying
(14) meadow
(15) place
(16) butterflies
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (J) Having special powers or creating a feeling of enchantment

2. cheeky
Answer: (I) Being playful and slightly rude or disrespectful in a fun way

3. sneaked
Answer: (A) Moved quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed

4. plain
Answer: (N) Simple and not decorated or without any special features

5. wise
Answer: (L) Having a lot of knowledge, especially because of age and experience

6. journey
Answer: (G) A trip from one place to another, often a long and difficult one

7. brave
Answer: (F) Having courage and not being afraid to face difficult situations

8. storms
Answer: (H) Severe weather with a lot of rain, wind, or thunder and lightning

9. cliffs
Answer: (E) Steep and high rock faces, especially at the edge of the sea

10. happiness
Answer: (C) A feeling of great pleasure and joy

11. amazed
Answer: (M) Extremely surprised or impressed by something

12. confidence
Answer: (D) Belief in one’s own abilities and being sure of oneself

13. forgave
Answer: (K) To stop being angry at someone for something they did wrong

14. appreciated
Answer: (B) To recognize the value of someone or something and be grateful for them

15. lovely
Answer: (O) Attractive or beautiful, especially in a graceful way
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the butterfly in the story?
Answer: (b) Bella

2. What did the squirrel take from Bella?
Answer: (c) Her colorful wings

3. Who did Bella go to for help?
Answer: (b) The wise old owl

4. Where did the owl tell Bella to find the special flower?
Answer: (d) On a faraway mountain

5. What happened to Bella’s wings when she touched them to the magic flower?
Answer: (a) They filled with color again

6. What did Bella learn from her journey?
Answer: (c) What makes you beautiful is who you are inside

7. How did Bella feel when she saw her colorful wings again?
Answer: (a) Filled with happiness

8. How did Bella’s friends react when they saw her colorful wings?
Answer: (d) They were amazed
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A mischievous squirrel returns Bella’s colorful wings, leaving her feeling happy and able to make her friends smile. (Answer: False)
2. Filled with sadness, Bella returns home to find her friends, including the squirrel, uninterested in her beautiful wings. (Answer: False)
3. Bella eventually reaches the top of the mountain and discovers the special flower that restores her wings to their colorful state. (Answer: True)
4. Bella seeks help from a wise old owl who tells her about a special flower on a faraway mountain that can restore her wings. (Answer: True)
5. Bella learns no important lesson about inner beauty and the value of true friendship, spreading hate and unkindness to everyone she encounters. (Answer: False)
6. Bella is a butterfly with bright, multi-colored wings who brings joy to the other animals in a magical meadow. (Answer: True)
7. Despite facing challenges like storms and cliffs, Bella remains determined and never gives up on her journey to find the magic flower. (Answer: True)
8. The meadow becomes a sad place filled with wilted flowers, ugly butterflies, and friends who don’t appreciate each other for who they truly are. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A jolly jellyfish named Finley gets lost in the deep sea but finds new friends along the way.

The Jolly Jellyfish

A colorful jellyfish named Finley gets lost in the ocean but makes new friends along the way.

A small village is transformed by a baker's magical pies, teaching the importance of sharing.

The Peculiar Purple Pie

Mr. Higgins accidentally makes a magical pie that turns people into floating, singing, rhyming, and funny beings, bringing joy to the village, but greed threatens their happiness until they learn the importance of sharing.

In the end, it wasn't the blueberries that made the Bizarre Blueberry Banquet special, but the spirit of the village.

The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet

In a village called Berryville, the blueberries disappeared before the big party, but they found a secret blueberry bush and had a blast at the rain-soaked celebration.

A group of curious animals befriends a lost robot in the rainforest, and together they weather a storm.

The Robot in the Rainforest

A group of animals in the jungle befriends a funny robot named Robbie who helps them during a big storm and teaches them about friendship.

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