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 Daring Dragonfly

Dara the daring dragonfly embarks on a quest, only to discover that the true treasure is within.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a mystical forest, there lived a bold dragonfly named Dara. Unlike most dragonflies, Dara loved adventures and discovering new things. One day, as she was flying fast through the woods, she found a hidden map in a tree. When she saw it, her heart beat fast with excitement. She decided to go on a big adventure to find the treasure the map showed.

Before starting her journey, Dara went to see her friend Oscar, an old and smart owl. Oscar looked at the map and said, “To find the first treasure, you have to fly through a narrow canyon full of sneaky spiders. Be careful because they make sticky webs to catch bugs like you!” But Dara wasn’t afraid. She thanked Oscar and flew off to find the treasure.

Dara was quick and careful as she flew through the canyon, avoiding all the spider webs. Then, a strong wind pushed her into a group of bees. Dara moved fast and did some cool flips in the air to escape them. The bees got confused and dizzy, and Dara flew away, still smiling and ready for more adventure.

After facing many challenges, Dara finally reached where the treasure was supposed to be on the map. But there was no gold or gems, just a small pool of water. At first, she was confused, but then she understood that the real treasure was not money or jewels. It was about never giving up, finding fun in difficult times, and seeing the beauty of the world.

Dara went back to tell everyone in the forest about her journey. She encouraged them all to be brave, to love what makes them different, and to see every problem as a chance to grow. The forest became a lively place full of happiness and adventure because of Dara’s story. Dara, the brave dragonfly, became known as a hero who taught others to find their own treasures, no matter if they were big or small.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1mysticalMagical or enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale
2adventuresExciting experiences that involve risks or discoveries
3excitementA feeling of being very happy and thrilled
4journeyA long trip or quest, often with a specific purpose
5narrowThin or not wide, sometimes making it hard to move through
6sneakyTricky and good at not being noticed or caught
7stickyCovered with a substance that things stick to
8avoidingKeeping away from something or someone
9challengesDifficult situations that test your ability to deal with problems
10confusedNot sure about something or unable to understand it
11treasureSomething very valuable, often hidden and hard to find
12encouragedGave someone the confidence to do something
13livelyFull of energy and excitement
14heroA person admired for their courage or noble qualities
15differentNot the same as others, unique or special

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character of the story and what is her name?
2. What did Dara find in the tree while she was flying through the woods?
3. Who did Dara go to for advice before starting her adventure?
4. What did Oscar warn Dara about in the canyon?
5. How did Dara escape from the group of bees?
6. What did Dara find at the end of her journey?
7. How did Dara’s story change the forest?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ forest, there (2)______ a bold dragonfly named Dara. Unlike most dragonflies, Dara (3)______ adventures and discovering new things. One day, as she was flying fast through the woods, she found a (4)______ map in a tree. When she saw it, her heart beat fast with excitement. She decided to go on a big adventure to find the treasure the map showed.

Before starting her journey, Dara went to see her friend Oscar, an old and smart owl. Oscar looked at the map and said, “To find the first treasure, you have to fly through a narrow canyon full of sneaky (5)______s. Be careful because they make sticky webs to (6)______ bugs like you!” But Dara wasn’t afraid. She (7)______ Oscar and flew off to find the treasure.

Dara was quick and careful as she flew through the canyon, avoiding all the spider webs. Then, a strong wind pushed her into a (8)______ of bees. Dara moved fast and did some cool flips in the air to escape them. The bees got (9)______ and dizzy, and Dara flew away, still smiling and ready for more adventure.

After facing many challenges, Dara finally (10)______ where the treasure was supposed to be on the map. But there was no gold or gems, just a (11)______ pool of water. At first, she was confused, but then she understood that the real treasure was not (12)______ or jewels. It was about never giving up, finding fun in difficult times, and seeing the beauty of the world.

Dara went back to tell everyone in the forest about her (13)______. She encouraged them all to be brave, to love what makes them different, and to see every problem as a chance to grow. The forest (14)______ a lively place full of happiness and adventure because of Dara’s story. Dara, the brave dragonfly, became (15)______ as a hero who taught (16)______ to find their own treasures, no matter if they were big or small.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an adventure? Have you ever been on an adventure? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if you found a hidden map like Dara did? What would you do with it?
3. Do you think it’s important to have friends like Oscar who can give you advice? Why or why not?
4. How do you think Dara felt when she saw the treasure was just a small pool of water? Why do you think she still considered it a treasure?
5. What do you think Dara meant when she said the real treasure was about never giving up and finding fun in difficult times? Can you think of an example from your own life?
6. Why do you think Dara wanted to tell everyone in the forest about her journey? How do you think they felt after hearing her story?
7. Do you think it’s important to be brave like Dara? Why or why not? Can you think of a time when you had to be brave?
8. How do you think the forest changed after Dara’s story? Can you think of a time when a story or experience changed your perspective?
9. Do you think everyone has their own treasure, like Dara said? Why or why not? What do you think your treasure is?
10. Would you consider Dara a hero? Why or why not? Can you think of any other heroes in your life?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. mystical
2. adventures
3. excitement
4. journey
5. narrow
6. sneaky
7. sticky
8. avoiding
9. challenges
10. confused
11. treasure
12. encouraged
13. lively
14. hero
15. different

Meanings:
(A) A long trip or quest, often with a specific purpose
(B) Keeping away from something or someone
(C) Something very valuable, often hidden and hard to find
(D) Exciting experiences that involve risks or discoveries
(E) Full of energy and excitement
(F) Thin or not wide, sometimes making it hard to move through
(G) Difficult situations that test your ability to deal with problems
(H) Not the same as others, unique or special
(I) A person admired for their courage or noble qualities
(J) Gave someone the confidence to do something
(K) A feeling of being very happy and thrilled
(L) Magical or enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale
(M) Not sure about something or unable to understand it
(N) Covered with a substance that things stick to
(O) Tricky and good at not being noticed or caught
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Dara find in the mystical forest?
(a) A magical potion
(b) A hidden map
(c) A secret cave
(d) A treasure chest

2. Who did Dara go to for advice before starting her adventure?
(a) Lily, the ladybug
(b) Max, the mouse
(c) Oscar, the owl
(d) Bella, the butterfly

3. What did Oscar warn Dara about in the canyon?
(a) Sneaky spiders
(b) Hungry wolves
(c) Tricky trolls
(d) Mischievous monkeys

4. How did Dara escape from the group of bees?
(a) By hiding in a tree
(b) By doing cool flips in the air
(c) By pretending to be a flower
(d) By asking for help from other insects

5. What did Dara find at the end of her journey?
(a) A hidden cave full of treasure
(b) A secret passage to another world
(c) A small pool of water
(d) A magical amulet

6. What did Dara realize was the real treasure?
(a) Gold and jewels
(b) Fame and recognition
(c) Power and authority
(d) Never giving up and finding fun in difficult times

7. What did Dara do after finding the treasure?
(a) She went back to tell everyone in the forest about her journey
(b) She kept the treasure a secret and enjoyed it alone
(c) She went on another adventure to find more treasure
(d) She forgot about the treasure and moved on to something else

8. How did Dara become known in the forest?
(a) As a troublemaker who caused chaos in the forest
(b) As a scaredy-cat who was afraid of everything
(c) As a loner who never interacted with other animals
(d) As a hero who taught others to find their own treasures

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Dara, the dragonfly, loved exploring and going on adventures in the mystical forest.
2. Dara’s story transformed the forest into a lively and adventurous place, earning her the reputation of a hero who inspired others to find their own treasures, big or small.
3. Despite facing many challenges, Dara discovered that the real treasure was not material wealth but the lessons learned and the beauty of the world.
4. Dara found a visible map in a tree while walking through the woods.
5. Dara shared her journey and encouraged others in the forest to be brave, embrace their differences, and see problems as opportunities for growth.
6. Dara struggled to navigate through a wide canyon filled with spider webs.
7. Dara encountered a swarm of bees but failed to escape despite attempting cool flips in the air.
8. Dara’s friend Oscar, a young and foolish owl, hindered her deciphering the map and gave her false information about sneaky spiders.
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 and what is her name?
The main character of the story is a dragonfly named Dara.

2. What did Dara find in the tree while she was flying through the woods?
Dara found a hidden map in the tree.

3. Who did Dara go to for advice before starting her adventure?
Dara went to her friend Oscar, an old and smart owl, for advice before starting her adventure.

4. What did Oscar warn Dara about in the canyon?
Oscar warned Dara about the sneaky spiders in the narrow canyon who make sticky webs to catch bugs.

5. How did Dara escape from the group of bees?
Dara did some cool flips in the air to confuse and escape from the group of bees.

6. What did Dara find at the end of her journey?
At the end of her journey, Dara found a small pool of water, which she realized was the real treasure.

7. How did Dara’s story change the forest?
Dara’s story inspired and encouraged everyone in the forest to be brave, love what makes them different, and see every problem as a chance to grow. As a result, the forest became a lively place full of happiness and adventure.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) mystical
(2) lived
(3) loved
(4) hidden
(5) spider
(6) catch
(7) thanked
(8) group
(9) confused
(10) reached
(11) small
(12) money
(13) journey
(14) became
(15) known
(16) others
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. mystical
Answer: (L) Magical or enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale

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

3. excitement
Answer: (K) A feeling of being very happy and thrilled

4. journey
Answer: (A) A long trip or quest, often with a specific purpose

5. narrow
Answer: (F) Thin or not wide, sometimes making it hard to move through

6. sneaky
Answer: (O) Tricky and good at not being noticed or caught

7. sticky
Answer: (N) Covered with a substance that things stick to

8. avoiding
Answer: (B) Keeping away from something or someone

9. challenges
Answer: (G) Difficult situations that test your ability to deal with problems

10. confused
Answer: (M) Not sure about something or unable to understand it

11. treasure
Answer: (C) Something very valuable, often hidden and hard to find

12. encouraged
Answer: (J) Gave someone the confidence to do something

13. lively
Answer: (E) Full of energy and excitement

14. hero
Answer: (I) A person admired for their courage or noble qualities

15. different
Answer: (H) Not the same as others, unique or special
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Dara find in the mystical forest?
Answer: (b) A hidden map

2. Who did Dara go to for advice before starting her adventure?
Answer: (c) Oscar, the owl

3. What did Oscar warn Dara about in the canyon?
Answer: (a) Sneaky spiders

4. How did Dara escape from the group of bees?
Answer: (b) By doing cool flips in the air

5. What did Dara find at the end of her journey?
Answer: (c) A small pool of water

6. What did Dara realize was the real treasure?
Answer: (d) Never giving up and finding fun in difficult times

7. What did Dara do after finding the treasure?
Answer: (a) She went back to tell everyone in the forest about her journey

8. How did Dara become known in the forest?
Answer: (d) As a hero who taught others to find their own treasures
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Dara, the dragonfly, loved exploring and going on adventures in the mystical forest. (Answer: True)
2. Dara’s story transformed the forest into a lively and adventurous place, earning her the reputation of a hero who inspired others to find their own treasures, big or small. (Answer: True)
3. Despite facing many challenges, Dara discovered that the real treasure was not material wealth but the lessons learned and the beauty of the world. (Answer: True)
4. Dara found a visible map in a tree while walking through the woods. (Answer: False)
5. Dara shared her journey and encouraged others in the forest to be brave, embrace their differences, and see problems as opportunities for growth. (Answer: True)
6. Dara struggled to navigate through a wide canyon filled with spider webs. (Answer: False)
7. Dara encountered a swarm of bees but failed to escape despite attempting cool flips in the air. (Answer: False)
8. Dara’s friend Oscar, a young and foolish owl, hindered her deciphering the map and gave her false information about sneaky spiders. (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.

Lily and her animal friends explore a crystal cave, discovering magical powers and learning important lessons.

The Crystal Cave

Lily and her animal friends discover a magical crystal cave, where they have exciting adventures and learn important life lessons.

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