Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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The Day the Donuts Danced

A small town bakery becomes famous when its donuts come to life and dance.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small town, there was a bakery called Sweet Delights that made really good cakes and donuts. Every day, a lot of people would come to buy their favorite snacks. But something amazing was about to happen that nobody expected.

One morning, the bakery’s owner, Mr. Baker, found a strange package at his door. Inside was a note that told him to sprinkle some “magic sugar” on his donuts to make them come to life. Mr. Baker thought it was a joke but decided to try it anyway. He sprinkled the sugar on a batch of donuts.

Right after the sugar touched the donuts, they started to move and grow tiny arms and legs. Then, they began to dance around the bakery! Everyone watching couldn’t believe their eyes. The donuts did flips, spins, and all kinds of dance moves.

Word got out about the dancing donuts, and people from everywhere came to the bakery to see them. It became a huge deal, with folks from other towns visiting just to watch the donuts dance. Mr. Baker’s bakery turned into a show, drawing big crowds who loved the performance.

The bakery became famous, but Mr. Baker stayed humble. He believed that putting love into his baking was what really mattered. The dancing donuts taught everyone about joy and being together. Even after the donuts stopped dancing, the memory of their magic made everyone want to spread happiness and love, just like the magic sugar did.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1bakeryA place where bread, cakes, and pastries are made or sold
2snacksSmall portions of food eaten between meals
3packageA box or container that something is placed in for storage or transportation
4noteA short written message
5batchA group of items produced at the same time
6flipsQuick movements where someone or something turns over in the air
7spinsRapid turning or whirling movements
8performanceA show or display of entertainment for an audience
9famousWell known by many people
10humbleNot proud or arrogant; modest
11joyA feeling of great pleasure and happiness
12togetherIn the company of each other
13memoryThe ability to recall past experiences
14happinessThe state of being joyful and content
15magicHaving special powers that can make impossible things happen

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Mr. Baker find at his bakery one morning?
2. What did the note inside the package tell Mr. Baker to do?
3. What happened to the donuts after Mr. Baker sprinkled the magic sugar on them?
4. How did people react when they saw the donuts dancing?
5. Why did people from other towns come to visit the bakery?
6. What did Mr. Baker believe was the most important thing in his baking?
7. Even after the donuts stopped dancing, what did the memory of their magic inspire people to do?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small town, there was a bakery called Sweet Delights that made really good cakes and (1)______. Every day, a lot of people would come to buy their favorite snacks. But something amazing was about to happen that nobody (2)______.

One (3)______, the bakery’s owner, Mr. Baker, (4)______ a strange package at his door. Inside was a note that told him to sprinkle some “magic sugar” on his donuts to make them come to life. Mr. (5)______ thought it was a joke but decided to try it anyway. He sprinkled the sugar on a batch of donuts.

Right after the sugar (6)______ the donuts, they started to move and grow tiny arms and legs. Then, they (7)______ to (8)______ around the bakery! Everyone watching couldn’t believe their eyes. The donuts did flips, spins, and all kinds of dance moves.

Word got out about the (9)______ donuts, and people from everywhere came to the (10)______ to see them. It (11)______ a huge deal, with (12)______ from other towns visiting just to watch the donuts dance. Mr. Baker’s bakery turned into a show, drawing big crowds who loved the performance.

The bakery became famous, but Mr. Baker stayed (13)______. He believed that putting love into his baking was what really mattered. The dancing donuts (14)______ everyone about joy and being together. Even after the donuts stopped dancing, the (15)______ of their (16)______ made everyone want to spread happiness and love, just like the magic sugar did.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite snack or treat from a bakery?
2. How would you feel if you found a mysterious package at your door?
3. Do you think it was a good idea for Mr. Baker to try the “magic sugar” on his donuts? Why or why not?
4. How do you think the people in the town felt when they saw the donuts dancing?
5. Have you ever seen something that made you feel amazed or surprised? What was it?
6. Do you think the dancing donuts made the bakery more popular? Why or why not?
7. How do you think Mr. Baker felt when his bakery became famous?
8. What do you think is more important, the taste of the food or the love put into making it? Why?
9. If you had the chance to try the dancing donuts, would you eat one? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the memory of the dancing donuts affected the people in the town?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. bakery
2. snacks
3. package
4. note
5. batch
6. flips
7. spins
8. performance
9. famous
10. humble
11. joy
12. together
13. memory
14. happiness
15. magic

Meanings:
(A) A group of items produced at the same time
(B) A short written message
(C) Having special powers that can make impossible things happen
(D) Not proud or arrogant; modest
(E) A box or container that something is placed in for storage or transportation
(F) Well known by many people
(G) A place where bread, cakes, and pastries are made or sold
(H) A show or display of entertainment for an audience
(I) In the company of each other
(J) Quick movements where someone or something turns over in the air
(K) A feeling of great pleasure and happiness
(L) Small portions of food eaten between meals
(M) The ability to recall past experiences
(N) The state of being joyful and content
(O) Rapid turning or whirling movements
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the bakery that made delicious cakes and donuts?
(a) Tasty Treats
(b) Yummy Pastries
(c) Sugary Sweets
(d) Sweet Delights

2. What did Mr. Baker find at his door one morning?
(a) A strange package
(b) A mysterious letter
(c) A secret recipe
(d) A new oven

3. What did the note inside the package tell Mr. Baker to sprinkle on his donuts?
(a) Colorful sprinkles
(b) Vanilla extract
(c) Magic sugar
(d) Cinnamon powder

4. What happened to the donuts after Mr. Baker sprinkled the sugar on them?
(a) They came to life and started dancing
(b) They turned into different flavors
(c) They grew bigger and fluffier
(d) They became extra sweet and tasty

5. How did people react when they saw the donuts dancing?
(a) They started laughing uncontrollably
(b) They ran away in fear
(c) They called the police
(d) They couldn’t believe their eyes

6. What did the bakery turn into after the donuts started dancing?
(a) A factory producing dancing donuts
(b) A show attracting big crowds
(c) A museum for magical pastries
(d) A quiet place with no customers

7. What did Mr. Baker believe was the most important ingredient in his baking?
(a) Magic sugar
(b) Love
(c) Fresh ingredients
(d) Secret recipes

8. What did the dancing donuts teach everyone?
(a) About the power of magic sugar
(b) About the importance of donuts in life
(c) About joy and being together
(d) About the art of baking

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Although the donuts eventually stopped dancing, the memory of their magic inspired everyone to spread happiness and love.
2. The bakery turned into a quiet spot, attracting only a few visitors who were indifferent to the donuts’ taste.
3. To everyone’s disappointment, the donuts remained still and unchanged, sitting in the display case.
4. The note instructed Mr. Baker to sprinkle “magic sugar” on his donuts to make them come to life.
5. News about the dancing donuts spread quickly, attracting people from different towns to come and witness the spectacle.
6. Despite being convinced it was a prank, Mr. Baker decided to give it a try and sprinkled the sugar on a batch of donuts.
7. One day, the bakery owner, Mr. Baker, received a suspicious package with a note inside.
8. The bakery called Sweet Delights was known for its delicious cakes and donuts.
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 did Mr. Baker find at his bakery one morning?
Mr. Baker found a strange package at his bakery one morning.

2. What did the note inside the package tell Mr. Baker to do?
The note inside the package told Mr. Baker to sprinkle some “magic sugar” on his donuts.

3. What happened to the donuts after Mr. Baker sprinkled the magic sugar on them?
After Mr. Baker sprinkled the magic sugar on the donuts, they came to life and started dancing around the bakery.

4. How did people react when they saw the donuts dancing?
People were amazed when they saw the donuts dancing. They couldn’t believe their eyes.

5. Why did people from other towns come to visit the bakery?
People from other towns came to visit the bakery because they heard about the dancing donuts and wanted to see the performance for themselves.

6. What did Mr. Baker believe was the most important thing in his baking?
Mr. Baker believed that putting love into his baking was the most important thing.

7. Even after the donuts stopped dancing, what did the memory of their magic inspire people to do?
Even after the donuts stopped dancing, the memory of their magic inspired people to spread happiness and love, just like the magic sugar did.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) donuts
(2) expected
(3) morning
(4) found
(5) Baker
(6) touched
(7) began
(8) dance
(9) dancing
(10) bakery
(11) became
(12) folks
(13) humble
(14) taught
(15) memory
(16) magic
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. bakery
Answer: (G) A place where bread, cakes, and pastries are made or sold

2. snacks
Answer: (L) Small portions of food eaten between meals

3. package
Answer: (E) A box or container that something is placed in for storage or transportation

4. note
Answer: (B) A short written message

5. batch
Answer: (A) A group of items produced at the same time

6. flips
Answer: (J) Quick movements where someone or something turns over in the air

7. spins
Answer: (O) Rapid turning or whirling movements

8. performance
Answer: (H) A show or display of entertainment for an audience

9. famous
Answer: (F) Well known by many people

10. humble
Answer: (D) Not proud or arrogant; modest

11. joy
Answer: (K) A feeling of great pleasure and happiness

12. together
Answer: (I) In the company of each other

13. memory
Answer: (M) The ability to recall past experiences

14. happiness
Answer: (N) The state of being joyful and content

15. magic
Answer: (C) Having special powers that can make impossible things happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the bakery that made delicious cakes and donuts?
Answer: (d) Sweet Delights

2. What did Mr. Baker find at his door one morning?
Answer: (a) A strange package

3. What did the note inside the package tell Mr. Baker to sprinkle on his donuts?
Answer: (c) Magic sugar

4. What happened to the donuts after Mr. Baker sprinkled the sugar on them?
Answer: (a) They came to life and started dancing

5. How did people react when they saw the donuts dancing?
Answer: (d) They couldn’t believe their eyes

6. What did the bakery turn into after the donuts started dancing?
Answer: (b) A show attracting big crowds

7. What did Mr. Baker believe was the most important ingredient in his baking?
Answer: (b) Love

8. What did the dancing donuts teach everyone?
Answer: (c) About joy and being together
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Although the donuts eventually stopped dancing, the memory of their magic inspired everyone to spread happiness and love. (Answer: True)
2. The bakery turned into a quiet spot, attracting only a few visitors who were indifferent to the donuts’ taste. (Answer: False)
3. To everyone’s disappointment, the donuts remained still and unchanged, sitting in the display case. (Answer: False)
4. The note instructed Mr. Baker to sprinkle “magic sugar” on his donuts to make them come to life. (Answer: True)
5. News about the dancing donuts spread quickly, attracting people from different towns to come and witness the spectacle. (Answer: True)
6. Despite being convinced it was a prank, Mr. Baker decided to give it a try and sprinkled the sugar on a batch of donuts. (Answer: False)
7. One day, the bakery owner, Mr. Baker, received a suspicious package with a note inside. (Answer: False)
8. The bakery called Sweet Delights was known for its delicious cakes and donuts. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

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

The Patchwork Path

Lily goes on a magical adventure, facing challenges and finding courage along the way.

Daisy the dinosaur detective and her mischievous sidekick Benny solve mysteries and teach valuable life lessons.

The Dinosaur Detective

Daisy, a small and smart dinosaur, solves mysteries and makes friends with Benny, a young dinosaur who made a mistake.

The Giant’s Garden

Greg’s garden is a magical place filled with colorful flowers and tall plants, but when the mischievous Goblins steal all the seeds, it’s up to Whiskers the kitten to save the day and help Greg make the garden beautiful again.

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