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 Dinosaur Egg

Jack and Emma's lives are forever changed when they discover a tiny dinosaur in an enormous egg.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once there were two kids named Jack and Emma who loved to go on adventures. One day while walking in the woods, they found a huge dinosaur egg. They were super excited and wondered what kind of dinosaur would come out.

They took the egg home, hoping that a nice dinosaur would hatch and become their friend. But they didn’t know a trickster gnome named Grumbletwig was watching them. Grumbletwig was always playing jokes on people and saw his chance to make the kids his next target.

The next day, when Jack and Emma looked at the egg, it was empty. They were scared until they heard a big “ROAR” outside. They went to check and saw a baby dinosaur, but it was super small, like a little dog. They both laughed because they didn’t expect a dinosaur to be that tiny.

They named the small dinosaur Biscuit and learned that you can have a great friendship no matter the size. Biscuit was small but they loved him a lot. They learned that it’s more important to have a good connection with friends than how they look.

Jack, Emma, and little Biscuit had lots of fun together after that. They played and explored every day. As they grew up, they stayed best friends, showing that true friendship lasts forever, no matter if you’re big or small.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventuresExciting and sometimes risky experiences or activities
2wonderedThought about something because you want to know more or are not sure about it
3hatchTo come out of an egg
4tricksterSomeone who deceives or plays jokes on others
5targetSomething or someone that is aimed at or chosen for something
6emptyHaving nothing inside
7scaredFeeling frightened or worried about something
8tinyVery small in size
9laughedMade sounds of amusement or happiness
10friendshipThe relationship of being friends
11connectionA relationship in which people or things are linked or connected
12exploredWent around to discover new places or things
13grewBecame larger or older
14bestThe very good or closest friend
15lastsContinues to exist for a long time

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the two kids that found the dinosaur egg?
2. What did the kids hope would happen when the dinosaur egg hatched?
3. Who was the trickster that was watching the kids?
4. What did the kids find when they looked at the egg the next day?
5. How did the kids feel when they saw the baby dinosaur?
6. What did the kids name the small dinosaur?
7. What did the kids learn about friendship from their experience with Biscuit?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there were two kids named Jack and Emma who loved to go on adventures. One day while walking in the (1)______, they found a huge dinosaur egg. They were super excited and (2)______ what kind of dinosaur would come out.

They took the egg home, hoping that a nice dinosaur would hatch and (3)______ their (4)______. But they didn’t know a (5)______ gnome named (6)______ was watching them. Grumbletwig was always playing jokes on people and saw his (7)______ to make the kids his next target.

The next day, when Jack and Emma looked at the egg, it was empty. They were scared until they (8)______ a big “ROAR” outside. They went to check and saw a baby (9)______, but it was super small, like a (10)______ dog. They both laughed because they didn’t expect a dinosaur to be that tiny.

They (11)______ the small dinosaur Biscuit and learned that you can have a (12)______ friendship no matter the size. Biscuit was small but they loved him a lot. They learned that it’s more important to have a good connection with friends than how they look.

Jack, Emma, and little Biscuit had lots of fun together after that. They played and explored every day. As they grew up, they stayed best friends, showing that true friendship lasts forever, no matter if you’re big or small.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dinosaur? Why do you think Jack and Emma were excited to find a dinosaur egg?
2. How would you feel if you found a dinosaur egg in the woods? What would you do with it?
3. Do you think Grumbletwig was being mean by tricking Jack and Emma? Why or why not?
4. What would you do if you heard a big “ROAR” outside your house? Would you be scared or excited? Why?
5. Do you like the name Biscuit for a dinosaur? Why or why not? What name would you give to a pet dinosaur?
6. How do you think Jack and Emma felt when they saw that Biscuit was small like a little dog? Why do you think they laughed?
7. Have you ever had a pet? How did it make you feel? Do you think pets can be good friends?
8. Do you think it’s more important to have friends who look a certain way or friends who make you happy? Why or why not?
9. What activities do you like to do with your friends? How do you think Jack, Emma, and Biscuit had fun together?
10. Do you think true friendship lasts forever? Why or why not? Can you think of any examples of long-lasting friendships?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventures
2. wondered
3. hatch
4. trickster
5. target
6. empty
7. scared
8. tiny
9. laughed
10. friendship
11. connection
12. explored
13. grew
14. best
15. lasts

Meanings:
(A) Something or someone that is aimed at or chosen for something
(B) Went around to discover new places or things
(C) Made sounds of amusement or happiness
(D) Exciting and sometimes risky experiences or activities
(E) The very good or closest friend
(F) Continues to exist for a long time
(G) Very small in size
(H) To come out of an egg
(I) A relationship in which people or things are linked or connected
(J) Thought about something because you want to know more or are not sure about it
(K) Having nothing inside
(L) Became larger or older
(M) Feeling frightened or worried about something
(N) Someone who deceives or plays jokes on others
(O) The relationship of being friends
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Jack and Emma find in the woods?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A magic wand
(c) A spaceship
(d) A dinosaur egg

2. Who was watching Jack and Emma when they found the dinosaur egg?
(a) Their parents
(b) Grumbletwig, a trickster gnome
(c) A friendly wizard
(d) Their pet dog

3. What did Jack and Emma hope would hatch from the dinosaur egg?
(a) A nice dinosaur
(b) A dragon
(c) A unicorn
(d) A robot

4. What sound did Jack and Emma hear the next day?
(a) A loud “BOOM”
(b) A high-pitched “SQUEAK”
(c) A soft “WHISPER”
(d) A big “ROAR”

5. How big was the baby dinosaur that hatched from the egg?
(a) Super small, like a little dog
(b) Huge, like an elephant
(c) Medium-sized, like a bear
(d) Tiny, like an ant

6. What did Jack and Emma name the baby dinosaur?
(a) Spike
(b) Rex
(c) Biscuit
(d) Dino

7. What did Jack, Emma, and Biscuit do together?
(a) Watched movies
(b) Played and explored every day
(c) Went to school
(d) Cooked dinner

8. What did Jack, Emma, and Biscuit show about true friendship?
(a) It only lasts for a short time
(b) It depends on how someone looks
(c) It lasts forever, no matter if you’re big or small
(d) It’s not important in life

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Jack, Emma, and Biscuit had no fun together as they grew apart.
2. They hoped for a friendly dinosaur to hatch from the egg.
3. Jack and Emma found a dinosaur egg while walking in the woods.
4. Grumbletwig played a treat on the kids and made the egg appear full.
5. A mischievous gnome named Grumbletwig was watching them.
6. Their friendship showed that size does matter, but the connection between friends doesn’t.
7. They named the large dinosaur Biscuit and hated him dearly.
8. The kids heard a roar and discovered a tiny baby dinosaur outside.
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 were the two kids that found the dinosaur egg?
Jack and Emma

2. What did the kids hope would happen when the dinosaur egg hatched?
They hoped that a nice dinosaur would hatch and become their friend.

3. Who was the trickster that was watching the kids?
Grumbletwig, the trickster gnome

4. What did the kids find when they looked at the egg the next day?
The egg was empty.

5. How did the kids feel when they saw the baby dinosaur?
They felt scared at first, but then they laughed because the dinosaur was super small, like a little dog.

6. What did the kids name the small dinosaur?
Biscuit

7. What did the kids learn about friendship from their experience with Biscuit?
They learned that it’s more important to have a good connection with friends than how they look. They realized that true friendship lasts forever, no matter if you’re big or small.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) woods
(2) wondered
(3) become
(4) friend
(5) trickster
(6) Grumbletwig
(7) chance
(8) heard
(9) dinosaur
(10) little
(11) named
(12) great
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventures
Answer: (D) Exciting and sometimes risky experiences or activities

2. wondered
Answer: (J) Thought about something because you want to know more or are not sure about it

3. hatch
Answer: (H) To come out of an egg

4. trickster
Answer: (N) Someone who deceives or plays jokes on others

5. target
Answer: (A) Something or someone that is aimed at or chosen for something

6. empty
Answer: (K) Having nothing inside

7. scared
Answer: (M) Feeling frightened or worried about something

8. tiny
Answer: (G) Very small in size

9. laughed
Answer: (C) Made sounds of amusement or happiness

10. friendship
Answer: (O) The relationship of being friends

11. connection
Answer: (I) A relationship in which people or things are linked or connected

12. explored
Answer: (B) Went around to discover new places or things

13. grew
Answer: (L) Became larger or older

14. best
Answer: (E) The very good or closest friend

15. lasts
Answer: (F) Continues to exist for a long time
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Jack and Emma find in the woods?
Answer: (d) A dinosaur egg

2. Who was watching Jack and Emma when they found the dinosaur egg?
Answer: (b) Grumbletwig, a trickster gnome

3. What did Jack and Emma hope would hatch from the dinosaur egg?
Answer: (a) A nice dinosaur

4. What sound did Jack and Emma hear the next day?
Answer: (d) A big “ROAR”

5. How big was the baby dinosaur that hatched from the egg?
Answer: (a) Super small, like a little dog

6. What did Jack and Emma name the baby dinosaur?
Answer: (c) Biscuit

7. What did Jack, Emma, and Biscuit do together?
Answer: (b) Played and explored every day

8. What did Jack, Emma, and Biscuit show about true friendship?
Answer: (c) It lasts forever, no matter if you’re big or small
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Jack, Emma, and Biscuit had no fun together as they grew apart. (Answer: False)
2. They hoped for a friendly dinosaur to hatch from the egg. (Answer: True)
3. Jack and Emma found a dinosaur egg while walking in the woods. (Answer: True)
4. Grumbletwig played a treat on the kids and made the egg appear full. (Answer: False)
5. A mischievous gnome named Grumbletwig was watching them. (Answer: True)
6. Their friendship showed that size does matter, but the connection between friends doesn’t. (Answer: False)
7. They named the large dinosaur Biscuit and hated him dearly. (Answer: False)
8. The kids heard a roar and discovered a tiny baby dinosaur outside. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A little girl named Lily discovers a jar of magical marmalade that brings everything to life.

The Magical Marmalade

Lily and Bubbles discover that real magic comes from being happy, having friends, and enjoying simple things.

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.

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.

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