In a little village, there was a place where really big and tasty pumpkins grew. People in the village were excited every fall to pick and take home these pumpkins to make cool carvings and delicious recipes. One year, a tricky squirrel named Sammy found out how happy the pumpkins made people, so he got a funny idea to throw a surprise party right there among the pumpkins.

Sammy asked all his animal buddies to come – from birds to bunnies and even smart old owls. They worked together to make the pumpkin place look like a party zone. They tied colorful ribbons around the pumpkins and put out straw for everyone to sit on. Sammy even found a bunch of mice that played music to entertain everyone. It was shaping up to be the best party no one in the village had ever imagined.

When it got dark, the people in the village noticed weird lights and music coming from where the pumpkins were. They were super curious and started sneaking over to see what was going on. They couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw all the animals having a blast, singing and dancing. It was so funny to see a raccoon dancing with a stubborn donkey that they all started laughing.

The man in charge of the village, Mr. Simmons, was first worried about all the noise, but then he saw how all this fun was bringing people together. Sudden everyone, no matter how old they were or where they came from, was joining in the party. Mr. Simmons realized then that having fun and being together was really important for their community, and it made him happy.

After that, the pumpkin place was more than just where the pumpkins grew. It stood for the good times and friendship everyone shared. Every year, the people and their animal friends would meet for a big festival, not just to get pumpkins but to celebrate the love and happiness they found when they were all together.

So, always remember, the most exciting and happy things can happen when you least expect it. By being open to surprises, we can learn to enjoy the different things around us and find the real happiness of being part of a community.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What made the people in the village excited every fall?
2. Why did Sammy decide to throw a surprise party among the pumpkins?
3. How did Sammy and his animal friends decorate the pumpkin place for the party?
4. What did the people in the village notice when it got dark?
5. How did Mr. Simmons initially feel about all the noise coming from the pumpkin place?
6. What did Mr. Simmons realize about the importance of having fun and being together?
7. What did the pumpkin place come to represent for the people in the village?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a little village, there was a place where really big and tasty (1)______s grew. People in the village were excited every fall to pick and take home these pumpkins to make cool carvings and delicious recipes. One year, a (2)______ squirrel named Sammy found out how happy the pumpkins made people, so he got a funny idea to throw a (3)______ party right there among the pumpkins.

Sammy (4)______ all his animal buddies to come – from birds to bunnies and even smart old owls. They worked together to make the pumpkin place look like a party zone. They tied colorful ribbons around the pumpkins and put out straw for everyone to sit on. (5)______ even (6)______ a bunch of mice that played music to entertain everyone. It was (7)______ up to be the best party no one in the village had ever imagined.

When it got dark, the people in the village noticed weird lights and music coming from where the pumpkins were. They were super curious and (8)______ sneaking over to see what was going on. They couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw all the animals having a blast, singing and dancing. It was so funny to see a raccoon dancing with a stubborn (9)______ that they all started laughing.

The man in charge of the (10)______, Mr. Simmons, was first worried about all the noise, but then he saw how all this fun was (11)______ people together. Sudden everyone, no matter how old they were or where they came from, was (12)______ in the party. Mr. Simmons realized then that having fun and being together was really important for their community, and it made him happy.

After that, the pumpkin place was more than just where the pumpkins grew. It stood for the good times and friendship everyone shared. Every year, the people and their (13)______ friends would meet for a big festival, not just to get pumpkins but to (14)______ the love and (15)______ they found when they were all together.

So, always remember, the most exciting and happy (16)______ can happen when you least expect it. By being open to surprises, we can learn to enjoy the different things around us and find the real happiness of being part of a community.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a surprise party? Have you ever been to one? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if you found out that animals were having a party in your backyard? Why?
3. Do you like pumpkins? Why or why not? Have you ever carved a pumpkin or eaten pumpkin pie?
4. Do you think it’s important to have fun and be together with other people? Why or why not?
5. What do you think Mr. Simmons learned from the surprise party? Why do you think he changed his mind about the noise?
6. Have you ever been to a festival? What was it like? Did you have fun? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever been surprised by something unexpected? How did it make you feel? Why?
8. How do you think the animals in the story felt when they saw the people joining their party? Why?
9. What do you think the pumpkin place symbolized for the people in the village? Why was it more than just a place where pumpkins grew?
10. Why do you think it’s important to be open to surprises and new experiences? How can it help us find happiness and be part of a community?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. excited
3. tricky
4. surprise
5. ribbons
6. entertain
7. shaping
8. curious
9. sneaking
10. stubborn
11. raccoon
12. community
13. festival
14. celebrate
15. happiness

Meanings:
(A) To mark a special occasion with enjoyable activities
(B) Clever and deceitful in a playful or not harmful way
(C) To provide amusement or enjoyment for others
(D) A small town or settlement that is smaller than a city
(E) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic
(F) Something unexpected that is meant to be a secret until it happens
(G) A medium-sized mammal with a mask-like stripe across its eyes
(H) Long, narrow strips of fabric used for decoration
(I) The feeling of being very pleased or content with life
(J) Moving quietly and cautiously to avoid being seen or heard
(K) Starting to develop or take form
(L) A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common
(M) Wanting to know more about something or someone
(N) Determined to do what one wants and refusing to change one’s mind
(O) A joyful gathering or celebration with activities for entertainment
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the purpose of the surprise party in the pumpkin place?
(a) To scare away the animals
(b) To sell pumpkins to the villagers
(c) To bring people together and have fun
(d) To make the pumpkins look pretty

2. How did Sammy make the pumpkin place look like a party zone?
(a) Tying colorful ribbons around the pumpkins
(b) Putting out straw for everyone to sit on
(c) Having mice play music
(d) All of the above

3. What did the people in the village notice when it got dark?
(a) The animals running away from the pumpkin place
(b) Weird lights and music coming from the pumpkin place
(c) The pumpkins disappearing
(d) The pumpkin place catching on fire

4. What was Mr. Simmons’ initial reaction to the noise coming from the pumpkin place?
(a) Anger
(b) Excitement
(c) Indifference
(d) Worry

5. What did Mr. Simmons realize during the party?
(a) Pumpkins were the key to happiness
(b) Animals should not be allowed in the pumpkin place
(c) The party was a waste of time
(d) Having fun and being together was important for their community

6. What did the pumpkin place represent after the party?
(a) Good times and friendship
(b) A place to grow pumpkins
(c) A scary place
(d) A quiet and peaceful area

7. What did the people and their animal friends do every year after the party?
(a) Plant more pumpkins
(b) Meet for a big festival
(c) Have a pumpkin carving contest
(d) Sell pumpkins to other villages

8. What lesson can we learn from the story?
(a) Pumpkins are the key to happiness
(b) Surprises are always bad
(c) The most exciting and happy things can happen when you least expect it
(d) Being part of a community is not important

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The people in the village became curious when they saw lights and heard music coming from the pumpkin place.
2. In a little city, there was nothing special about the place where small and tasteless pumpkins grew.
3. The people in the village hated picking these pumpkins and never used them for carving and cooking.
4. A squirrel named Sammy discovered how much joy the pumpkins brought to the villagers.
5. The village leader, Mr. Simmons, initially didn’t care about the noise and ignored the importance of fun and togetherness for their community.
6. Sammy came up with the idea to cancel the surprise party among the pumpkins.
7. They were amazed to find all the animals having a great time, singing and dancing together.
8. Sammy invited all his animal friends to help decorate the pumpkin place and make it a party zone.
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 made the people in the village excited every fall?
The big and tasty pumpkins growing in the village made the people excited every fall.

2. Why did Sammy decide to throw a surprise party among the pumpkins?
Sammy decided to throw a surprise party among the pumpkins because he found out how happy the pumpkins made people and wanted to bring them even more joy.

3. How did Sammy and his animal friends decorate the pumpkin place for the party?
Sammy and his animal friends decorated the pumpkin place by tying colorful ribbons around the pumpkins and putting out straw for everyone to sit on. They also found mice that played music to entertain everyone.

4. What did the people in the village notice when it got dark?
When it got dark, the people in the village noticed weird lights and music coming from where the pumpkins were.

5. How did Mr. Simmons initially feel about all the noise coming from the pumpkin place?
Mr. Simmons initially felt worried about all the noise coming from the pumpkin place.

6. What did Mr. Simmons realize about the importance of having fun and being together?
Mr. Simmons realized that having fun and being together was really important for their community and it made him happy.

7. What did the pumpkin place come to represent for the people in the village?
The pumpkin place came to represent the good times and friendship that everyone shared in the village.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) pumpkin
(2) tricky
(3) surprise
(4) asked
(5) Sammy
(6) found
(7) shaping
(8) started
(9) donkey
(10) village
(11) bringing
(12) joining
(13) animal
(14) celebrate
(15) happiness
(16) things
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (D) A small town or settlement that is smaller than a city

2. excited
Answer: (E) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic

3. tricky
Answer: (B) Clever and deceitful in a playful or not harmful way

4. surprise
Answer: (F) Something unexpected that is meant to be a secret until it happens

5. ribbons
Answer: (H) Long, narrow strips of fabric used for decoration

6. entertain
Answer: (C) To provide amusement or enjoyment for others

7. shaping
Answer: (K) Starting to develop or take form

8. curious
Answer: (M) Wanting to know more about something or someone

9. sneaking
Answer: (J) Moving quietly and cautiously to avoid being seen or heard

10. stubborn
Answer: (N) Determined to do what one wants and refusing to change one’s mind

11. raccoon
Answer: (G) A medium-sized mammal with a mask-like stripe across its eyes

12. community
Answer: (L) A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

13. festival
Answer: (O) A joyful gathering or celebration with activities for entertainment

14. celebrate
Answer: (A) To mark a special occasion with enjoyable activities

15. happiness
Answer: (I) The feeling of being very pleased or content with life
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the purpose of the surprise party in the pumpkin place?
Answer: (c) To bring people together and have fun

2. How did Sammy make the pumpkin place look like a party zone?
Answer: (a) Tying colorful ribbons around the pumpkins

3. What did the people in the village notice when it got dark?
Answer: (b) Weird lights and music coming from the pumpkin place

4. What was Mr. Simmons’ initial reaction to the noise coming from the pumpkin place?
Answer: (d) Worry

5. What did Mr. Simmons realize during the party?
Answer: (d) Having fun and being together was important for their community

6. What did the pumpkin place represent after the party?
Answer: (a) Good times and friendship

7. What did the people and their animal friends do every year after the party?
Answer: (b) Meet for a big festival

8. What lesson can we learn from the story?
Answer: (c) The most exciting and happy things can happen when you least expect it
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The people in the village became curious when they saw lights and heard music coming from the pumpkin place. (Answer: True)
2. In a little city, there was nothing special about the place where small and tasteless pumpkins grew. (Answer: False)
3. The people in the village hated picking these pumpkins and never used them for carving and cooking. (Answer: False)
4. A squirrel named Sammy discovered how much joy the pumpkins brought to the villagers. (Answer: True)
5. The village leader, Mr. Simmons, initially didn’t care about the noise and ignored the importance of fun and togetherness for their community. (Answer: False)
6. Sammy came up with the idea to cancel the surprise party among the pumpkins. (Answer: False)
7. They were amazed to find all the animals having a great time, singing and dancing together. (Answer: True)
8. Sammy invited all his animal friends to help decorate the pumpkin place and make it a party zone. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧