Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Rainbow Fish’s Journey

A fish named Rainbow learns the importance of sharing its unique beauty with others.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once there was a fish in the ocean named Rainbow. It wasn’t like other fish because it had shiny, colorful scales. All the fish liked to watch Rainbow swim because its scales looked amazing in the sunlight.

One day, Rainbow saw that no other fish were swimming with it. Rainbow asked a small fish named Finny why everyone was gone. Finny said that the other fish were mad because Rainbow didn’t share its beautiful scales. They thought Rainbow was full of itself.

Rainbow felt bad about this and decided to fix the problem. Rainbow went to find a wise octopus deep in the sea, known for giving good advice. During its trip, Rainbow met interesting sea animals, like a kind whale who showed it around the coral reefs and a hermit crab who shared hidden secrets of the sea floor. Rainbow learned that the ocean had much more to offer than just looking at its own scales.

After a long journey, Rainbow found the octopus. Rainbow told the octopus about feeling bad because the other fish felt left out. The octopus told Rainbow that sharing its scales would make it even more wonderful. The octopus gave Rainbow a magic pearl that let it make more scales to give away.

Rainbow went back and gave its scales to the other fish. They were so happy and realized Rainbow was not just pretty but also very nice. From that day, all the fish swam together, making the water look like a moving rainbow. Rainbow’s story of sharing became famous in the ocean, teaching everyone about kindness and happiness.

In the end, the story shows us that what makes us truly beautiful is being kind and loving to others.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1oceanThe large body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth
2scalesThin, flat pieces that cover the skin of certain animals like fish and reptiles
3sunlightThe light that comes from the sun
4madVery angry
5adviceSuggestions or recommendations about what someone should do
6coralA kind of rock-like structure found in the sea, made by small sea animals
7secretsInformation that is meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others
8journeyA trip from one place to another
9wonderfulExtremely good, impressive, or delightful
10magicHaving special powers that can make impossible things happen
11famousWell known by many people
12kindnessThe act of being friendly, generous, and considerate
13happinessThe feeling of being content, joyful, and satisfied
14lovingShowing a lot of care and affection for others
15beautifulHaving qualities that give great pleasure to see, hear, or think about

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What made Rainbow different from other fish in the ocean?
2. Why did the other fish stop swimming with Rainbow?
3. Who did Rainbow go to for advice on how to fix the problem?
4. What did Rainbow learn during its journey to find the octopus?
5. What did the octopus give Rainbow to help it share its scales?
6. How did the other fish react when Rainbow gave them its scales?
7. What is the main lesson or message of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there was a fish in the ocean named (1)______. It wasn’t like other fish because it had shiny, colorful scales. All the fish liked to (2)______ Rainbow swim because its scales looked amazing in the sunlight.

One day, Rainbow saw that no other fish were swimming with it. Rainbow (3)______ a (4)______ fish named Finny why everyone was gone. Finny said that the other fish were mad because Rainbow didn’t share its (5)______ scales. They (6)______ Rainbow was full of itself.

Rainbow felt bad about this and decided to fix the problem. Rainbow went to find a wise octopus deep in the sea, known for giving good (7)______. During its trip, Rainbow met interesting sea animals, like a kind whale who showed it around the coral reefs and a hermit crab who (8)______ hidden secrets of the sea floor. Rainbow learned that the ocean had much more to offer than just (9)______ at its own (10)______.

After a long journey, Rainbow found the octopus. Rainbow told the octopus about (11)______ bad because the (12)______ fish felt left out. The octopus told Rainbow that sharing its scales would make it even more wonderful. The octopus gave Rainbow a magic pearl that let it make more scales to give away.

Rainbow went back and gave its scales to the other fish. They were so (13)______ and realized Rainbow was not just pretty but also very nice. From that day, all the fish swam together, making the water look like a moving rainbow. Rainbow’s (14)______ of sharing became famous in the ocean, teaching everyone about (15)______ and (16)______.

In the end, the story shows us that what makes us truly beautiful is being kind and loving to others.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a wise octopus? Why do you think Rainbow went to find one?
2. How would you feel if you were Rainbow and all the other fish were mad at you? Why?
3. Do you think it’s important to share with others? Why or why not?
4. What other sea animals did Rainbow meet on its journey? Which one would you like to meet? Why?
5. How do you think the other fish felt when Rainbow gave them its scales? Why?
6. Do you think it’s better to be kind or to be beautiful? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever felt left out like the other fish in the story? How did it make you feel? Why?
8. What do you think the magic pearl symbolizes in the story? Why?
9. Do you think Rainbow’s story would be famous in real life? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you were one of the other fish and Rainbow gave you its scales? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. ocean
2. scales
3. sunlight
4. mad
5. advice
6. coral
7. secrets
8. journey
9. wonderful
10. magic
11. famous
12. kindness
13. happiness
14. loving
15. beautiful

Meanings:
(A) Having special powers that can make impossible things happen
(B) Suggestions or recommendations about what someone should do
(C) A kind of rock-like structure found in the sea, made by small sea animals
(D) Showing a lot of care and affection for others
(E) The act of being friendly, generous, and considerate
(F) Thin, flat pieces that cover the skin of certain animals like fish and reptiles
(G) A trip from one place to another
(H) Well known by many people
(I) The light that comes from the sun
(J) Having qualities that give great pleasure to see, hear, or think about
(K) Information that is meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others
(L) The feeling of being content, joyful, and satisfied
(M) The large body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth
(N) Very angry
(O) Extremely good, impressive, or delightful
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did the other fish stop swimming with Rainbow?
(a) They thought Rainbow was being selfish
(b) They were scared of Rainbow’s shiny scales
(c) They didn’t like the color of Rainbow’s scales
(d) They were too busy exploring the ocean

2. Who did Rainbow go to for advice?
(a) A friendly shark
(b) A wise octopus
(c) A playful dolphin
(d) A mysterious eel

3. What did Rainbow learn during its journey?
(a) Rainbow’s scales were the most beautiful in the ocean
(b) The other fish were jealous of Rainbow’s scales
(c) The ocean had more to offer than just its own beauty
(d) Rainbow should keep its scales to itself

4. What did the octopus give Rainbow?
(a) A seashell necklace
(b) A magic pearl
(c) A golden crown
(d) A shiny rock

5. How did Rainbow solve the problem?
(a) By hiding its scales from the other fish
(b) By swimming away from the other fish
(c) By showing off its scales even more
(d) By giving its scales to the other fish

6. How did the other fish feel after Rainbow shared its scales?
(a) Angry
(b) Jealous
(c) Happy
(d) Sad

7. What did the other fish realize about Rainbow?
(a) That Rainbow was not just pretty, but also kind
(b) That Rainbow’s scales were actually fake
(c) That Rainbow was the most popular fish in the ocean
(d) That Rainbow’s scales were the most beautiful in the ocean

8. What did Rainbow’s story teach everyone in the ocean?
(a) About the importance of being selfish
(b) About the power of shiny scales
(c) About the dangers of swimming alone
(d) About kindness and happiness

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Rainbow receives a regular pearl from the octopus, allowing it to create more scales to keep for itself.
2. Rainbow is a unique fish in the ocean with shiny, colorful scales.
3. Rainbow discovers that the other fish are happy because it hasn’t shared its beautiful scales.
4. The octopus advises Rainbow to share its scales, which would make it even more wonderful.
5. Rainbow ignores advice from a wise octopus known for giving good guidance.
6. Along the way, Rainbow avoids various sea creatures, such as a hostile whale and a unhelpful hermit crab.
7. The other fish admire Rainbow’s scales and enjoy watching it swim.
8. After sharing its scales with the other fish, Rainbow’s act of kindness brings everyone together, teaching them about the importance of being kind and loving.
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 Rainbow different from other fish in the ocean?
Rainbow had shiny, colorful scales that looked amazing in the sunlight.

2. Why did the other fish stop swimming with Rainbow?
The other fish were mad because Rainbow didn’t share its beautiful scales and they thought Rainbow was full of itself.

3. Who did Rainbow go to for advice on how to fix the problem?
Rainbow went to find a wise octopus deep in the sea, known for giving good advice.

4. What did Rainbow learn during its journey to find the octopus?
Rainbow learned that the ocean had much more to offer than just looking at its own scales. It met interesting sea animals and learned about kindness and happiness.

5. What did the octopus give Rainbow to help it share its scales?
The octopus gave Rainbow a magic pearl that let it make more scales to give away.

6. How did the other fish react when Rainbow gave them its scales?
The other fish were happy and realized that Rainbow was not just pretty but also very nice. They started swimming with Rainbow again.

7. What is the main lesson or message of the story?
The main lesson or message of the story is that what makes us truly beautiful is being kind and loving to others.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Rainbow
(2) watch
(3) asked
(4) small
(5) beautiful
(6) thought
(7) advice
(8) shared
(9) looking
(10) scales
(11) feeling
(12) other
(13) happy
(14) story
(15) kindness
(16) happiness
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. ocean
Answer: (M) The large body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth

2. scales
Answer: (F) Thin, flat pieces that cover the skin of certain animals like fish and reptiles

3. sunlight
Answer: (I) The light that comes from the sun

4. mad
Answer: (N) Very angry

5. advice
Answer: (B) Suggestions or recommendations about what someone should do

6. coral
Answer: (C) A kind of rock-like structure found in the sea, made by small sea animals

7. secrets
Answer: (K) Information that is meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others

8. journey
Answer: (G) A trip from one place to another

9. wonderful
Answer: (O) Extremely good, impressive, or delightful

10. magic
Answer: (A) Having special powers that can make impossible things happen

11. famous
Answer: (H) Well known by many people

12. kindness
Answer: (E) The act of being friendly, generous, and considerate

13. happiness
Answer: (L) The feeling of being content, joyful, and satisfied

14. loving
Answer: (D) Showing a lot of care and affection for others

15. beautiful
Answer: (J) Having qualities that give great pleasure to see, hear, or think about
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did the other fish stop swimming with Rainbow?
Answer: (a) They thought Rainbow was being selfish

2. Who did Rainbow go to for advice?
Answer: (b) A wise octopus

3. What did Rainbow learn during its journey?
Answer: (c) The ocean had more to offer than just its own beauty

4. What did the octopus give Rainbow?
Answer: (b) A magic pearl

5. How did Rainbow solve the problem?
Answer: (d) By giving its scales to the other fish

6. How did the other fish feel after Rainbow shared its scales?
Answer: (c) Happy

7. What did the other fish realize about Rainbow?
Answer: (a) That Rainbow was not just pretty, but also kind

8. What did Rainbow’s story teach everyone in the ocean?
Answer: (d) About kindness and happiness
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Rainbow receives a regular pearl from the octopus, allowing it to create more scales to keep for itself. (Answer: False)
2. Rainbow is a unique fish in the ocean with shiny, colorful scales. (Answer: True)
3. Rainbow discovers that the other fish are happy because it hasn’t shared its beautiful scales. (Answer: False)
4. The octopus advises Rainbow to share its scales, which would make it even more wonderful. (Answer: True)
5. Rainbow ignores advice from a wise octopus known for giving good guidance. (Answer: False)
6. Along the way, Rainbow avoids various sea creatures, such as a hostile whale and a unhelpful hermit crab. (Answer: False)
7. The other fish admire Rainbow’s scales and enjoy watching it swim. (Answer: True)
8. After sharing its scales with the other fish, Rainbow’s act of kindness brings everyone together, teaching them about the importance of being kind and loving. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A dragon overcomes the challenge of losing his voice by using enchanted invitations for his birthday party.

The Dragon’s Birthday

Sparkle the dragon couldn’t talk, but that didn’t stop him from throwing an epic birthday party with magical invites and sign language.

A dragon and a squirrel team up to find an enchanted treasure, but the squirrel has a secret plan.

The Dragon’s Dream

Dillon the dragon, with his special dreaming talent, embarks on a quest for a magical treasure with his new friend Daisy.

A dolphin and a seagull team up to create a mesmerizing performance that wows the judges.

The Dolphin’s Dance

Flip the dolphin dreams of being the best dancer in the ocean, but he can’t jump high enough – until he teams up with his seagull friend Squawk and wows everyone at the audition.

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