In 2nd grade, children are often just starting to develop a love for reading. One way to foster this love is by introducing them to short stories that are both engaging and easy to understand. Short stories can help children improve their reading skills, build their vocabulary, and develop their comprehension abilities. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best 2nd grade short stories that you can use to inspire and motivate young readers.
English Short Story for Grade 2
Here are a few short story suggestions that are suitable for 2nd graders:
The Ant and the Grasshopper
Once upon a time, there was a little ant who worked hard to gather food for winter. She stored the food in her home, but a grasshopper played all day and didn’t prepare for the cold season. The ant warned the grasshopper, but he didn’t listen. When winter came, the ant had enough food, but the grasshopper had none. The grasshopper was sad and asked the ant for help. The ant gave the grasshopper some food to survive. The grasshopper learned that it’s important to work hard and prepare for the future.
The Giving Tree
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful tree in the forest. It was always happy and loved to provide shade and shelter for all the animals and birds. One day, a little boy came to play under the tree. The tree was so happy to have the boy around that it started giving him its apples to eat. As the boy grew older, he wanted more and more from the tree. The tree gave the boy its branches to build a house, its trunk to build a boat, and even its roots to make a swing. The tree was happy to see the boy happy, but it was becoming weaker and weaker with each passing day. Finally, the boy grew old and came back to the tree. The tree had nothing left to give but its stump. The boy sat on the stump and realized how much the tree had given him. He felt sad and regretful for taking so much from the tree. The boy learned an important lesson that day, that love and kindness should be shared, not taken for granted.
The Lion and the Mouse
Once upon a time, there was a mighty lion who lived in the forest. One day, he got caught in a hunter’s trap and couldn’t free himself. He roared and roared, but no one came to help. Just then, a tiny mouse heard the lion’s cries and went to investigate. The mouse saw the lion trapped and knew he had to help. He gnawed and gnawed at the ropes until the lion was free. The lion was amazed that a small mouse could help him. He realized that even the smallest creatures can be helpful. The lion promised never to harm the mouse and said, “If you ever need help, I will be there for you.” One day, the mouse was in trouble, and the lion heard its cries. The lion remembered his promise and ran to help the mouse. The mouse was grateful, and the lion learned that even the smallest creatures can have a big impact.
The Tortoise and the Hare
Once upon a time, there was a hare who loved to run fast. He boasted about his speed to all the animals in the forest. One day, he met a slow tortoise and challenged him to a race. The tortoise accepted the challenge, and the race began. The hare ran as fast as he could and soon became very tired. He decided to take a nap, thinking he had plenty of time to catch up with the tortoise. Meanwhile, the tortoise kept walking at a steady pace, never stopping or slowing down. When the hare woke up, he realized that the tortoise was almost at the finish line. The hare ran as fast as he could, but it was too late. The tortoise had won the race. The hare learned an important lesson that day, that slow and steady wins the race. The tortoise showed him that perseverance and determination are more important than speed and talent.
The Three Little Pigs
Once upon a time, there were three little pigs who wanted to build their own houses. The first pig built his house with straw, the second pig built his house with sticks, and the third pig built his house with bricks. One day, a big, bad wolf came to the first pig’s house and said, “Little pig, little pig, let me in!” But the pig refused, and the wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down. The second pig’s house was next, and the wolf said, “Little pig, little pig, let me in!” But the pig also refused, and the wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down. Finally, the wolf came to the third pig’s house and said, “Little pig, little pig, let me in!” But the pig refused, and the wolf huffed and puffed and blew as hard as he could, but the house didn’t fall down. The wolf realized that the third pig’s house was built with bricks, and he couldn’t blow it down. He tried to climb down the chimney, but the clever pig had a pot of boiling water waiting for him.
The wolf learned an important lesson that day, that hard work and perseverance pay off. The three little pigs also learned that it’s important to build strong and sturdy houses.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in a village with his sheep. He was bored and wanted some excitement, so he started to play pranks on the villagers. One day, he ran to the village shouting, “Wolf! Wolf! There’s a wolf attacking my sheep!” The villagers came running to help, but when they got there, they saw that there was no wolf. The boy laughed and thought it was funny. A few days later, the boy played the same prank again. This time, the villagers were getting annoyed because they had wasted their time and energy. They warned the boy that if he kept lying, no one would believe him when there really was a wolf. One day, a real wolf came and attacked the boy’s sheep. The boy shouted for help, but no one came. The villagers thought it was another one of his pranks and ignored him.
The boy learned an important lesson that day, that honesty is the best policy. The villagers also learned that it’s important to trust and believe people when they tell the truth.
The Ugly Duckling
Once upon a time, there was an ugly duckling who was different from his siblings. He was teased and bullied because of his appearance, and he felt sad and lonely. One day, the ugly duckling decided to leave his family and go out on his own. He wandered through the woods, looking for a place where he belonged. As he grew older, he started to realize that he wasn’t a duck at all. He was actually a beautiful swan. He had been different because he was meant to be different. The swan was overjoyed to discover who he really was, and he flew back to his old home to show his family. They were shocked at how beautiful he had become, and they welcomed him back with open arms.
The swan learned an important lesson, that it’s okay to be different and that everyone has their own unique qualities that make them special. The other ducks also learned an important lesson, that it’s important to treat others with kindness and respect, no matter how different they may seem.
Must Try: 20 Reading Paragraphs for Grade 2
2nd Grade Stories | Images
