Shirley the Sheep's New Style

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Shirley the Sheep's New Style

An A2 English reading worksheet featuring a story about a vain sheep named Shirley, perfect for practicing the 'SH' sound and expanding vocabulary.

Title

Shirley the Sheep's New Style

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An A2 English reading worksheet featuring a story about a vain sheep named Shirley, perfect for practicing the 'SH' sound and expanding vocabulary.

Reading Text

Once upon a time, on Sherwood’s Farm, lived a very vain sheep named Shirley. Shirley was famous for her big, beautiful white wool. She loved looking at her reflection in the pond every day. One sunny morning, Sherman, the shy farmer, walked into the field with large silver shears. Shirley gasped! She did not want short hair. "I must hide!" thought Shirley. First, Shirley tried to blend in with the farm’s flower garden. She stood near colorful roses, but her bright white wool gave her away. When Sherman came close, she quickly ran behind the tall hay bales in the barn. Sherman walked into the barn, holding a soft green apple. He did not say anything because he was very quiet and shy. He simply held out the tasty treat. Shirley loved apples even more than her thick wool. She could not resist! Shirley walked slowly toward Sherman to take the apple. While she enjoyed her sweet snack, Sherman gently and quickly sheared her coat. When he finished, Shirley looked in the pond. She saw her new, short haircut. She was surprised! She actually looked sleek, cool, and very stylish for summer. Shirley smiled and happily trotted back to her friends.

Activities

Vocabulary

Items:

Label: sheep
Answer: def1
Label: shears
Answer: def2
Label: short
Answer: def3
Label: shy
Answer: def4
Label: sheared
Answer: def5
Label: stylish
Answer: def6

Definitions:

Text: a farm animal with a thick coat of wool
Text: large cutting tools that look like big scissors
Text: not long
Text: nervous or quiet around other people
Text: cut the wool off an animal
Text: fashionable and attractive

Fill In The Blanks:

Before: The farmer used big
After: to cut the thick wool.
Answer: shears
Before: The fluffy
After: was eating green grass in the field.
Answer: sheep
Before: Sherman is very
After: and does not like talking too much.
Answer: shy
Before: Shirley did not want to have
After: hair for the summer.
Answer: short
Before: The farmer
After: the coat quickly while the animal ate an apple.
Answer: sheared

Comprehension

Questions:

Text: Shirley loved looking at her reflection in the pond.
Answer: true
Text: Sherman was a loud and angry farmer.
Answer: false
Text: Shirley hid in the flower garden and behind hay bales in the barn.
Answer: true
Text: Shirley hated apples and refused to come near Sherman.
Answer: false
Text: In the end, Shirley liked her new haircut.
Answer: true

Scrambled:

Answer: Shirley was a very vain sheep.
Answer: Sherman held out a soft green apple.
Answer: She ran behind the tall hay bales.
Answer: Sherman gently sheared her coat.
Answer: Shirley looked sleek and stylish.

Written Expression

Questions:

Text: Describe Shirley's appearance before and after her haircut.
Text: Why did Shirley decide to come out of her hiding place?

Examples:

Example 1: Before the haircut, Shirley had big, thick, white wool. After the haircut, she had short hair and looked sleek, cool, and stylish.

Example 2: Shirley came out of hiding because Sherman offered her a soft green apple, which she loved even more than her wool.

Critical Thinking

Title: Discussion & Critical Thinking

Instructions:

Why do you think Shirley was afraid of getting her hair cut at first? How did her feelings change?
How did Sherman show kindness and understanding toward Shirley to make her feel comfortable?