The Sleepy Sunflower

Emma had always been known as the girl who loved to sleep. While her classmates were out riding bikes or playing games, Emma could often be found curled up in her bed, dreaming away. She insisted her love for sleeping wasn’t about being lazy. “Dreaming is where all the fun happens,” she’d say. “You can go anywhere, do anything, and be anyone you want.”

Her teacher, Mrs. Hayes, shook her head with a smile every time Emma dozed off during quiet reading time. “Emma, one of these days, you’ll sleep through something important,” she warned.

That “important” day arrived when Emma’s class was preparing for the school play, The Garden Parade. Everyone was buzzing with excitement as Mrs. Hayes announced the roles. The star of the show was the sunflower, the centerpiece of the garden. To everyone’s surprise, Mrs. Hayes gave the role to Emma.

“Me? The sunflower?” Emma asked, blinking sleepily.

“Yes, you,” Mrs. Hayes said with a wink. “You’re always so calm and peaceful. You’ll bring the sunflower to life.”

Emma nodded, yawning. “Okay, as long as I can still nap between rehearsals.”

The class burst into laughter, but Emma was serious. She practiced her lines and even tried to stay awake during rehearsals. But whenever there was a break, Emma would find a cozy corner and drift off to sleep.

On the day of the big performance, the school gym buzzed with parents and teachers. Backstage, students were putting on costumes and adjusting props. Everyone was excited—except Emma, who was nowhere to be found.

“Where’s Emma?” Mrs. Hayes asked, looking around frantically.

“I saw her sitting near the art supplies earlier,” said Jonah, the boy playing the gardener.

The search began. Behind the curtains? No Emma. By the costume rack? No sign of her. Finally, Mia, the class butterfly, spotted a pair of sunflower petals peeking out from behind a stack of paint cans.

“Found her!” Mia called.

Sure enough, there was Emma, curled up on a pile of old blankets, fast asleep in her sunflower costume. Mrs. Hayes sighed but couldn’t help smiling. “Emma!” she said, gently shaking her shoulder.

Emma sat up, yawning and rubbing her eyes. “Is it time?”

“Time? Emma, we’ve been looking everywhere for you! The play is about to start!” Mrs. Hayes said, trying to hide her exasperation.

Emma blinked a few times, then jumped to her feet. “Oh no! I didn’t mean to fall asleep! I was dreaming about being the perfect sunflower.”

“Well, now’s your chance to make that dream a reality,” Mrs. Hayes said, handing her the sunflower headpiece.

Emma hurried to her spot on stage just as the curtain rose. At first, she felt nervous under the bright lights, but then she remembered her dream. She stood tall, smiled brightly, and delivered her lines perfectly. The audience clapped and cheered, and for the first time, Emma realized she didn’t need to dream to feel proud—she could make it happen while awake.

After the play, Mrs. Hayes patted Emma on the shoulder. “You were wonderful, Emma. Maybe now you’ll spend a little more time awake?”

Emma grinned. “Maybe. But don’t count on it. Dreaming is still my favorite thing.”

Mrs. Hayes laughed. “Just promise me you won’t fall asleep on stage again.”

“Deal,” Emma said with a wink. And as the rest of the class celebrated, Emma yawned, already planning her next nap.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Drift off – To fall asleep gradually.

  • Example: “Emma would find a cozy corner and drift off to sleep.”

Look around – To search for something or someone.

  • Example: “Where’s Emma?” Mrs. Hayes asked, looking around frantically.

Wake up – To stop sleeping.

  • Example: “Mrs. Hayes said, gently shaking her shoulder to wake her up.”

Jump to one’s feet – To stand up quickly.

  • Example: “Emma jumped to her feet.”

Fall asleep – To begin sleeping.

  • Example: “I didn’t mean to fall asleep!”

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Fill in the Blank Questions:

  1. Emma would often ________ to sleep in the middle of rehearsals.

  2. Mrs. Hayes started to ________ the backstage area to find Emma.

  3. “The play is about to start!” Mrs. Hayes said, trying to ________ Emma.

  4. Emma quickly ________ to her feet when she realized the play was starting.

  5. “I didn’t mean to ________!” Emma exclaimed when they woke her.

Answers: Phrasal Verbs

  1. Drift off

  2. Look around

  3. Wake up

  4. Jump to one’s feet

  5. Fall asleep

Idioms & Example Sentences

Make that dream a reality – To turn a hope or goal into something real.

  • Example: “Well, now’s your chance to make that dream a reality.”

Nowhere to be found – Unable to be located.

  • Example: “Emma was nowhere to be found.”

Stand tall – To feel or show confidence.

  • Example: “She stood tall, smiled brightly, and delivered her lines perfectly.”

Hide one’s exasperation – To conceal frustration.

  • Example: “Mrs. Hayes said, trying to hide her exasperation.”

Don’t count on it – Don’t expect it to happen.

  • Example: “Maybe. But don’t count on it.”

Idioms Quiz

Fill in the Blank Questions:

  1. Mrs. Hayes said, “Now’s your chance to ________ and be the star of the show.”

  2. When Emma was missing, she was ________, worrying the whole class.

  3. Emma had to ________ on stage, even though she was nervous.

  4. Mrs. Hayes ________ when she found Emma asleep, though she was clearly frustrated.

  5. Emma grinned after the play, saying she might spend more time awake, but also warned, “________.”

Answers: Idioms

  1. Make that dream a reality

  2. Nowhere to be found

  3. Stand tall

  4. Hid her exasperation

  5. Don’t count on it

 

Multiple-Choice Questions

Circle the correct answer.

  1. What did Emma love to do most?
    a. Ride bikes
    b. Play games
    c. Sleep and dream
    d. Act in plays

  2. What warning did Mrs. Hayes give to Emma?
    a. She would miss out on fun if she kept napping.
    b. She might sleep through something important one day.
    c. She needed to focus more on her schoolwork.
    d. She should stop sleeping during class.

  3. What role did Emma get in the school play?
    a. The gardener
    b. The butterfly
    c. The sunflower
    d. The raincloud

  4. Why did Mrs. Hayes say Emma was perfect for the role of the sunflower?
    a. She had a loud voice.
    b. She was calm and peaceful.
    c. She loved nature.
    d. She was tall like a sunflower.

  5. Where did the class find Emma just before the play?
    a. Behind the curtains
    b. In the costume room
    c. Behind a stack of paint cans
    d. By the snack table

  6. What was Emma doing when they found her before the performance?
    a. Practicing her lines
    b. Watching the audience
    c. Sleeping in her sunflower costume
    d. Helping with props

  7. How did Emma perform on stage?
    a. She forgot her lines.
    b. She stood tall and delivered her lines perfectly.
    c. She tripped and dropped her sunflower headpiece.
    d. She looked nervous and shy.

  8. What lesson did Emma learn from her experience in the play?
    a. Dreams are better than reality.
    b. She didn’t need to dream to feel proud—she could make it happen while awake.
    c. Acting is more fun than dreaming.
    d. School plays are too stressful.

  9. What promise did Emma make to Mrs. Hayes after the play?
    a. To stop napping during rehearsals
    b. To spend less time dreaming
    c. To never fall asleep on stage again
    d. To practice acting more

  10. How did Emma feel about dreaming after the play?
    a. She decided to stop dreaming altogether.
    b. She still loved dreaming and planned her next nap.
    c. She thought dreaming was unnecessary.
    d. She found acting more enjoyable than dreaming.

Answers: Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. c - Sleep and dream

  2. b - She might sleep through something important one day.

  3. c - The sunflower

  4. b - She was calm and peaceful.

  5. c - Behind a stack of paint cans

  6. c - Sleeping in her sunflower costume

  7. b - She stood tall and delivered her lines perfectly.

  8. b - She didn’t need to dream to feel proud—she could make it happen while awake.

  9. c - To never fall asleep on stage again

  10. b - She still loved dreaming and planned her next nap.

 

Thought Provoking Question

  • Do you think Mrs. Hayes was right to give Emma the lead role despite her love of naps?

  • Why or why not?