Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

Complete lesson plans, including stories, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

The Enchanted Forest

Once upon a time there was an enchanted forest full of magical creatures. All the animals lived in harmony and the forest was full of life.

One day, a young boy named Tom stumbled upon the magical forest while out on a walk. He was amazed by the wonderful sights and sounds of the forest. He saw beautiful birds, friendly foxes, and even a few unicorns!

Tom spent the day exploring the forest, meeting the animals and learning about their unique abilities. He was fascinated by the magic that seemed to be everywhere.

At the end of the day, as Tom was about to leave, he heard a mysterious voice calling out to him. He looked around, but couldn’t see anyone. He followed the voice and eventually stumbled upon a small pond in the middle of the forest.

In the pond was a magical fairy! She thanked Tom for visiting the enchanted forest and said that she would grant him one wish. Tom wished that the forest would stay enchanted forever so that the animals could stay happy and safe.

The fairy smiled and said, “Your wish is granted.” Tom thanked the fairy and left the forest with a smile on his face.

From then on, the Enchanted Forest was always full of life and magic. Tom and the animals of the forest were happy and full of joy.

The End.

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Vocabulary

1. Enchanted (adjective): Full of magic; charmed.
2. Magical (adjective): Full of mysteries and wonders; supernatural.
3. Harmony (noun): A state of agreement and peacefulness.
4. Fascinated (verb): To be filled with amazement and curiosity.
5. Unique (adjective): Special; one of a kind.
6. Pond (noun): A small body of water.
7. Grant (verb): To give something as a gift.
8. Wish (noun): A hope or desire for something to happen.
9. Joy (noun): Happiness; pleasure.
10. Full (adjective): Complete; filled to capacity.

Comprehension Questions

1. Who was the young boy that stumbled upon the magical forest?
2. What did Tom see in the forest?
3. What did the mysterious voice say to Tom?
4. What did Tom wish for when the fairy granted him one wish?
5. How did the fairy grant Tom’s wish?
6. How did Tom feel when he left the forest?
7. What happened to the enchanted forest after Tom’s wish was granted?
8. What was the moral of the story?

Gap Fill Questions

1. Tom stumbled upon the __________ forest while out on a walk.
2. Tom saw beautiful birds, friendly __________, and even a few unicorns!
3. Tom was fascinated by the __________ that seemed to be everywhere.
4. Tom eventually stumbled upon a small __________ in the middle of the forest.
5. In the pond was a magical __________!
6. The fairy said that she would grant him one __________.
7. Tom wished that the forest would stay __________ forever.
8. The fairy smiled and said, “Your __________ is granted.”
9. From then on, the Enchanted Forest was always full of __________ and magic.
10. Tom and the animals of the forest were happy and full of __________.

Conversation Questions

1. What is your favorite fairy tale?
2. Have you ever been to an enchanted forest?
3. What kind of magical creatures would you like to encounter?
4. How would you react if you encountered a fairy in real life?
5. What do you think it would be like to live in a magical world?
6. Do you think that wishes can come true?
7. What would you wish for if you had one wish?
8. What do you think it takes to make a place enchanting?
9. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were in a fairy tale?
10. What is your favorite part of the story?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who was the young boy that stumbled upon the magical forest? Tom.
2. What did Tom see in the forest? Beautiful birds, friendly foxes, and even a few unicorns.
3. What did the mysterious voice say to Tom? Follow me.
4. What did Tom wish for when the fairy granted him one wish? That the forest would stay enchanted forever so that the animals could stay happy and safe.
5. How did the fairy grant Tom’s wish? By granting his wish.
6. How did Tom feel when he left the forest? Happy and full of joy.
7. What happened to the enchanted forest after Tom’s wish was granted? It was always full of life and magic.
8. What was the moral of the story? The power of a wish can bring life and joy to an enchanted forest.

Gap Fill Question Answers:

1. Tom stumbled upon the enchanted forest while out on a walk.
2. Tom saw beautiful birds, friendly foxes, and even a few unicorns!
3. Tom was fascinated by the magic that seemed to be everywhere.
4. Tom eventually stumbled upon a small pond in the middle of the forest.
5. In the pond was a magical fairy!
6. The fairy said that she would grant him one wish.
7. Tom wished that the forest would stay enchanted forever.
8. The fairy smiled and said, “Your wish is granted.”
9. From then on, the Enchanted Forest was always full of life and magic.
10. Tom and the animals of the forest were happy and full of joy.

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

The Island of Cats

Once upon a time, there was a small island in the middle of the ocean. It was a magical place

In the magical land of Sprinkleville, a mischievous gnome named Minty Mischief plots to steal all the cupcakes from the famous cupcake castle, but a young girl named Ella is determined to stop him and save the town from chaos.

The Cupcake Castle Caper

In a yummy town called Sprinkleville, a little gnome named Minty made salty cupcakes by mistake. Ella, a brave girl with a good nose, found Minty and helped him make delicious cupcakes again.

A lonely turtle named Timothy embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a hidden cove.

The Lonely Turtle

Timothy the turtle was sad because he had no friends, but then he found a magical compass that led him to new turtle friends.

A young girl named Lily embarks on a daring adventure to find a hidden harbor and discovers that true treasure lies in the simple pleasures of life.

The Hidden Harbor

Lily found a secret harbor and learned that the best treasure is having fun with friends.

The Castle in the Clouds

Lily climbed a big mountain and found a magical castle where she helped a friendly man find his lost key with the help of talking animals.

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