Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among rolling green hills, there lay a mysterious orchard. Known as the Orchard of Oddities, it was said to possess magical trees that bore fruit with peculiar properties. The townsfolk, intrigued by these rumors, would often gather near the orchard’s rusty gate and wonder what secrets it held. One day, four daring children named Lily, Oliver, Max, and Mia decided to venture into the enchanting orchard and uncover its mysteries.

As the friends made their way through the overgrown paths, they stumbled upon a tree with strawberries the size of their heads. Excitedly, they each plucked one and began to munch on the scrumptiously sweet fruit. To their surprise, with each bite, their voices began to sound like musical notes! Laughter filled the air as the children realized they had become walking musical instruments.

Continuing their exploration, they spotted a tree laden with apples that glowed in vibrant hues. Unable to resist, they bit into the seemingly ordinary fruit and suddenly found themselves floating high above the ground, just like balloons. Giggling and soaring through the sky, they marveled at the beauty of the village below.

The adventurers, undeterred by the mysterious happenings, soon stumbled upon a tree with oranges that emitted a dazzling light. As they peeled the oranges, their fingers began to glow in radiant colors. Amazed, they gleefully painted the air with trails of light, crafting a masterpiece of swirling patterns and hues.

Just as they thought they had seen it all, the friends stumbled upon a tree laden with melons. Curiosity got the better of them, and they sampled the fruit. To their astonishment, with each bite, their bodies transformed into different animals. Lily became a graceful deer, Oliver a mischievous monkey, Max a slithery snake, and Mia a playful kitten. They frolicked gleefully through the orchard, each experiencing life from a unique perspective.

In the midst of the excitement, the children stumbled upon a final tree, bearing pears that sparkled like diamonds. When they tasted the exotic fruit, they were filled with a sudden wisdom and understanding. They realized that the true magic of the Orchard of Oddities did not lie in the peculiar properties of its fruits, but in the joy and wonder that accompanies exploration and friendship.

As they exited the orchard, returning to their normal selves, the children carried with them precious memories of their extraordinary adventure. From that day on, they embraced the wonders of the world around them, never too afraid to explore the paths less traveled. The Orchard of Oddities had taught them that life is filled with delightful surprises, and that the true magic lies in our ability to see and appreciate the extraordinary in everyday experiences.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the name of the orchard in the story?
2. Why were the townsfolk intrigued by the orchard?
3. How did the children’s voices change after eating the strawberries?
4. What happened to the children after they bit into the apples?
5. What did the children do with the glowing oranges?
6. How did the children’s bodies transform after eating the melons?
7. What did the children realize about the magic of the orchard?
8. How did the children’s perspective on life change after their adventure in the orchard?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a small (1)______ nestled among rolling green hills, there lay a (2)______ orchard. Known as the Orchard of Oddities, it was said to possess magical trees that bore fruit with peculiar properties. The townsfolk, intrigued by these rumors, would often gather near the orchard’s rusty gate and wonder what secrets it held. One day, four daring children named Lily, Oliver, Max, and Mia decided to venture into the enchanting orchard and uncover its mysteries.

As the friends made their way through the (3)______ paths, they stumbled upon a tree with strawberries the size of their (4)______. Excitedly, they each plucked one and began to munch on the scrumptiously sweet fruit. To their surprise, with each bite, their voices began to sound like musical notes! Laughter filled the air as the children (5)______ they had become (6)______ musical instruments.

Continuing their exploration, they (7)______ a tree laden with apples that glowed in vibrant hues. Unable to resist, they bit into the seemingly ordinary fruit and suddenly found themselves floating high above the ground, just like balloons. Giggling and soaring through the sky, they marveled at the beauty of the village below.

The adventurers, (8)______ by the mysterious happenings, soon stumbled upon a tree with oranges that emitted a dazzling light. As they peeled the oranges, their fingers began to glow in radiant colors. Amazed, they gleefully painted the air with trails of light, crafting a (9)______ of swirling patterns and hues.

Just as they thought they had seen it all, the friends stumbled upon a tree laden with melons. (10)______ got the better of them, and they sampled the fruit. To their astonishment, with each bite, their bodies transformed into different animals. Lily became a graceful deer, (11)______ a mischievous monkey, Max a slithery (12)______, and Mia a playful kitten. They frolicked gleefully through the orchard, each experiencing life from a unique perspective.

In the midst of the excitement, the children stumbled upon a final tree, bearing pears that sparkled like diamonds. When they tasted the exotic fruit, they were filled with a sudden wisdom and understanding. They realized that the true magic of the (13)______ of (14)______ did not lie in the peculiar properties of its fruits, but in the joy and wonder that accompanies exploration and friendship.

As they exited the orchard, returning to their (15)______ selves, the children carried with them precious memories of their extraordinary adventure. From that day on, they embraced the wonders of the world around them, never too (16)______ to explore the paths less traveled. The Orchard of Oddities had taught them that life is filled with delightful surprises, and that the true magic lies in our ability to see and appreciate the extraordinary in everyday experiences.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite fruit and why?
2. How would you feel if you could transform into an animal? Why?
3. Do you think it’s important to explore new places and try new things? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had a magical experience or encountered something out of the ordinary? Describe it.
5. Do you believe in magic? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if you could fly like a balloon? Why?
7. What is the most unusual fruit you have ever tasted? Did it have any special properties?
8. Do you think it’s important to have friends who are adventurous and willing to try new things? Why or why not?
9. What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited? Describe it.
10. How would you feel if you could communicate through music? Why?
11. Do you like to explore nature? Why or why not?
12. What is your most treasured memory of a special adventure or exploration? Describe it.

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. nestled
2. peculiar
3. townsfolk
4. enchanting
5. scrumptiously
6. vibrant
7. undeterred
8. dazzling
9. masterpiece
10. frolicked
11. astonishment
12. exotic
13. wisdom
14. precious
15. delightful

Meanings:
(A) Foreign, not native, or strikingly unusual or appealing
(B) Causing great pleasure or happiness
(C) Extremely tasty or delicious
(D) Strange or unusual in a way that is surprising or difficult to understand
(E) The people living in a particular town or village
(F) Full of energy and life; bright and striking
(G) A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship
(H) Settled comfortably within a surrounding area
(I) Not discouraged or restrained by setbacks or challenges
(J) Played or moved about in a cheerful and lively way
(K) Of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly
(L) Shining brilliantly; impressively beautiful or skillful
(M) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment
(N) Great surprise or amazement
(O) Charming, captivating, or magical
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the mysterious orchard?
(a) The Enchanted Garden
(b) The Orchard of Oddities
(c) The Magical Grove
(d) The Secret Orchard

2. What happened to the children’s voices after they ate the strawberries?
(a) Their voices became deeper
(b) Their voices sounded like musical notes
(c) Their voices disappeared completely
(d) Their voices became high-pitched

3. What happened to the children after they ate the apples?
(a) They started floating in the air
(b) They turned into trees
(c) They grew wings and could fly
(d) They became invisible

4. What did the children do with the oranges?
(a) They threw the oranges at each other
(b) They used the oranges to make a delicious juice
(c) They planted the orange seeds to grow their own orange trees
(d) They used the oranges to paint the air with trails of light

5. What animals did the children transform into after eating the melons?
(a) Lily became a lion, Oliver a tiger, Max a bear, and Mia a wolf
(b) Lily became a bird, Oliver a fish, Max a horse, and Mia a rabbit
(c) Lily became a deer, Oliver a monkey, Max a snake, and Mia a kitten
(d) Lily became a butterfly, Oliver a spider, Max a scorpion, and Mia a bee

6. What did the children realize after eating the pears?
(a) The true magic of the orchard lies in the joy of exploration and friendship
(b) The pears had no magical properties at all
(c) The pears were poisonous and made them sick
(d) The true magic of the orchard lies in the peculiar properties of its fruits

7. What did the children carry with them after leaving the orchard?
(a) Bags full of fruit from the orchard
(b) A map of the orchard’s secret treasures
(c) Precious memories of their extraordinary adventure
(d) A newfound fear of exploring new places

8. What lesson did the children learn from their adventure in the orchard?
(a) It’s best to stay away from mysterious orchards
(b) The orchard was just an illusion and there was no real magic
(c) The orchard was cursed and they should never have entered it
(d) Life is filled with delightful surprises and the true magic lies in our ability to see and appreciate the extraordinary in everyday experiences

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The children discover a tree with cherries the size of their heads that make their voices sound like gravelly whispers.
2. Lily, Oliver, Max, and Mia are the four children who decide to venture into the orchard.
3. The children transform into different animals after eating melons from a tree in the orchard.
4. The Orchard of Normalcy is known for its mundane trees that bear fruit with ordinary properties.
5. They also find a tree with bananas that make them sink to the ground like rocks when they eat them.
6. The true magic of the Orchard of Oddities lies in the joy and wonder that comes from exploration and friendship.
7. They taste pears from a tree that gives them sudden wisdom and understanding.
8. The friends come across a tree with lemons that make their fingers turn numb when they peel them.
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 was the name of the orchard in the story?
The Orchard of Oddities.

2. Why were the townsfolk intrigued by the orchard?
The orchard was said to possess magical trees that bore fruit with peculiar properties.

3. How did the children’s voices change after eating the strawberries?
Their voices began to sound like musical notes.

4. What happened to the children after they bit into the apples?
They found themselves floating high above the ground, like balloons.

5. What did the children do with the glowing oranges?
They painted the air with trails of light, creating a masterpiece of swirling patterns and hues.

6. How did the children’s bodies transform after eating the melons?
Lily became a deer, Oliver became a monkey, Max became a snake, and Mia became a kitten.

7. What did the children realize about the magic of the orchard?
They realized that the true magic of the orchard lay in the joy and wonder that accompanies exploration and friendship.

8. How did the children’s perspective on life change after their adventure in the orchard?
They embraced the wonders of the world around them and were never too afraid to explore the paths less traveled. They realized that life is filled with delightful surprises and that the true magic lies in our ability to see and appreciate the extraordinary in everyday experiences.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) village
(2) mysterious
(3) overgrown
(4) heads
(5) realized
(6) walking
(7) spotted
(8) undeterred
(9) masterpiece
(10) Curiosity
(11) Oliver
(12) snake
(13) Orchard
(14) Oddities
(15) normal
(16) afraid
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. nestled
Answer: (H) Settled comfortably within a surrounding area

2. peculiar
Answer: (D) Strange or unusual in a way that is surprising or difficult to understand

3. townsfolk
Answer: (E) The people living in a particular town or village

4. enchanting
Answer: (O) Charming, captivating, or magical

5. scrumptiously
Answer: (C) Extremely tasty or delicious

6. vibrant
Answer: (F) Full of energy and life; bright and striking

7. undeterred
Answer: (I) Not discouraged or restrained by setbacks or challenges

8. dazzling
Answer: (L) Shining brilliantly; impressively beautiful or skillful

9. masterpiece
Answer: (G) A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship

10. frolicked
Answer: (J) Played or moved about in a cheerful and lively way

11. astonishment
Answer: (N) Great surprise or amazement

12. exotic
Answer: (A) Foreign, not native, or strikingly unusual or appealing

13. wisdom
Answer: (M) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment

14. precious
Answer: (K) Of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly

15. delightful
Answer: (B) Causing great pleasure or happiness
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the mysterious orchard?
Answer: (b) The Orchard of Oddities

2. What happened to the children’s voices after they ate the strawberries?
Answer: (b) Their voices sounded like musical notes

3. What happened to the children after they ate the apples?
Answer: (a) They started floating in the air

4. What did the children do with the oranges?
Answer: (d) They used the oranges to paint the air with trails of light

5. What animals did the children transform into after eating the melons?
Answer: (c) Lily became a deer, Oliver a monkey, Max a snake, and Mia a kitten

6. What did the children realize after eating the pears?
Answer: (a) The true magic of the orchard lies in the joy of exploration and friendship

7. What did the children carry with them after leaving the orchard?
Answer: (c) Precious memories of their extraordinary adventure

8. What lesson did the children learn from their adventure in the orchard?
Answer: (d) Life is filled with delightful surprises and the true magic lies in our ability to see and appreciate the extraordinary in everyday experiences
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The children discover a tree with cherries the size of their heads that make their voices sound like gravelly whispers. (Answer: False)
2. Lily, Oliver, Max, and Mia are the four children who decide to venture into the orchard. (Answer: True)
3. The children transform into different animals after eating melons from a tree in the orchard. (Answer: True)
4. The Orchard of Normalcy is known for its mundane trees that bear fruit with ordinary properties. (Answer: False)
5. They also find a tree with bananas that make them sink to the ground like rocks when they eat them. (Answer: False)
6. The true magic of the Orchard of Oddities lies in the joy and wonder that comes from exploration and friendship. (Answer: True)
7. They taste pears from a tree that gives them sudden wisdom and understanding. (Answer: True)
8. The friends come across a tree with lemons that make their fingers turn numb when they peel them. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧