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 Adventures of Wally Watermelon

A mischievous watermelon named Wally discovers a magical crystal and becomes a superhero in a new world.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, in a land full of tasty fruits and vegetables, there was a naughty watermelon named Wally. Wally liked to go on wild adventures and often found himself in trouble. One sunny day, he went into the magical forest near his home. He didn’t know he was about to go on the craziest adventure of his life.

While walking, Wally found a secret cave. He was so curious that he went in. Inside, he found a sparkling, colorful crystal. When Wally touched the crystal, he suddenly popped into a strange new place.

This new place was full of talking animals and plants, and Wally now had arms and legs. Even more exciting, he had superpowers! He could jump really high, swim super fast, and shoot seeds like a gun. Wally made friends with the animals and they worked together to stop a bad wizard who wanted to turn all fruits and vegetables into ice cream.

Wally and his friends went on an amazing journey. They met giant spiders, climbed steep mountains, and crossed a hot river of fire. Wally learned how to work with others and found out that even small fruits could do big things if they helped each other.

At last, they arrived at the bad wizard’s home. Together, they beat the wizard and saved the kingdom. Everyone thanked Wally for being brave. Wally went back home, but he was different now. He had learned to use his powers to help others. Wally became the hero of the forest, always there to help and go on new adventures.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1naughtyWhen someone is behaving badly or causing trouble
2adventuresExciting trips or experiences
3curiousWanting to know more about something or someone
4sparklingShining brightly with flashes of light
5superpowersSpecial abilities that normal people don’t have
6wizardA person in stories who uses magic spells
7journeyA long trip from one place to another
8steepVery sharp and almost straight up and down
9crossedWent over something to get to the other side
10kingdomA place ruled by a king or queen
11braveBeing courageous and not afraid of danger
12heroSomeone who is admired for doing something very brave or great

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Wally find inside the secret cave?
3. What happened to Wally when he touched the crystal?
4. What were Wally’s superpowers in the new place?
5. What did Wally and his friends have to stop the bad wizard from doing?
6. How did Wally become the hero of the forest?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a land full of tasty fruits and vegetables, there was a naughty watermelon (1)______ Wally. Wally liked to go on wild adventures and often found himself in trouble. One sunny day, he (2)______ into the magical forest near his home. He didn’t know he was about to go on the craziest adventure of his life.

While walking, Wally found a secret (3)______. He was so curious that he went in. Inside, he found a (4)______, colorful crystal. When Wally touched the crystal, he suddenly popped into a strange new place.

This new place was full of talking animals and plants, and Wally now had arms and legs. Even more exciting, he had superpowers! He could jump really (5)______, (6)______ super fast, and shoot seeds like a gun. Wally made friends with the (7)______ and they worked together to stop a bad wizard who wanted to turn all fruits and vegetables into ice cream.

Wally and his friends went on an (8)______ journey. They met giant spiders, (9)______ steep mountains, and crossed a hot river of fire. Wally learned how to work with others and found out that even small fruits could do big things if they helped each other.

At last, they arrived at the bad (10)______’s home. Together, they beat the wizard and saved the kingdom. Everyone thanked Wally for being (11)______. Wally went back home, but he was different now. He had learned to use his powers to help (12)______. Wally became the hero of the forest, always there to help and go on new adventures.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a watermelon?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret cave?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it would be like to have superpowers?
5. How would you feel if you met talking animals and plants?
6. Do you think it’s important to work together with others? Why or why not?
7. What would you do if you met a giant spider?
8. Do you think it’s important to help others? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. naughty
2. adventures
3. curious
4. sparkling
5. superpowers
6. wizard
7. journey
8. steep
9. crossed
10. kingdom
11. brave
12. hero

Meanings:
(A) A place ruled by a king or queen
(B) Someone who is admired for doing something very brave or great
(C) Went over something to get to the other side
(D) Very sharp and almost straight up and down
(E) Wanting to know more about something or someone
(F) Shining brightly with flashes of light
(G) A long trip from one place to another
(H) Special abilities that normal people don’t have
(I) Being courageous and not afraid of danger
(J) A person in stories who uses magic spells
(K) Exciting trips or experiences
(L) When someone is behaving badly or causing trouble
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the naughty watermelon in the story?
(a) Billy
(b) Sammy
(c) Tommy
(d) Wally

2. Where did Wally find the secret cave?
(a) In the magical forest
(b) Underneath his house
(c) In the middle of the ocean
(d) On top of a mountain

3. What happened to Wally when he touched the sparkling, colorful crystal?
(a) He turned into a giant watermelon
(b) He lost his superpowers
(c) He popped into a strange new place
(d) He fell asleep

4. What superpowers did Wally have in the strange new place?
(a) Flying, turning invisible, and reading minds
(b) Jumping really high, swimming super fast, and shooting seeds like a gun
(c) Running really fast, breathing underwater, and talking to animals
(d) Teleporting, controlling the weather, and speaking all languages

5. What did Wally and his friends have to stop the bad wizard from doing?
(a) Taking over the magical forest
(b) Destroying the secret cave
(c) Building a castle out of watermelons
(d) Turning all fruits and vegetables into ice cream

6. What did Wally and his friends encounter on their amazing journey?
(a) Friendly fairies, beautiful rainbows, and fluffy clouds
(b) Talking trees, magical potions, and hidden treasure
(c) Giant spiders, steep mountains, and a hot river of fire
(d) Dancing unicorns, flying dragons, and singing mermaids

7. Where did Wally and his friends finally arrive?
(a) The bad wizard’s home
(b) Wally’s house
(c) The top of a tall tower
(d) The secret cave

8. What did Wally become after his adventure?
(a) The king of the magical creatures
(b) The hero of the forest
(c) The ruler of the kingdom
(d) The guardian of the secret cave

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Wally befriends talking animals and together they try to stop a bad wizard.
2. When Wally touches the crystal, he is not transported to a new place where he gains superpowers.
3. Wally does not discover a secret cave and finds a magical crystal inside.
4. Wally does not learn the importance of teamwork and helping others.
5. Wally returns home as a hero and continues to go on new adventures, using his powers to help others.
6. Wally and his friends defeat the bad wizard and save the kingdom.
7. Wally is a watermelon who loves going on exciting adventures.
8. Wally and his friends do not face challenges like giant spiders, steep mountains, and a river of fire.
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. Who is the main character in the story?
Wally is the main character in the story.

2. What did Wally find inside the secret cave?
Wally found a sparkling, colorful crystal inside the secret cave.

3. What happened to Wally when he touched the crystal?
When Wally touched the crystal, he suddenly popped into a strange new place.

4. What were Wally’s superpowers in the new place?
In the new place, Wally had the superpowers to jump really high, swim super fast, and shoot seeds like a gun.

5. What did Wally and his friends have to stop the bad wizard from doing?
Wally and his friends had to stop the bad wizard from turning all fruits and vegetables into ice cream.

6. How did Wally become the hero of the forest?
Wally became the hero of the forest by using his powers to help others and going on new adventures.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) went
(3) cave
(4) sparkling
(5) high
(6) swim
(7) animals
(8) amazing
(9) climbed
(10) wizard
(11) brave
(12) others
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. naughty
Answer: (L) When someone is behaving badly or causing trouble

2. adventures
Answer: (K) Exciting trips or experiences

3. curious
Answer: (E) Wanting to know more about something or someone

4. sparkling
Answer: (F) Shining brightly with flashes of light

5. superpowers
Answer: (H) Special abilities that normal people don’t have

6. wizard
Answer: (J) A person in stories who uses magic spells

7. journey
Answer: (G) A long trip from one place to another

8. steep
Answer: (D) Very sharp and almost straight up and down

9. crossed
Answer: (C) Went over something to get to the other side

10. kingdom
Answer: (A) A place ruled by a king or queen

11. brave
Answer: (I) Being courageous and not afraid of danger

12. hero
Answer: (B) Someone who is admired for doing something very brave or great
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the naughty watermelon in the story?
Answer: (d) Wally

2. Where did Wally find the secret cave?
Answer: (a) In the magical forest

3. What happened to Wally when he touched the sparkling, colorful crystal?
Answer: (c) He popped into a strange new place

4. What superpowers did Wally have in the strange new place?
Answer: (b) Jumping really high, swimming super fast, and shooting seeds like a gun

5. What did Wally and his friends have to stop the bad wizard from doing?
Answer: (d) Turning all fruits and vegetables into ice cream

6. What did Wally and his friends encounter on their amazing journey?
Answer: (c) Giant spiders, steep mountains, and a hot river of fire

7. Where did Wally and his friends finally arrive?
Answer: (a) The bad wizard’s home

8. What did Wally become after his adventure?
Answer: (b) The hero of the forest
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Wally befriends talking animals and together they try to stop a bad wizard. (Answer: True)
2. When Wally touches the crystal, he is not transported to a new place where he gains superpowers. (Answer: False)
3. Wally does not discover a secret cave and finds a magical crystal inside. (Answer: False)
4. Wally does not learn the importance of teamwork and helping others. (Answer: False)
5. Wally returns home as a hero and continues to go on new adventures, using his powers to help others. (Answer: True)
6. Wally and his friends defeat the bad wizard and save the kingdom. (Answer: True)
7. Wally is a watermelon who loves going on exciting adventures. (Answer: True)
8. Wally and his friends do not face challenges like giant spiders, steep mountains, and a river of fire. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A mischievous squirrel named Benny embarks on an unexpected journey after stealing a tangerine.

The Tangerine Thief

Benny the squirrel found a tangerine, but a monkey named Max took it and ran away. Benny chased after him, and they met new friends along the way. In the end, they all became best friends and went on more adventures together.

Lily and her animal friends explore a crystal cave, discovering magical powers and learning important lessons.

The Crystal Cave

Lily found a magical cave made of crystals in the forest and could talk to animals!

Silly Sally's interactive circus cake, complete with a mischievous kitten, wins The Great Cake Contest.

The Great Cake Contest

In Sweetopia, bakers made fancy cakes for The Great Cake Contest. Silly Sally’s cake got a surprise visitor, but she turned it into a fun game and won the contest!

The Magic Portrait

Once upon a time, there was a small village in the middle of a deep, dark forest. In this village

A young girl named Emily discovers a tree that produces rainbow-colored raspberries, bringing joy to her village.

The Remarkable Raspberry Rain

Emily discovers a magical tree that makes it rain colorful raspberries, but when the colors start to fade, she finds a way to bring the magic back with laughter.

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