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 Maze of Mirrors

Mia and Ben conquer the Maze of Mirrors, learning the value of perseverance and laughter.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a place called Miravia, there was a cool park with a Maze of Mirrors. It was a very tricky maze that only brave and smart people tried to finish.

One day, a girl named Mia and her friend Ben decided to go through the maze. They walked in, ready for an adventure. The maze had lots of mirrors, which made it hard to know where they were going.

Suddenly, Mia thought she saw the way out. She ran towards it but bonked into a mirror and got sprayed with silly string. Ben laughed as Mia looked really funny. They understood the maze had fun tricks, and they should be careful.

Then, they hit a dead end with a big mirror. As they were about to quit, Ben waved at his reflection and it waved back. It wasn’t a mirror after all – it was the way out!

When Mia and Ben left the maze, they felt proud and happy. They learned that life is a bit like a maze too, full of surprises. They told everyone to be brave, keep trying, and laugh, even when things are tough. They became the Maze of Mirrors heroes, telling their story to inspire others every year.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1MiraviaA made-up place where the story happens
2adventureAn exciting experience or journey
3trickyDifficult to understand or deal with
4braveHaving courage
5mirrorsPieces of glass that show what you look like
6suddenlyHappening quickly and without warning
7bonkedHit something hard
8reflectionWhat you see when you look at yourself in something shiny, like glass
9proudFeeling very pleased with yourself
10inspireTo encourage someone to do something
11heroesPeople who are admired for doing something very brave or great
12surprisesThings you didn’t expect to happen

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the name of the park in Miravia?
2. Who decided to go through the maze?
3. Why was it hard to know where they were going in the maze?
4. What happened to Mia when she ran towards what she thought was the way out?
5. How did they realize that the big mirror was actually the way out?
6. What did Mia and Ben learn from their experience in the maze?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a place called (1)______, there was a cool park with a Maze of Mirrors. It was a very tricky maze that only brave and smart people tried to finish.

One day, a (2)______ named Mia and her friend Ben decided to go through the maze. They walked in, (3)______ for an adventure. The maze had lots of mirrors, which made it hard to know where they were (4)______.

Suddenly, Mia (5)______ she saw the way out. She ran towards it but bonked into a mirror and got sprayed with (6)______ string. Ben laughed as Mia looked really funny. They understood the maze had fun (7)______, and they should be careful.

Then, they hit a dead end with a big mirror. As they were (8)______ to (9)______, Ben waved at his reflection and it waved back. It wasn’t a mirror after all – it was the way out!

When Mia and Ben left the maze, they felt proud and happy. They learned that life is a bit like a maze too, full of surprises. They told everyone to be brave, (10)______ trying, and (11)______, even when things are (12)______. They became the Maze of Mirrors heroes, telling their story to inspire others every year.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a maze? Why do you think mazes can be tricky?
2. How would you feel if you got sprayed with silly string? Why?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Ben and Mia learned from their experience in the Maze of Mirrors?
5. Have you ever been in a maze before? How did it make you feel?
6. Do you think it’s important to keep trying, even when things are tough? Why or why not?
7. How do you think Ben and Mia felt when they found the way out of the maze?
8. What would you tell someone who is feeling scared or stuck in a difficult situation? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Miravia
2. adventure
3. tricky
4. brave
5. mirrors
6. suddenly
7. bonked
8. reflection
9. proud
10. inspire
11. heroes
12. surprises

Meanings:
(A) Feeling very pleased with yourself
(B) To encourage someone to do something
(C) Pieces of glass that show what you look like
(D) Things you didn’t expect to happen
(E) An exciting experience or journey
(F) Happening quickly and without warning
(G) What you see when you look at yourself in something shiny, like glass
(H) Having courage
(I) People who are admired for doing something very brave or great
(J) Hit something hard
(K) A made-up place where the story happens
(L) Difficult to understand or deal with
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the park in Miravia with the tricky maze?
(a) Mirror Park
(b) Maze of Mirrors
(c) Tricky Maze Park
(d) Adventure Park

2. Who decided to go through the maze?
(a) Mia and Sarah
(b) Ben and Sarah
(c) Mia and Luke
(d) Mia and Ben

3. What made it hard to know where they were going in the maze?
(a) Tricky signs
(b) Hidden doors
(c) Lots of mirrors
(d) Dark lighting

4. What happened when Mia ran towards what she thought was the way out?
(a) She found the real way out
(b) She bonked into a mirror and got sprayed with silly string
(c) She got lost in the maze
(d) She tripped and fell

5. What did Ben do when they hit a dead end with a big mirror?
(a) He waved at his reflection and it waved back
(b) He broke the mirror
(c) He called for help
(d) He gave up and left the maze

6. How did Mia and Ben feel when they left the maze?
(a) Scared and tired
(b) Frustrated and angry
(c) Confused and lost
(d) Proud and happy

7. What did Mia and Ben learn from their experience in the maze?
(a) Mazes are boring and not worth trying
(b) Mirrors are tricky and should be avoided
(c) Life is a bit like a maze, full of surprises
(d) Adventures are scary and should be avoided

8. What did Mia and Ben become after their maze adventure?
(a) Maze of Mirrors heroes
(b) Maze tour guides
(c) Maze experts
(d) Maze builders

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The maze had few mirrors, making it easy to navigate.
2. There is a park in Miravia with an easy maze called the Maze of Mirrors.
3. Ben realized that one of the mirrors was actually the way out of the maze.
4. After leaving the maze, Mia and Ben felt proud and happy.
5. Mia and Ben became villains, sharing their story to discourage others every year.
6. They learned that life is dissimilar to a maze, full of predictability.
7. Mia ran into a mirror and got sprayed with silly string, making her look funny.
8. Mia and her friend Ben decided to go through the maze one day.
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 park in Miravia?
The park in Miravia was called the Maze of Mirrors.

2. Who decided to go through the maze?
Mia and her friend Ben decided to go through the maze.

3. Why was it hard to know where they were going in the maze?
It was hard to know where they were going in the maze because there were lots of mirrors that made it tricky.

4. What happened to Mia when she ran towards what she thought was the way out?
When Mia ran towards what she thought was the way out, she bonked into a mirror and got sprayed with silly string.

5. How did they realize that the big mirror was actually the way out?
They realized that the big mirror was actually the way out when Ben waved at his reflection and it waved back.

6. What did Mia and Ben learn from their experience in the maze?
Mia and Ben learned from their experience in the maze that life is like a maze too, full of surprises. They learned to be brave, keep trying, and laugh even when things are tough.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Miravia
(2) girl
(3) ready
(4) going
(5) thought
(6) silly
(7) tricks
(8) about
(9) quit
(10) keep
(11) laugh
(12) tough
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Miravia
Answer: (K) A made-up place where the story happens

2. adventure
Answer: (E) An exciting experience or journey

3. tricky
Answer: (L) Difficult to understand or deal with

4. brave
Answer: (H) Having courage

5. mirrors
Answer: (C) Pieces of glass that show what you look like

6. suddenly
Answer: (F) Happening quickly and without warning

7. bonked
Answer: (J) Hit something hard

8. reflection
Answer: (G) What you see when you look at yourself in something shiny, like glass

9. proud
Answer: (A) Feeling very pleased with yourself

10. inspire
Answer: (B) To encourage someone to do something

11. heroes
Answer: (I) People who are admired for doing something very brave or great

12. surprises
Answer: (D) Things you didn’t expect to happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the park in Miravia with the tricky maze?
Answer: (b) Maze of Mirrors

2. Who decided to go through the maze?
Answer: (d) Mia and Ben

3. What made it hard to know where they were going in the maze?
Answer: (c) Lots of mirrors

4. What happened when Mia ran towards what she thought was the way out?
Answer: (b) She bonked into a mirror and got sprayed with silly string

5. What did Ben do when they hit a dead end with a big mirror?
Answer: (a) He waved at his reflection and it waved back

6. How did Mia and Ben feel when they left the maze?
Answer: (d) Proud and happy

7. What did Mia and Ben learn from their experience in the maze?
Answer: (c) Life is a bit like a maze, full of surprises

8. What did Mia and Ben become after their maze adventure?
Answer: (a) Maze of Mirrors heroes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The maze had few mirrors, making it easy to navigate. (Answer: False)
2. There is a park in Miravia with an easy maze called the Maze of Mirrors. (Answer: False)
3. Ben realized that one of the mirrors was actually the way out of the maze. (Answer: True)
4. After leaving the maze, Mia and Ben felt proud and happy. (Answer: True)
5. Mia and Ben became villains, sharing their story to discourage others every year. (Answer: False)
6. They learned that life is dissimilar to a maze, full of predictability. (Answer: False)
7. Mia ran into a mirror and got sprayed with silly string, making her look funny. (Answer: True)
8. Mia and her friend Ben decided to go through the maze one day. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

The Giant’s Garden

Greg loves his beautiful garden, but some mean Goblins steal all the seeds. Whiskers helps save the day!

Four adventurous children discover a magical orchard filled with fruits that grant them extraordinary abilities.

The Orchard of Oddities

Four brave kids explore the Orchard of Oddities and discover magical fruits that make them sing, fly, shine, and transform into animals, teaching them about fun and friendship.

In the end, it wasn't the blueberries that made the Bizarre Blueberry Banquet special, but the spirit of the village.

The Bizarre Blueberry Banquet

The villagers in Berryville had a big blueberry party, but the blueberries disappeared! They found them and had fun, even in the rain.

A sleepy snowman named Frosty embarks on a quest to find his missing carrot nose.

The Sleepy Snowman

Frosty the snowman loves to sleep, but when his carrot nose goes missing, he goes on an adventure to find it and learns about friendship along the way.

A little girl named Lily discovers a jar of magical marmalade that brings everything to life.

The Magical Marmalade

Lily found a magical jar that made things come alive, but she learned that true magic is friendship and happiness.

Feedback