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 Orchard of Oddities

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a tiny village surrounded by green hills, there was a strange orchard called the Orchard of Oddities. It had magical fruits that could do weird things. People in the town always guessed what it was like inside. Four brave kids named Lily, Oliver, Max, and Mia decided to go in and find out.

Inside the orchard, they found huge strawberries and ate them. Suddenly, their voices turned musical like instruments. They laughed and sang with their new musical voices.

Then, they saw bright apples and took a bite. They began floating up like balloons! They were very happy flying and looking at the pretty village below.

Next, they found oranges that shone brightly. When they touched the oranges, their hands started to shine in different colors. They played, making light streaks in the air, like a rainbow painting.

They also found melons. When they ate the melons, they changed into animals! Lily became a deer, Oliver a monkey, Max a snake, and Mia a kitten. They had fun playing as animals in the orchard.

In the end, they tried sparkling pears. Eating them made them very wise. They understood that the magic of the orchard was not just the fruits, but also the fun and friendship. The kids left the orchard with happy memories, and they always remembered the exciting secrets of the Orchard of Oddities.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1orchardA place where fruit trees grow
2magicalHaving special powers that can do amazing things
3guessedThought or tried to figure out something
4musicalLike the sounds you hear in songs or when you play instruments
5floatingMoving through the air without touching the ground
6brightShining with light, very colorful
7streaksLong, thin lines
8rainbowA mix of colors that you can sometimes see in the sky after it rains
9melonsBig, round fruits that are usually green on the outside and have a lot of water inside
10sparklingShining with tiny points of light, like little stars
11wiseKnowing a lot, smart in a way that shows good judgment
12secretsThings that are kept hidden or not known by many people

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was special about the fruits in the Orchard of Oddities?
2. What happened to the kids’ voices after they ate the strawberries?
3. What happened to the kids after they took a bite of the bright apples?
4. What happened to their hands when they touched the oranges?
5. What animals did the kids turn into after eating the melons?
6. What did the kids understand after eating the sparkling pears?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a tiny village surrounded by green hills, there was a strange orchard called the (1)______ of Oddities. It had magical fruits that could do weird things. People in the town always guessed what it was like inside. Four brave kids named (2)______, (3)______, Max, and Mia decided to go in and find out.

Inside the orchard, they found huge strawberries and ate them. Suddenly, their voices turned (4)______ like instruments. They (5)______ and sang with their new musical voices.

Then, they saw bright apples and took a bite. They began floating up like balloons! They were very happy flying and looking at the pretty (6)______ below.

Next, they found oranges that shone brightly. When they touched the oranges, their hands started to shine in different colors. They played, making (7)______ streaks in the air, like a (8)______ painting.

They also (9)______ melons. When they ate the melons, they changed into animals! Lily became a deer, Oliver a monkey, Max a snake, and Mia a kitten. They had fun playing as animals in the orchard.

In the end, they tried (10)______ pears. Eating them made them very wise. They understood that the magic of the orchard was not just the fruits, but also the fun and friendship. The (11)______ left the orchard with happy (12)______, and they always remembered the exciting secrets of the Orchard of Oddities.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an orchard?
2. How would you feel if you could eat a fruit and suddenly your voice sounded like a musical instrument?
3. Do you like the idea of floating up like a balloon? Why or why not?
4. How do you think it would feel to have your hands shine in different colors?
5. Do you think it would be fun to change into an animal? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if eating a fruit made you very wise?
7. Do you think the magic of the orchard was just the fruits, or was it also the fun and friendship? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever had a fun and exciting adventure with your friends? What happened?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. orchard
2. magical
3. guessed
4. musical
5. floating
6. bright
7. streaks
8. rainbow
9. melons
10. sparkling
11. wise
12. secrets

Meanings:
(A) Like the sounds you hear in songs or when you play instruments
(B) Knowing a lot, smart in a way that shows good judgment
(C) Long, thin lines
(D) A mix of colors that you can sometimes see in the sky after it rains
(E) Having special powers that can do amazing things
(F) Things that are kept hidden or not known by many people
(G) A place where fruit trees grow
(H) Big, round fruits that are usually green on the outside and have a lot of water inside
(I) Shining with tiny points of light, like little stars
(J) Shining with light, very colorful
(K) Thought or tried to figure out something
(L) Moving through the air without touching the ground
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the orchard the kids explore?
(a) The Magic Garden
(b) The Enchanted Orchard
(c) The Orchard of Oddities
(d) The Mysterious Grove

2. What happens to the kids’ voices after eating the strawberries?
(a) Their voices turn musical like instruments
(b) Their voices become louder and deeper
(c) Their voices become softer and whispery
(d) Their voices sound like animals

3. What happens to the kids after taking a bite of the bright apples?
(a) They become invisible
(b) They start floating up like balloons
(c) They grow taller
(d) They become invisible

4. What do the kids’ hands do after touching the oranges?
(a) Their hands become sticky
(b) Their hands start to shine in different colors
(c) Their hands become cold
(d) Their hands start to glow in the dark

5. What do the kids turn into after eating the melons?
(a) Animals
(b) Superheroes
(c) Plants
(d) Ghosts

6. Which kid turns into a snake after eating the melon?
(a) Oliver
(b) Lily
(c) Mia
(d) Max

7. What do the kids understand after eating the sparkling pears?
(a) The magic of the orchard is dangerous
(b) The magic of the orchard is only temporary
(c) The magic of the orchard is not just the fruits, but also the fun and friendship
(d) The magic of the orchard is evil

8. How do the kids feel when they leave the orchard?
(a) Sad
(b) Scared
(c) Angry
(d) Happy

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Eating the melons in the orchard transformed them into animals – Lily became a deer, Oliver a monkey, Max a snake, and Mia a kitten.
2. The kids tried dull pears and became very dull.
3. They realized that the science of the orchard was not just in the fruits, but also in the fun and friendship they shared.
4. The Orchard of Commonplace had ordinary fruits that couldn’t do strange things.
5. When they ate the tiny strawberries, their voices turned cacophonous like instruments.
6. After taking a bite of the bright apples, they started floating up like balloons.
7. When they touched the oranges, their hands started shining in different colors.
8. Lily, Oliver, Max, and Mia were four brave kids who decided to explore the orchard.
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 special about the fruits in the Orchard of Oddities?
The fruits in the Orchard of Oddities were magical and could do weird things.

2. What happened to the kids’ voices after they ate the strawberries?
After eating the strawberries, the kids’ voices turned musical like instruments.

3. What happened to the kids after they took a bite of the bright apples?
After taking a bite of the bright apples, the kids started floating up like balloons.

4. What happened to their hands when they touched the oranges?
When they touched the oranges, their hands started shining in different colors.

5. What animals did the kids turn into after eating the melons?
After eating the melons, Lily turned into a deer, Oliver turned into a monkey, Max turned into a snake, and Mia turned into a kitten.

6. What did the kids understand after eating the sparkling pears?
After eating the sparkling pears, the kids understood that the magic of the orchard was not just the fruits, but also the fun and friendship.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Orchard
(2) Lily
(3) Oliver
(4) musical
(5) laughed
(6) village
(7) light
(8) rainbow
(9) found
(10) sparkling
(11) kids
(12) memories
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. orchard
Answer: (G) A place where fruit trees grow

2. magical
Answer: (E) Having special powers that can do amazing things

3. guessed
Answer: (K) Thought or tried to figure out something

4. musical
Answer: (A) Like the sounds you hear in songs or when you play instruments

5. floating
Answer: (L) Moving through the air without touching the ground

6. bright
Answer: (J) Shining with light, very colorful

7. streaks
Answer: (C) Long, thin lines

8. rainbow
Answer: (D) A mix of colors that you can sometimes see in the sky after it rains

9. melons
Answer: (H) Big, round fruits that are usually green on the outside and have a lot of water inside

10. sparkling
Answer: (I) Shining with tiny points of light, like little stars

11. wise
Answer: (B) Knowing a lot, smart in a way that shows good judgment

12. secrets
Answer: (F) Things that are kept hidden or not known by many people
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the orchard the kids explore?
Answer: (c) The Orchard of Oddities

2. What happens to the kids’ voices after eating the strawberries?
Answer: (a) Their voices turn musical like instruments

3. What happens to the kids after taking a bite of the bright apples?
Answer: (b) They start floating up like balloons

4. What do the kids’ hands do after touching the oranges?
Answer: (b) Their hands start to shine in different colors

5. What do the kids turn into after eating the melons?
Answer: (a) Animals

6. Which kid turns into a snake after eating the melon?
Answer: (d) Max

7. What do the kids understand after eating the sparkling pears?
Answer: (c) The magic of the orchard is not just the fruits, but also the fun and friendship

8. How do the kids feel when they leave the orchard?
Answer: (d) Happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Eating the melons in the orchard transformed them into animals – Lily became a deer, Oliver a monkey, Max a snake, and Mia a kitten. (Answer: True)
2. The kids tried dull pears and became very dull. (Answer: False)
3. They realized that the science of the orchard was not just in the fruits, but also in the fun and friendship they shared. (Answer: False)
4. The Orchard of Commonplace had ordinary fruits that couldn’t do strange things. (Answer: False)
5. When they ate the tiny strawberries, their voices turned cacophonous like instruments. (Answer: False)
6. After taking a bite of the bright apples, they started floating up like balloons. (Answer: True)
7. When they touched the oranges, their hands started shining in different colors. (Answer: True)
8. Lily, Oliver, Max, and Mia were four brave kids who decided to explore the orchard. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A young boy named Milo solves the mystery of the missing moon with the help of woodland creatures.

The Mystery of the Missing Moon

One night, the moon disappeared in Sunfield, and Milo wanted to find out where it went. He discovered that the animals in Dark Forest had hidden it while playing a game, so he and his new friend Oliver the owl gathered everyone to search for it. Finally, they found the moon and put it back in the sky, teaching everyone the power of teamwork and friendship.

The Magic Portrait

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

The Loyal Dog

Once upon a time there was a loyal dog named Max. Max was a playful pup with a heart of

A dazzling doughnut brings magic and happiness to a sleepy town, teaching the power of kindness.

The Dazzling Doughnut

A special doughnut named Mr. Sprinkles brings happiness to a town called Sugarville with its magic.

Feedback