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 Wishing Well Mystery

Three children embark on a thrilling adventure to outsmart a mischievous genie and discover the true meaning of happiness.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small village, there was a special well that could make wishes come true. People threw coins and made wishes that worked. Three kids named Lily, Jack, and Ben wanted to find out where the well came from. So, they went on an adventure.

The friends found an old map in the forest. It led them to a secret cave with a candle. Inside, they found a book that told them the well had a playful genie. The kids wanted to get their wishes without being tricked by the genie.

In the cave, the kids found riddles that could help them control the genie. They worked together to solve them. After a long time, they finally solved the last one.

When the genie came out, it tried to make their wishes funny. Lily’s cat wouldn’t stop talking. Jack got too much ice cream. But Ben wished for everyone to be happy. The genie liked this wish and made it true without tricks. Everyone felt great, and they all started being nicer and laughing more.

The kids learned that getting what you wish for isn’t always the best, but the fun is in the adventure. They went back home as heroes. They told people to find joy in surprising things. The well showed that being kind and joyful, even when things don’t go as planned, is what makes us truly happy.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1villageA small town or community in the countryside
2adventureA fun trip where exciting or unusual things happen
3riddlesPuzzles or questions that are hard to understand and need clever thinking to answer
4genieA magical being that can grant you what you ask for
5candleA stick made of wax with a string in the middle that gives light when you burn it
6playfulFull of fun and liking to play or joke
7solvedFound the answer to a problem or puzzle
8wishesHopes or requests for something you want to happen
9trickedFooled or made to believe something that’s not true
10joyfulVery happy or full of joy
11heroesPeople who are admired for doing something very brave or great
12surprisingThings that are unexpected or make you feel amazed

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the three kids that went on an adventure to find out where the well came from?
2. What did the kids find in the forest that led them to the secret cave?
3. What did the book in the cave tell the kids about the well?
4. How did the kids solve the riddles in the cave?
5. What happened when the genie came out and granted the kids’ wishes?
6. What did the kids learn from their adventure about getting what you wish for?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village, there was a special well that could (1)______ wishes (2)______ true. People (3)______ coins and made wishes that worked. Three kids named Lily, Jack, and Ben wanted to find out where the well came from. So, they went on an adventure.

The friends found an old map in the forest. It led them to a secret cave with a (4)______. Inside, they found a book that told them the well had a playful genie. The (5)______ wanted to get their (6)______ without being tricked by the genie.

In the cave, the kids found riddles that could help them control the genie. They worked together to solve them. After a long time, they finally solved the last one.

When the genie (7)______ out, it (8)______ to make their wishes funny. Lily’s cat wouldn’t (9)______ talking. Jack got too much ice cream. But Ben wished for everyone to be happy. The genie liked this wish and made it true without tricks. Everyone felt great, and they all started being nicer and laughing more.

The kids learned that getting what you wish for isn’t always the best, but the fun is in the adventure. They went back home as heroes. They told people to find joy in surprising (10)______. The well (11)______ that being kind and joyful, even when things don’t go as planned, is what (12)______ us truly happy.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a genie? Why do you think genies are often in stories?
2. How would you feel if you found a special well that could make wishes come true? What would you wish for?
3. Do you think it’s important to work together with friends to solve problems? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the kids learned from their adventure with the genie? Why do you think they said the fun is in the adventure?
5. Do you like surprises? Why or why not? What is your favorite surprise you’ve ever had?
6. How would you feel if your cat could talk? What do you think your cat would say?
7. Do you think it’s better to have everything you wish for or to have surprises and adventures? Why or why not?
8. Why do you think the kids told people to find joy in surprising things? Do you think surprises can make us truly happy? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. adventure
3. riddles
4. genie
5. candle
6. playful
7. solved
8. wishes
9. tricked
10. joyful
11. heroes
12. surprising

Meanings:
(A) A fun trip where exciting or unusual things happen
(B) Things that are unexpected or make you feel amazed
(C) Found the answer to a problem or puzzle
(D) A small town or community in the countryside
(E) Puzzles or questions that are hard to understand and need clever thinking to answer
(F) Hopes or requests for something you want to happen
(G) Very happy or full of joy
(H) People who are admired for doing something very brave or great
(I) Fooled or made to believe something that’s not true
(J) Full of fun and liking to play or joke
(K) A stick made of wax with a string in the middle that gives light when you burn it
(L) A magical being that can grant you what you ask for
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the kids find in the secret cave?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A magic wand
(c) A book
(d) A map

2. How did the kids control the genie?
(a) By singing a song
(b) By clapping their hands
(c) By waving a magic wand
(d) By solving riddles

3. What happened when Lily made her wish?
(a) She got too much ice cream
(b) Her cat started talking
(c) Everyone became happy
(d) The genie disappeared

4. What did the kids learn from their adventure?
(a) The genie can grant unlimited wishes
(b) The well is actually a magical portal
(c) Getting what you wish for isn’t always the best
(d) The cave is haunted by ghosts

5. How did the kids feel after their wishes came true?
(a) Great and happy
(b) Disappointed and sad
(c) Scared and worried
(d) Confused and angry

6. What did the kids tell people when they went back home?
(a) To stop making wishes at the well
(b) To be careful of the playful genie
(c) To never go on an adventure
(d) To find joy in surprising things

7. What did the well show the kids about happiness?
(a) Being kind and joyful is what makes us truly happy
(b) Wishing for material things brings happiness
(c) The well is the only source of happiness
(d) Happiness can only be found in the secret cave

8. How did the kids become heroes?
(a) By finding the secret cave in the forest
(b) By solving the riddles and making the right wishes
(c) By defeating the genie and taking its powers
(d) By telling people about the well and the genie

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. There was an ordinary well in a small village that could not grant wishes.
2. Inside the cave, they discovered a book that revealed the well had a serious genie.
3. Three friends named Lily, Jack, and Ben wanted to find out where the well came from.
4. After solving the riddles, the genie granted their wishes, but with funny twists.
5. The kids learned that the adventure and the joy of expected surprises were less important than getting exactly what they wished for.
6. The friends found a new map in the forest that led them to a popular cave.
7. The kids wanted to make their wishes without being tricked by the genie.
8. They found riddles in the cave that would help them control the genie.
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 were the three kids that went on an adventure to find out where the well came from?
The three kids who went on the adventure were Lily, Jack, and Ben.

2. What did the kids find in the forest that led them to the secret cave?
The kids found an old map in the forest that led them to the secret cave.

3. What did the book in the cave tell the kids about the well?
The book in the cave told the kids that the well had a playful genie.

4. How did the kids solve the riddles in the cave?
The kids worked together to solve the riddles in the cave.

5. What happened when the genie came out and granted the kids’ wishes?
When the genie came out, it granted the kids’ wishes, but with funny tricks.

6. What did the kids learn from their adventure about getting what you wish for?
The kids learned that getting what you wish for isn’t always the best, and that the fun is in the adventure itself.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) make
(2) come
(3) threw
(4) candle
(5) kids
(6) wishes
(7) came
(8) tried
(9) stop
(10) things
(11) showed
(12) makes
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (D) A small town or community in the countryside

2. adventure
Answer: (A) A fun trip where exciting or unusual things happen

3. riddles
Answer: (E) Puzzles or questions that are hard to understand and need clever thinking to answer

4. genie
Answer: (L) A magical being that can grant you what you ask for

5. candle
Answer: (K) A stick made of wax with a string in the middle that gives light when you burn it

6. playful
Answer: (J) Full of fun and liking to play or joke

7. solved
Answer: (C) Found the answer to a problem or puzzle

8. wishes
Answer: (F) Hopes or requests for something you want to happen

9. tricked
Answer: (I) Fooled or made to believe something that’s not true

10. joyful
Answer: (G) Very happy or full of joy

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

12. surprising
Answer: (B) Things that are unexpected or make you feel amazed
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the kids find in the secret cave?
Answer: (c) A book

2. How did the kids control the genie?
Answer: (d) By solving riddles

3. What happened when Lily made her wish?
Answer: (b) Her cat started talking

4. What did the kids learn from their adventure?
Answer: (c) Getting what you wish for isn’t always the best

5. How did the kids feel after their wishes came true?
Answer: (a) Great and happy

6. What did the kids tell people when they went back home?
Answer: (d) To find joy in surprising things

7. What did the well show the kids about happiness?
Answer: (a) Being kind and joyful is what makes us truly happy

8. How did the kids become heroes?
Answer: (b) By solving the riddles and making the right wishes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. There was an ordinary well in a small village that could not grant wishes. (Answer: False)
2. Inside the cave, they discovered a book that revealed the well had a serious genie. (Answer: False)
3. Three friends named Lily, Jack, and Ben wanted to find out where the well came from. (Answer: True)
4. After solving the riddles, the genie granted their wishes, but with funny twists. (Answer: True)
5. The kids learned that the adventure and the joy of expected surprises were less important than getting exactly what they wished for. (Answer: False)
6. The friends found a new map in the forest that led them to a popular cave. (Answer: False)
7. The kids wanted to make their wishes without being tricked by the genie. (Answer: True)
8. They found riddles in the cave that would help them control the genie. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

disaster into a triumph, creating a beautiful and unforgettable moment for everyone involved.

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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.

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The Voyage to Vegetable Land

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A young boy's discovery of a mysterious fossil leads to a village's newfound fame and unity.

The Fantastic Fossil

Max, a curious boy, found an ancient fossil and made his village famous, but he chose to keep it there.

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