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 Wizard of the Windy Mountain

A mischievous wizard named Wally uses laughter to defeat a wicked witch and bring joy to a troubled village.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Long ago, in a far-off place, there was a wizard called Wally. He lived high up on a mountain that was super windy. People called him the Wizard of the Windy Mountain. Wally was a nice guy who loved to make his friends laugh by playing funny tricks on them. He was always the funniest person around.

One day, Wally got a letter from his friend, Freddy the Falcon. Freddy’s village had a problem because of a mean witch. Her spell made everything in the village crazy: houses flew, rivers went the wrong way, and people couldn’t walk straight. Everyone in the village needed help.

Wally was excited to go on an adventure. He took his magic stuff and rode his broomstick to the village. When he arrived, he saw weird things, like people walking sideways and cows making cat sounds. It was weird but funny!

Wally found the witch and instead of fighting with spells, he made her laugh really hard. He tickled her with feathers and sprayed her with silly string. The witch laughed so much that her magic got weaker, and the spell over the village lifted. Everything went back to normal, and the people could walk properly again.

The whole village was happy and thanked Wally. They learned that laughing could make bad things feel better. Wally knew that making people laugh was the best magic. He went back home with a big smile, knowing he did something good.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1wizardA person who can do magic
2mountainA very tall hill, bigger than a hill
3tricksJokes or funny things you do to surprise someone
4adventureAn exciting trip where you do new things
5broomstickA stick that witches and wizards ride on, like a flying bike
6weirdStrange or not normal
7sidewaysMoving to the left or right, not straight
8tickledGently touching someone to make them laugh
9feathersThe soft, fluffy parts of a bird
10sprayedShooting liquid out in small drops
11liftedRaised up or moved away
12properlyThe right way or correctly

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was the wizard in the story?
2. What was the problem in Freddy’s village?
3. How did Wally get to the village?
4. What did Wally do to make the witch laugh?
5. What happened when the witch laughed a lot?
6. Why was Wally happy at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Long ago, in a far-off place, there was a wizard (1)______ (2)______. He lived high up on a mountain that was (3)______ windy. People called him the Wizard of the Windy Mountain. Wally was a nice guy who loved to make his friends laugh by playing funny tricks on them. He was always the funniest person around.

One day, Wally got a letter from his friend, Freddy the Falcon. Freddy’s village had a problem because of a mean witch. Her spell made everything in the village crazy: houses flew, rivers went the wrong way, and people couldn’t walk straight. Everyone in the village needed (4)______.

Wally was excited to go on an adventure. He took his magic (5)______ and (6)______ his broomstick to the village. When he arrived, he saw weird things, like (7)______ walking sideways and cows making cat sounds. It was weird but funny!

Wally found the witch and instead of fighting with spells, he made her laugh really hard. He tickled her with (8)______ and sprayed her with silly (9)______. The witch laughed so much that her magic got weaker, and the spell over the village lifted. Everything went back to normal, and the people could walk properly again.

The whole village was happy and thanked Wally. They learned that (10)______ing could make bad things (11)______ better. Wally (12)______ that making people laugh was the best magic. He went back home with a big smile, knowing he did something good.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a wizard? Why do you think Wally is called the Wizard of the Windy Mountain?
2. How would you feel if you received a letter from a friend asking for help? Why?
3. Do you like playing tricks on your friends? Why or why not?
4. What do you think would happen if houses started flying and rivers went the wrong way in your village? Why?
5. How do you think Wally made the witch laugh so much? Why do you think laughter made her magic weaker?
6. Do you think laughing can make bad things feel better? Why or why not?
7. What is the best magic according to Wally? Why do you think he believes that?
8. Have you ever done something good that made you feel happy? What did you do and why did it make you happy?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. wizard
2. mountain
3. tricks
4. adventure
5. broomstick
6. weird
7. sideways
8. tickled
9. feathers
10. sprayed
11. lifted
12. properly

Meanings:
(A) Strange or not normal
(B) An exciting trip where you do new things
(C) The soft, fluffy parts of a bird
(D) A stick that witches and wizards ride on, like a flying bike
(E) Shooting liquid out in small drops
(F) A very tall hill, bigger than a hill
(G) Jokes or funny things you do to surprise someone
(H) A person who can do magic
(I) Raised up or moved away
(J) Gently touching someone to make them laugh
(K) Moving to the left or right, not straight
(L) The right way or correctly
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the name of the wizard in the story?
(a) Freddy
(b) Smith
(c) Wally
(d) Jones

2. Why did Wally receive a letter from his friend?
(a) Wally wanted to go on an adventure
(b) Freddy’s village had a problem
(c) Wally needed help with his magic stuff
(d) Wally wanted to make people laugh

3. What problem did the mean witch’s spell cause in the village?
(a) Houses flew and rivers went the wrong way
(b) People couldn’t walk straight
(c) Cows made cat sounds
(d) All of the above

4. How did Wally defeat the mean witch?
(a) He fought her with spells
(b) He tickled her with feathers
(c) He sprayed her with silly string
(d) He made her laugh really hard

5. What happened when the witch laughed a lot?
(a) The spell over the village lifted
(b) Everything went back to normal
(c) Her magic got weaker
(d) All of the above

6. What did Wally learn about making people laugh?
(a) It was the best magic
(b) It could make bad things feel better
(c) It could help solve problems
(d) All of the above

7. How did Wally go to the village?
(a) He walked
(b) He flew on a dragon
(c) He took a bus
(d) He rode his broomstick

8. How did the people in the village feel after the spell was lifted?
(a) Happy
(b) Sad
(c) Angry
(d) Scared

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Wally the wizard lived on a mountain that was very windy.
2. Wally realized that making people cry was the best kind of magic.
3. Freddy’s village was in chaos because of a mean witch’s spell.
4. The village was resentful of Wally for betraying them and making them cry.
5. Wally used his magic to make the witch cry instead of fighting her.
6. Wally received a letter from his friend Freddy, who needed his help.
7. Wally liked to play harmful tricks on his friends and make them cry.
8. The witch’s laughter weakened her magic and lifted the spell over the village.
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 was the wizard in the story?
The wizard in the story was Wally.

2. What was the problem in Freddy’s village?
The problem in Freddy’s village was that a mean witch had cast a spell that made everything crazy.

3. How did Wally get to the village?
Wally got to the village by riding his broomstick.

4. What did Wally do to make the witch laugh?
Wally tickled the witch with feathers and sprayed her with silly string to make her laugh.

5. What happened when the witch laughed a lot?
When the witch laughed a lot, her magic got weaker and the spell over the village lifted. Everything went back to normal.

6. Why was Wally happy at the end of the story?
Wally was happy at the end of the story because he knew he did something good by helping the village and making people laugh.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) Wally
(3) super
(4) help
(5) stuff
(6) rode
(7) people
(8) feathers
(9) string
(10) laugh
(11) feel
(12) knew
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. wizard
Answer: (H) A person who can do magic

2. mountain
Answer: (F) A very tall hill, bigger than a hill

3. tricks
Answer: (G) Jokes or funny things you do to surprise someone

4. adventure
Answer: (B) An exciting trip where you do new things

5. broomstick
Answer: (D) A stick that witches and wizards ride on, like a flying bike

6. weird
Answer: (A) Strange or not normal

7. sideways
Answer: (K) Moving to the left or right, not straight

8. tickled
Answer: (J) Gently touching someone to make them laugh

9. feathers
Answer: (C) The soft, fluffy parts of a bird

10. sprayed
Answer: (E) Shooting liquid out in small drops

11. lifted
Answer: (I) Raised up or moved away

12. properly
Answer: (L) The right way or correctly
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the name of the wizard in the story?
Answer: (c) Wally

2. Why did Wally receive a letter from his friend?
Answer: (b) Freddy’s village had a problem

3. What problem did the mean witch’s spell cause in the village?
Answer: (a) Houses flew and rivers went the wrong way

4. How did Wally defeat the mean witch?
Answer: (d) He made her laugh really hard

5. What happened when the witch laughed a lot?
Answer: (c) Her magic got weaker

6. What did Wally learn about making people laugh?
Answer: (b) It could make bad things feel better

7. How did Wally go to the village?
Answer: (d) He rode his broomstick

8. How did the people in the village feel after the spell was lifted?
Answer: (a) Happy
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Wally the wizard lived on a mountain that was very windy. (Answer: True)
2. Wally realized that making people cry was the best kind of magic. (Answer: False)
3. Freddy’s village was in chaos because of a mean witch’s spell. (Answer: True)
4. The village was resentful of Wally for betraying them and making them cry. (Answer: False)
5. Wally used his magic to make the witch cry instead of fighting her. (Answer: False)
6. Wally received a letter from his friend Freddy, who needed his help. (Answer: True)
7. Wally liked to play harmful tricks on his friends and make them cry. (Answer: False)
8. The witch’s laughter weakened her magic and lifted the spell over the village. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Peter the mischievous penguin learns the importance of bringing joy to others through a grand party.

The Playful Penguin’s Party

Peter the penguin loves throwing parties, but he forgot the music – luckily, his friend Sammy the seal helps him out and they have the best party ever!

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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