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The Castle in the Clouds

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a faraway place, there was a girl named Lily who lived in a little village near a big mountain. She could see a beautiful castle above the clouds from her window. One day, she wanted to do something exciting, so she decided to climb the mountain and get a closer look at the castle.

Lily packed some food and started climbing. The higher she went, the colder the air became. Suddenly, a strong wind picked her up and, before she knew it, she was standing at the castle gates! A friendly man named Master Cloud, who owned the castle, was there to greet her.

Master Cloud told her that the castle was magical and only kids with pure hearts could see it. Lily was happy to be there but soon found out that Master Cloud had lost the key to the castle and needed her help. Lily was ready to solve this mystery and began to look everywhere in the castle for clues.

Lily’s search led her to a magic garden where animals could talk. A parrot that liked to chat took her to an old, wise turtle who asked her to solve some riddles. Lily answered them all correctly and the turtle showed her where she could dig for the key in the garden.

When Lily found the key and gave it back to Master Cloud, he was so grateful that he offered to grant her a wish. Lily wished for everyone in the world to be kinder and more caring. This made Master Cloud smile, and he made her wish come true. The world instantly became a nicer place.

Lily went back home and told everyone about what happened. She always remembered to be nice, patient, and to keep going, even when things got tough. Lily helped to spread kindness everywhere she went, making the world a happier place, one kind act at a time.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1farawayA place that is a long distance from where you are
2castleA large building, often from medieval times, that could be home to royalty
3magicalHaving powers that can’t be explained by science or logic
4mysterySomething that is not understood and needs to be figured out
5cluesHints or pieces of information that help solve a problem or find something
6parrotA colorful bird that can mimic sounds and sometimes speak
7riddlesPuzzles in the form of questions or statements that need to be solved
8gratefulFeeling very thankful for something
9wishA desire or hope for something to happen
10instantlyHappening immediately, without any delay
11patientAble to stay calm and not get upset, especially when waiting for a long time
12toughDifficult or challenging situations
13spreadTo share or distribute something widely
14kinderMore gentle, caring, and compassionate
15actSomething done, a deed or action

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Lily see from her window?
3. What happened to Lily when she climbed the mountain?
4. Why did Master Cloud need Lily’s help?
5. Where did Lily find the key to the castle?
6. What did Lily wish for when she found the key?
7. How did Lily make the world a happier place?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ place, there was a girl named Lily who lived in a little (2)______ near a big (3)______. She could see a beautiful castle above the (4)______ from her window. One day, she wanted to do something exciting, so she decided to climb the mountain and get a closer look at the castle.

Lily packed some food and started climbing. The higher she went, the colder the air became. Suddenly, a strong wind picked her up and, before she knew it, she was (5)______ at the castle gates! A friendly man named Master Cloud, who (6)______ the castle, was there to greet her.

Master Cloud told her that the castle was magical and only kids with pure hearts could see it. Lily was (7)______ to be there but soon (8)______ out that Master Cloud had lost the key to the castle and needed her help. Lily was ready to solve this mystery and began to look everywhere in the (9)______ for clues.

Lily’s search led her to a (10)______ garden where animals could talk. A parrot that (11)______ to chat took her to an old, wise turtle who asked her to solve some riddles. Lily (12)______ them all correctly and the turtle showed her where she could dig for the key in the garden.

When Lily found the key and gave it back to Master Cloud, he was so grateful that he offered to grant her a wish. Lily wished for everyone in the world to be (13)______ and more caring. This made Master Cloud smile, and he made her wish come true. The world instantly (14)______ a nicer place.

Lily went back home and told everyone about what happened. She always remembered to be nice, patient, and to keep going, even when things got tough. Lily helped to (15)______ kindness everywhere she went, (16)______ the world a happier place, one kind act at a time.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think it means to have a pure heart?
2. How would you feel if you could see a magical castle above the clouds?
3. Do you believe in magic? Why or why not?
4. What kind of clues do you think Lily found in the castle?
5. How do you think Lily felt when she was talking to the animals in the magic garden?
6. If you could make one wish, what would it be? Why?
7. Do you think kindness can make the world a better place? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever had to solve a mystery? How did you do it?
9. How do you think Lily’s village reacted when she told them about her adventure?
10. What is one kind act you could do to make the world a happier place?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. faraway
2. castle
3. magical
4. mystery
5. clues
6. parrot
7. riddles
8. grateful
9. wish
10. instantly
11. patient
12. tough
13. spread
14. kinder
15. act

Meanings:
(A) A colorful bird that can mimic sounds and sometimes speak
(B) A place that is a long distance from where you are
(C) Difficult or challenging situations
(D) Feeling very thankful for something
(E) Something done, a deed or action
(F) Puzzles in the form of questions or statements that need to be solved
(G) More gentle, caring, and compassionate
(H) Hints or pieces of information that help solve a problem or find something
(I) A desire or hope for something to happen
(J) Able to stay calm and not get upset, especially when waiting for a long time
(K) A large building, often from medieval times, that could be home to royalty
(L) Something that is not understood and needs to be figured out
(M) Happening immediately, without any delay
(N) Having powers that can’t be explained by science or logic
(O) To share or distribute something widely
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Lily see from her window?
(a) A big mountain
(b) A little village
(c) A beautiful castle above the clouds
(d) A friendly man named Master Cloud

2. How did Lily get to the castle gates?
(a) She climbed the mountain
(b) Master Cloud invited her
(c) She found the key
(d) A strong wind picked her up

3. Why did Master Cloud need Lily’s help?
(a) He needed someone to solve riddles
(b) He lost the key to the castle
(c) He wanted to grant her a wish
(d) He wanted her to spread kindness

4. Where did Lily find the key?
(a) In a magic garden
(b) In the castle gates
(c) In the clouds
(d) In the village

5. What did Lily wish for?
(a) To find the key to the castle
(b) To go back home
(c) For everyone in the world to be kinder and more caring
(d) To solve the mystery

6. How did Master Cloud react to Lily’s wish?
(a) He laughed at her wish
(b) He made her wish come true
(c) He ignored her wish
(d) He granted her another wish

7. What did Lily do when she went back home?
(a) She forgot about her adventure
(b) She climbed the mountain again
(c) She stopped being kind and patient
(d) She told everyone about what happened

8. What did Lily help to spread everywhere she went?
(a) Kindness
(b) Clues
(c) Riddles
(d) Food

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Lily searched the castle for clues and ended up in a magical garden where animals could talk.
2. Lily lived in a city near a mountain and could see a castle from her window.
3. The owner of the castle, Master Cloud, greeted Lily and told her that only kids with pure hearts could see the castle.
4. Lily returned the key to Master Rain, who granted her wish for a harsher and less caring world.
5. Lily solved puzzles from a wise squirrel in the garden and found the key to the castle.
6. As Lily climbed higher, the air became colder and a strong wind carried her to the castle gates.
7. Master Cloud had lost the key to the castle and asked Lily for help.
8. Lily decided to descend the mountain to get a closer look at the castle.
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?
The main character in the story is Lily.

2. What did Lily see from her window?
Lily saw a beautiful castle above the clouds from her window.

3. What happened to Lily when she climbed the mountain?
A strong wind picked her up and she ended up standing at the castle gates.

4. Why did Master Cloud need Lily’s help?
Master Cloud had lost the key to the castle and needed Lily’s help to find it.

5. Where did Lily find the key to the castle?
Lily found the key to the castle in a magic garden where animals could talk.

6. What did Lily wish for when she found the key?
Lily wished for everyone in the world to be kinder and more caring.

7. How did Lily make the world a happier place?
Lily made the world a happier place by spreading kindness everywhere she went and performing kind acts.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) faraway
(2) village
(3) mountain
(4) clouds
(5) standing
(6) owned
(7) happy
(8) found
(9) castle
(10) magic
(11) liked
(12) answered
(13) kinder
(14) became
(15) spread
(16) making
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. faraway
Answer: (B) A place that is a long distance from where you are

2. castle
Answer: (K) A large building, often from medieval times, that could be home to royalty

3. magical
Answer: (N) Having powers that can’t be explained by science or logic

4. mystery
Answer: (L) Something that is not understood and needs to be figured out

5. clues
Answer: (H) Hints or pieces of information that help solve a problem or find something

6. parrot
Answer: (A) A colorful bird that can mimic sounds and sometimes speak

7. riddles
Answer: (F) Puzzles in the form of questions or statements that need to be solved

8. grateful
Answer: (D) Feeling very thankful for something

9. wish
Answer: (I) A desire or hope for something to happen

10. instantly
Answer: (M) Happening immediately, without any delay

11. patient
Answer: (J) Able to stay calm and not get upset, especially when waiting for a long time

12. tough
Answer: (C) Difficult or challenging situations

13. spread
Answer: (O) To share or distribute something widely

14. kinder
Answer: (G) More gentle, caring, and compassionate

15. act
Answer: (E) Something done, a deed or action
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Lily see from her window?
Answer: (c) A beautiful castle above the clouds

2. How did Lily get to the castle gates?
Answer: (d) A strong wind picked her up

3. Why did Master Cloud need Lily’s help?
Answer: (b) He lost the key to the castle

4. Where did Lily find the key?
Answer: (a) In a magic garden

5. What did Lily wish for?
Answer: (c) For everyone in the world to be kinder and more caring

6. How did Master Cloud react to Lily’s wish?
Answer: (b) He made her wish come true

7. What did Lily do when she went back home?
Answer: (d) She told everyone about what happened

8. What did Lily help to spread everywhere she went?
Answer: (a) Kindness
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Lily searched the castle for clues and ended up in a magical garden where animals could talk. (Answer: True)
2. Lily lived in a city near a mountain and could see a castle from her window. (Answer: False)
3. The owner of the castle, Master Cloud, greeted Lily and told her that only kids with pure hearts could see the castle. (Answer: True)
4. Lily returned the key to Master Rain, who granted her wish for a harsher and less caring world. (Answer: False)
5. Lily solved puzzles from a wise squirrel in the garden and found the key to the castle. (Answer: False)
6. As Lily climbed higher, the air became colder and a strong wind carried her to the castle gates. (Answer: True)
7. Master Cloud had lost the key to the castle and asked Lily for help. (Answer: True)
8. Lily decided to descend the mountain to get a closer look at the castle. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A mischievous penguin named Percy and a wise snow owl named Oliver form an unbreakable friendship on their journey to the legendary "Penguin Parade."

The Penguin Parade

Percy the penguin and Oliver the owl become best friends on an exciting adventure to the Penguin Parade.

Polly's determination pays off when she finds her lost puppy safe and sound.

Polly’s New Puppy

Polly really wanted a puppy, so she worked hard to prove to her parents that she could handle the responsibility, and they surprised her with an adorable puppy named Buttercup; but one day, Buttercup ran away and Polly had to search everywhere until a kind old man found him and Polly promised to keep a closer eye on her furry friend.

Jack and Emma's lives are forever changed when they discover a tiny dinosaur in an enormous egg.

The Dinosaur Egg

Jack, Emma, and Biscuit the tiny dinosaur prove that size doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship.

🎉 Coming Soon ⏳

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