Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Treasure of Smuggler’s Cove

Children in a small fishing village embark on a treasure hunt, only to discover the true value of unity.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a tiny village by the sea, there was a hidden spot called Smuggler’s Cove. People said there was special treasure there, but no one had found it. The village kids always talked about finding this treasure.

One bright day, some kids went to look for the treasure. They took shovels and maps and played like they were pirates. A funny bird took their map and flew away, but the kids kept looking.

They found a secret place with shiny jewels and lots of gold. But then, a big octopus woke up, making noise. The kids gave it some gold to make it happy and took some treasure to share with everyone in the village.

A fisherman named Captain Jack told them that the treasure was for all the people. They got their map back from the bird by giving it cookies. Then they had a big treasure hunt with the whole village, and everyone was happy and had fun together.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1treasureSomething very valuable that is hidden and needs to be found
2pirateA person who pretends to be a pirate and looks for treasure
3jewelsShiny and beautiful stones
4octopusA sea creature with eight arms
5goldA shiny yellow metal that is worth a lot of money
6mapA paper with drawings that shows you where to find something
7birdA small animal with feathers that can fly
8cookiesSweet treats that you can eat
9fishermanA person who catches fish for a living
10huntLooking for something by following clues or searching carefully

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where was the hidden spot called Smuggler’s Cove?
2. What did the kids take with them when they went to look for the treasure?
3. What happened to their map?
4. What did the kids find in the secret place?
5. What woke up and made noise in the secret place?
6. What did the kids do to make the big octopus happy?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a tiny village by the sea, there was a (1)______ spot called Smuggler’s (2)______. People said there was special treasure there, but no one had found it. The village kids always talked about finding this treasure.

One bright day, some (3)______ went to look for the treasure. They took shovels and maps and played like they were pirates. A funny bird took their map and flew away, but the kids kept (4)______.

They found a secret place with shiny jewels and lots of gold. But then, a big octopus woke up, making noise. The kids (5)______ it some gold to make it happy and (6)______ some treasure to share with everyone in the village.

A fisherman named Captain Jack told them that the treasure was for all the people. They got their map back from the (7)______ by giving it cookies. Then they had a big treasure hunt with the (8)______ village, and everyone was happy and had fun together.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a treasure? Why do you think the kids wanted to find it?
2. How would you feel if a bird took your map? Why?
3. Do you like pirates? Why or why not?
4. What would you do if you found shiny jewels and lots of gold? Why?
5. How do you think the kids felt when the big octopus woke up? Why?
6. Do you think it was a good idea for the kids to give the octopus some gold? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever been on a treasure hunt? How did it make you feel?
8. Why do you think everyone in the village was happy and had fun together?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. treasure
2. pirate
3. jewels
4. octopus
5. gold
6. map
7. bird
8. cookies
9. fisherman
10. hunt

Meanings:
(A) Sweet treats that you can eat
(B) Shiny and beautiful stones
(C) A shiny yellow metal that is worth a lot of money
(D) A person who pretends to be a pirate and looks for treasure
(E) A sea creature with eight arms
(F) A paper with drawings that shows you where to find something
(G) A person who catches fish for a living
(H) Something very valuable that is hidden and needs to be found
(I) A small animal with feathers that can fly
(J) Looking for something by following clues or searching carefully
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where was the hidden spot called Smuggler’s Cove?
(a) In the mountains
(b) By the sea
(c) In the city
(d) In the desert

2. What did the kids take with them to look for the treasure?
(a) Shovels and maps
(b) Toys and books
(c) Food and water
(d) Bicycles and skateboards

3. What happened to the kids’ map?
(a) They lost it in the sand
(b) They gave it to Captain Jack
(c) The octopus ate it
(d) A bird took it and flew away

4. What did the kids find in the secret place?
(a) Seashells and rocks
(b) Toys and games
(c) Shiny jewels and lots of gold
(d) Books and pencils

5. What woke up and made noise in the secret place?
(a) A big octopus
(b) A funny bird
(c) Captain Jack
(d) The village kids

6. What did the kids give to the octopus to make it happy?
(a) Cookies
(b) Some gold
(c) Toys
(d) Seashells

7. Who told the kids that the treasure was for all the people?
(a) The funny bird
(b) The octopus
(c) The village kids
(d) Captain Jack

8. What did the kids do with the treasure they found?
(a) They kept it for themselves
(b) They buried it in the sand
(c) They shared it with everyone in the village
(d) They gave it to the funny bird

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They brought shovels and maps and pretended to be pirates.
2. The kids kept the treasure for themselves and did not share it with everyone in the village.
3. The kids discovered a secret spot with shiny jewels and lots of gold.
4. Some kids from the village decided not to go on an adventure to find the treasure.
5. The people in the village believed there was no treasure hidden in Smuggler’s Cove.
6. They woke up a big octopus, but made it happy by giving it some gold.
7. There was an ordinary place in a small village by the sea called Smuggler’s Cove.
8. A funny bird took their map and flew away, but they didn’t give up.
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. Where was the hidden spot called Smuggler’s Cove?
Smuggler’s Cove was in a tiny village by the sea.

2. What did the kids take with them when they went to look for the treasure?
The kids took shovels and maps with them when they went to look for the treasure.

3. What happened to their map?
A funny bird took their map and flew away with it.

4. What did the kids find in the secret place?
The kids found shiny jewels and lots of gold in the secret place.

5. What woke up and made noise in the secret place?
A big octopus woke up and made noise in the secret place.

6. What did the kids do to make the big octopus happy?
The kids gave some gold to the big octopus to make it happy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) hidden
(2) Cove
(3) kids
(4) looking
(5) gave
(6) took
(7) bird
(8) whole
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. treasure
Answer: (H) Something very valuable that is hidden and needs to be found

2. pirate
Answer: (D) A person who pretends to be a pirate and looks for treasure

3. jewels
Answer: (B) Shiny and beautiful stones

4. octopus
Answer: (E) A sea creature with eight arms

5. gold
Answer: (C) A shiny yellow metal that is worth a lot of money

6. map
Answer: (F) A paper with drawings that shows you where to find something

7. bird
Answer: (I) A small animal with feathers that can fly

8. cookies
Answer: (A) Sweet treats that you can eat

9. fisherman
Answer: (G) A person who catches fish for a living

10. hunt
Answer: (J) Looking for something by following clues or searching carefully
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where was the hidden spot called Smuggler’s Cove?
Answer: (b) By the sea

2. What did the kids take with them to look for the treasure?
Answer: (a) Shovels and maps

3. What happened to the kids’ map?
Answer: (d) A bird took it and flew away

4. What did the kids find in the secret place?
Answer: (c) Shiny jewels and lots of gold

5. What woke up and made noise in the secret place?
Answer: (a) A big octopus

6. What did the kids give to the octopus to make it happy?
Answer: (b) Some gold

7. Who told the kids that the treasure was for all the people?
Answer: (d) Captain Jack

8. What did the kids do with the treasure they found?
Answer: (c) They shared it with everyone in the village
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They brought shovels and maps and pretended to be pirates. (Answer: True)
2. The kids kept the treasure for themselves and did not share it with everyone in the village. (Answer: False)
3. The kids discovered a secret spot with shiny jewels and lots of gold. (Answer: True)
4. Some kids from the village decided not to go on an adventure to find the treasure. (Answer: False)
5. The people in the village believed there was no treasure hidden in Smuggler’s Cove. (Answer: False)
6. They woke up a big octopus, but made it happy by giving it some gold. (Answer: True)
7. There was an ordinary place in a small village by the sea called Smuggler’s Cove. (Answer: False)
8. A funny bird took their map and flew away, but they didn’t give up. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

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

The Magical Marmalade

Lily and Bubbles had a magical day in the garden, making things dance and telling jokes, but grumpy Grumblebore learned to smile and have fun too.

Ruby, the mischievous red panda, embarks on a quest to find a golden tree and discovers the true treasure of friendship.

The Riddle of the Red Panda

Ruby the red panda loves playing games and goes on an adventure to find a special treasure with her new friends Ellie the elephant and Terrance the tortoise.

A unique tiger with tangerine stripes leads his animal friends on a quest for a magical fruit, only to discover that true magic lies in friendship and laughter.

The Tale of the Tangerine Tiger

The Tangerine Tiger and his friends went on an adventure to find a special fruit that gives superpowers, but they realized that having fun and being friends is even better.

The Brave Knight

Once upon a time, there was a brave knight named Sir Richard. He lived in a castle with his family,

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