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!

Oliver’s Ocean Adventure

Oliver and Polly, renowned adventurers, spread laughter and kindness wherever they go.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, a boy named Oliver found a map. It showed the way to a place with hidden treasure. Oliver was very happy and he took his funny bird, Polly, to find the treasure. They went on a boat to look for it.

While they were on the water, a big storm came. Oliver was scared, but he remembered to stay calm. He held the boat’s wheel very tight and moved it so they stayed safe.

Soon, Oliver and Polly got to the special island. They met silly sea animals like mermaids and a dancing octopus. Then, some bad pirates came to take the treasure. But Oliver had a surprise for the pirates!

Oliver used fun starfish to make the pirates laugh so much that they fell over. After that, Oliver took the treasure and went home. He shared the treasure with people who needed help. Oliver learned that being kind is the best treasure. Oliver and Polly had many more adventures, and they always made people smile.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1moviesMoving pictures that tell a story
2animalsLiving creatures like cats and dogs
3lakeA big area of water
4boatSomething that floats on water and can carry people
5waterA clear liquid that you drink and swim in
6picturesImages that you take with a camera
7surpriseSomething that you didn’t expect to see or find
8findDiscovering something that you were looking for
9plantSomething which grows in the ground, like a tree or a flower
10decideTo choose something

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who found the map?
2. Where did Oliver and Polly go to find the treasure?
3. What happened when they were on the water?
4. How did Oliver stay safe during the storm?
5. Who did Oliver and Polly meet on the special island?
6. What did Oliver do to make the pirates fall over?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, a boy named Oliver found a map. It showed the way to a place with hidden (1)______. Oliver was very happy and he (2)______ his funny bird, Polly, to find the treasure. They went on a boat to look for it.

While they were on the water, a big storm came. Oliver was scared, but he remembered to stay calm. He held the boat’s wheel very tight and moved it so they (3)______ safe.

Soon, Oliver and Polly got to the special (4)______. They met silly sea (5)______ like mermaids and a dancing octopus. Then, some bad pirates came to take the treasure. But Oliver had a surprise for the pirates!

Oliver used fun (6)______ to make the pirates laugh so much that they fell over. After that, Oliver took the treasure and went home. He shared the treasure with people who needed help. Oliver learned that being (7)______ is the best treasure. Oliver and (8)______ had many more adventures, and they always made people smile.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a treasure?
2. How would you feel if you found a treasure map?
3. Do you like boats? Why or why not?
4. What is a storm?
5. How do you think Oliver felt when the storm came?
6. Do you like pirates? Why or why not?
7. Do you think it’s important to share with others? Why or why not?
8. How do you think Oliver and Polly made people smile?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. movies
2. animals
3. lake
4. boat
5. water
6. pictures
7. surprise
8. find
9. plant
10. decide

Meanings:
(A) A big area of water
(B) Discovering something that you were looking for
(C) Images that you take with a camera
(D) Moving pictures that tell a story
(E) To choose something
(F) Something that floats on water and can carry people
(G) Something which grows in the ground, like a tree or a flower
(H) Something that you didn’t expect to see or find
(I) Living creatures like cats and dogs
(J) A clear liquid that you drink and swim in
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who found the map?
(a) Polly
(b) Oliver
(c) Sherlock
(d) Watson

2. What did Oliver take with him to find the treasure?
(a) Sherlock
(b) Polly
(c) Watson
(d) Smith

3. How did Oliver feel when the storm came?
(a) Happy
(b) Sad
(c) Scared
(d) Angry

4. What did Oliver hold very tight during the storm?
(a) The boat’s wheel
(b) The treasure
(c) Polly
(d) The map

5. Where did Oliver and Polly go to find the treasure?
(a) A special island
(b) London
(c) Madrid
(d) Berlin

6. Who did Oliver and Polly meet on the special island?
(a) Bad pirates
(b) Mermaids
(c) Silly sea animals
(d) Dancing octopus

7. How did Oliver make the pirates fall over?
(a) Using the map
(b) Using Polly
(c) Using the treasure
(d) Using fun starfish

8. What did Oliver learn from his adventure?
(a) Being brave is the best treasure
(b) Being silly is the best treasure
(c) Being smart is the best treasure
(d) Being kind is the best treasure

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Oliver and Polly met serious sea animals like mermaids and a sleeping octopus on a special island.
2. Oliver left his serious bird, Polly, on a boat to look for the treasure.
3. Oliver used starfish to make the pirates laugh so much that they fell over.
4. While they were on the water, a big storm came and Oliver stayed calm.
5. Oliver kept the treasure for himself and learned that being selfish is the best treasure.
6. Oliver found a map that showed where to hide the treasure.
7. Bad pirates came to take the treasure, but Oliver had a surprise for them.
8. Oliver used the boat’s wheel to keep them safe during the storm.
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 found the map?
Oliver found the map.

2. Where did Oliver and Polly go to find the treasure?
Oliver and Polly went on a boat to find the treasure.

3. What happened when they were on the water?
A big storm came when they were on the water.

4. How did Oliver stay safe during the storm?
Oliver held the boat’s wheel tight and moved it to stay safe.

5. Who did Oliver and Polly meet on the special island?
Oliver and Polly met silly sea animals like mermaids and a dancing octopus.

6. What did Oliver do to make the pirates fall over?
Oliver used fun starfish to make the pirates laugh so much that they fell over.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) treasure
(2) took
(3) stayed
(4) island
(5) animals
(6) starfish
(7) kind
(8) Polly
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. movies
Answer: (D) Moving pictures that tell a story

2. animals
Answer: (I) Living creatures like cats and dogs

3. lake
Answer: (A) A big area of water

4. boat
Answer: (F) Something that floats on water and can carry people

5. water
Answer: (J) A clear liquid that you drink and swim in

6. pictures
Answer: (C) Images that you take with a camera

7. surprise
Answer: (H) Something that you didn’t expect to see or find

8. find
Answer: (B) Discovering something that you were looking for

9. plant
Answer: (G) Something which grows in the ground, like a tree or a flower

10. decide
Answer: (E) To choose something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who found the map?
Answer: (b) Oliver

2. What did Oliver take with him to find the treasure?
Answer: (b) Polly

3. How did Oliver feel when the storm came?
Answer: (c) Scared

4. What did Oliver hold very tight during the storm?
Answer: (a) The boat’s wheel

5. Where did Oliver and Polly go to find the treasure?
Answer: (a) A special island

6. Who did Oliver and Polly meet on the special island?
Answer: (c) Silly sea animals

7. How did Oliver make the pirates fall over?
Answer: (d) Using fun starfish

8. What did Oliver learn from his adventure?
Answer: (d) Being kind is the best treasure
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Oliver and Polly met serious sea animals like mermaids and a sleeping octopus on a special island. (Answer: False)
2. Oliver left his serious bird, Polly, on a boat to look for the treasure. (Answer: False)
3. Oliver used starfish to make the pirates laugh so much that they fell over. (Answer: True)
4. While they were on the water, a big storm came and Oliver stayed calm. (Answer: True)
5. Oliver kept the treasure for himself and learned that being selfish is the best treasure. (Answer: False)
6. Oliver found a map that showed where to hide the treasure. (Answer: False)
7. Bad pirates came to take the treasure, but Oliver had a surprise for them. (Answer: True)
8. Oliver used the boat’s wheel to keep them safe during the storm. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A little girl named Mia embarks on a magical adventure through the Candy Kingdom after awakening a Jelly Bean Tree.

The Jelly Bean Tree

Mia found a magical jelly bean tree that turned into a talking candy carriage, and they went on a yummy adventure together.

A mischievous squirrel with the power to fly becomes the forest's superhero and saves the day.

The Superhero Squirrel

Sammy the flying squirrel saves his friend Billy from a tree and stops a sneaky fox from taking acorns.

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

The Wishing Well Mystery

Once upon a time, three friends found a special well that could make wishes come true. They solved tricky riddles and met a funny genie who played tricks. But they learned that making others happy is more important than just getting what you wish for.

The Golden Egg Hunt in Fantasia turns into a heartwarming display of unity and selflessness.

The Golden Egg Hunt

Once upon a time, there was a magical egg hunt where people found special eggs and made wishes.

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