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 Hidden Harbor

A young girl named Lily embarks on a daring adventure to find a hidden harbor and discovers that true treasure lies in the simple pleasures of life.

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In a little town by the sea, there was a secret harbor. A tricky pirate named Captain Squawk was said to guard it. No one could find the special place.

A young girl named Lily heard about the secret harbor and wanted to look for it. She took her small boat, “The Seagull’s Feather,” and sailed away with a map.

Lily faced big storms and big waves on her trip. But she kept going, thinking of her grandfather’s words that hard work makes the prize better. She found secret caves and hidden paths.

In the end, Lily found the secret harbor. Captain Squawk was not a scary pirate but just a little talking bird! He said the true treasure was the fun and the adventure of looking for the secret place. The harbor became a happy spot for everyone who wanted to feel good and have adventures. Lily learned that the best treasures are the fun times we have with friends and family. The harbor stayed a happy place for everyone to enjoy.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1harborA place where boats can stay safe in the water
2pirateA person who takes things from ships
3sailedMoved on the water with a boat
4stormsVery bad weather with lots of wind and rain
5wavesBig bumps on the water that can move a boat up and down
6cavesBig holes in the side of a hill or under the ground
7treasureSomething very special and valuable that you might find
8adventureA fun trip where you do new things
9secretSomething that is hidden and not everyone knows about it
10prizeA gift you get for doing something really well

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was guarding the secret harbor?
2. What was the name of Lily’s boat?
3. What did Lily find on her trip?
4. What did Captain Squawk turn out to be?
5. What did Lily learn about the treasure?
6. What happened to the harbor in the end?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a little town by the sea, there was a secret harbor. A tricky (1)______ named (2)______ Squawk was said to guard it. No one could find the special place.

A young girl named Lily heard about the secret harbor and wanted to look for it. She took her small boat, “The Seagull’s Feather,” and sailed away with a map.

Lily faced big storms and big waves on her trip. But she kept going, thinking of her grandfather’s words that hard work (3)______ the (4)______ better. She found (5)______ caves and hidden paths.

In the end, Lily found the secret harbor. Captain Squawk was not a scary pirate but just a little (6)______ bird! He said the true treasure was the fun and the adventure of looking for the secret place. The harbor became a happy spot for everyone who wanted to feel good and have adventures. Lily learned that the best treasures are the fun times we have with friends and (7)______. The harbor stayed a happy (8)______ for everyone to enjoy.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a pirate? Why do you think pirates are sometimes scary?
2. How would you feel if you were sailing in a big storm? Why?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the best treasure in the story? Why?
5. Have you ever looked for a secret place? What did you find?
6. How do you think Lily felt when she found the secret harbor? Why?
7. Do you think it’s important to work hard? Why or why not?
8. What fun times do you like to have with your friends and family? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. harbor
2. pirate
3. sailed
4. storms
5. waves
6. caves
7. treasure
8. adventure
9. secret
10. prize

Meanings:
(A) Big bumps on the water that can move a boat up and down
(B) Something very special and valuable that you might find
(C) Big holes in the side of a hill or under the ground
(D) A place where boats can stay safe in the water
(E) Something that is hidden and not everyone knows about it
(F) A person who takes things from ships
(G) Moved on the water with a boat
(H) A gift you get for doing something really well
(I) Very bad weather with lots of wind and rain
(J) A fun trip where you do new things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is guarding the secret harbor?
(a) Captain Hook
(b) Captain Blackbeard
(c) Captain Jack Sparrow
(d) Captain Squawk

2. What is the name of Lily’s boat?
(a) The Pirate’s Treasure
(b) The Ocean Explorer
(c) The Sailing Star
(d) The Seagull’s Feather

3. What did Lily face on her trip?
(a) Sunny days and calm waters
(b) Rainbows and unicorns
(c) Big storms and big waves
(d) Snow and ice

4. What did Lily find on her adventure?
(a) Secret caves and hidden paths
(b) Gold and jewels
(c) Monsters and ghosts
(d) Candy and toys

5. Who did Lily find at the secret harbor?
(a) Captain Hook
(b) Captain Squawk
(c) Captain Blackbeard
(d) Captain Jack Sparrow

6. What did Captain Squawk say the true treasure was?
(a) Gold and jewels
(b) The fun and the adventure of looking for the secret place
(c) Monsters and ghosts
(d) Candy and toys

7. What did Lily learn about the best treasures?
(a) The fun times we have with friends and family
(b) Gold and jewels
(c) Monsters and ghosts
(d) Candy and toys

8. What did the harbor become for everyone?
(a) A scary place with dangerous pirates
(b) A boring place with nothing to do
(c) A happy spot to feel good and have adventures
(d) A sad place with no friends

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A young boy named Jack heard about the hidden harbor and wanted to discover it.
2. Everyone could find the ordinary place because it was so poorly concealed.
3. Lily faced big storms and big waves on her trip, but she kept going.
4. There was a secret harbor in a little town by the sea.
5. Jack took his large boat, “The Dolphin’s Fin,” and sailed away with a compass.
6. Jack found visible caves and well-marked paths on his journey.
7. In the end, Lily found the secret harbor and discovered that Captain Squawk was just a little talking bird.
8. Captain Squawk was a tricky pirate who guarded the secret harbor.
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?
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who was guarding the secret harbor?
Captain Squawk was guarding the secret harbor.

2. What was the name of Lily’s boat?
The name of Lily’s boat was “The Seagull’s Feather.”

3. What did Lily find on her trip?
Lily found secret caves and hidden paths on her trip.

4. What did Captain Squawk turn out to be?
Captain Squawk turned out to be a little talking bird.

5. What did Lily learn about the treasure?
Lily learned that the best treasure is the fun times we have with friends and family.

6. What happened to the harbor in the end?
In the end, the harbor became a happy place for everyone to enjoy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) pirate
(2) Captain
(3) makes
(4) prize
(5) secret
(6) talking
(7) family
(8) place
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. harbor
Answer: (D) A place where boats can stay safe in the water

2. pirate
Answer: (F) A person who takes things from ships

3. sailed
Answer: (G) Moved on the water with a boat

4. storms
Answer: (I) Very bad weather with lots of wind and rain

5. waves
Answer: (A) Big bumps on the water that can move a boat up and down

6. caves
Answer: (C) Big holes in the side of a hill or under the ground

7. treasure
Answer: (B) Something very special and valuable that you might find

8. adventure
Answer: (J) A fun trip where you do new things

9. secret
Answer: (E) Something that is hidden and not everyone knows about it

10. prize
Answer: (H) A gift you get for doing something really well
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is guarding the secret harbor?
Answer: (d) Captain Squawk

2. What is the name of Lily’s boat?
Answer: (d) The Seagull’s Feather

3. What did Lily face on her trip?
Answer: (c) Big storms and big waves

4. What did Lily find on her adventure?
Answer: (a) Secret caves and hidden paths

5. Who did Lily find at the secret harbor?
Answer: (b) Captain Squawk

6. What did Captain Squawk say the true treasure was?
Answer: (b) The fun and the adventure of looking for the secret place

7. What did Lily learn about the best treasures?
Answer: (a) The fun times we have with friends and family

8. What did the harbor become for everyone?
Answer: (c) A happy spot to feel good and have adventures
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A young boy named Jack heard about the hidden harbor and wanted to discover it. (Answer: False)
2. Everyone could find the ordinary place because it was so poorly concealed. (Answer: False)
3. Lily faced big storms and big waves on her trip, but she kept going. (Answer: True)
4. There was a secret harbor in a little town by the sea. (Answer: True)
5. Jack took his large boat, “The Dolphin’s Fin,” and sailed away with a compass. (Answer: False)
6. Jack found visible caves and well-marked paths on his journey. (Answer: False)
7. In the end, Lily found the secret harbor and discovered that Captain Squawk was just a little talking bird. (Answer: True)
8. Captain Squawk was a tricky pirate who guarded the secret harbor. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 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 found a secret map and went on an adventure with his new friend Oliver.

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

The Playful Penguin’s Party

Peter the penguin wanted to have a big party, but he forgot the music, so he asked his friend Sammy the seal for help and they made a happy song for everyone to dance to.

A young girl named Emily discovers a tree that produces rainbow-colored raspberries, bringing joy to her village.

The Remarkable Raspberry Rain

Emily found a magical tree with colorful raspberries that made it rain fruit, but the colors started to fade until she discovered that laughter could bring the magic back.

A fish named Rainbow learns the importance of sharing its unique beauty with others.

The Rainbow Fish’s Journey

Rainbow the fish had shiny scales that no one wanted to share, but with the help of new friends, Rainbow learned to share and make everyone happy.

A sleepy snowman named Frosty embarks on a quest to find his missing carrot nose.

The Sleepy Snowman

Frosty the snowman takes a nap, but when his carrot nose goes missing, he goes on an adventure to find it with his animal friends.

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Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a family with a mischievous kitten named Mimi. Mimi was

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.

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