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 Treasure of Sunstone Cove

A grumpy crab becomes a friend as three adventurers uncover treasure and laughter together.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a small village by the sea, people talked about a hidden treasure in Sunstone Cove. A crab named Captain Pinch guarded it. Milo, Tessa, and Pedro wanted to find the treasure one sunny day.

They brought a map, a magnifying glass, a metal detector, and some peanut butter sandwiches. Tessa wondered if Captain Pinch was a big crab or a tiny one with a big hat. Pedro laughed and said he wouldn’t share his lunch with the crab.

On the beach, they saw a sign that said, “Beware of the Snapping Crab!” Suddenly, Captain Pinch appeared. “Why are you here?” he asked. Milo said they wanted to find the treasure. The crab gave them a riddle to solve.

After thinking hard, Pedro yelled, “A computer!” Captain Pinch laughed and said they were right. He showed them the treasure. The friends used the treasure to build a playground, and Captain Pinch became their new friend. They all learned that friendship is the best treasure.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1treasureSomething very valuable that people look for
2magnifying glassA tool that makes small things look bigger
3metal detectorA machine that finds metal objects underground
4riddleA tricky question or puzzle
5solveTo find the answer to a problem or puzzle
6playgroundA place where children play
7guardedWatched over and protected
8villageA small town
9bewareBe careful of something
10friendshipA special bond between friends

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Milo, Tessa, and Pedro want to find in Sunstone Cove?
2. What did Tessa think about Captain Pinch?
3. What did the friends bring with them to the beach?
4. What did Captain Pinch give the friends to solve?
5. What did Pedro shout out when he solved the riddle?
6. What did the friends use the treasure for?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village by the sea, people talked about a hidden treasure in Sunstone Cove. A (1)______ (2)______ Captain Pinch guarded it. Milo, Tessa, and Pedro wanted to find the treasure one sunny day.

They brought a map, a magnifying glass, a metal detector, and some peanut butter sandwiches. Tessa (3)______ if Captain (4)______ was a big crab or a tiny one with a big hat. Pedro laughed and said he wouldn’t share his lunch with the crab.

On the beach, they saw a sign that said, “Beware of the Snapping Crab!” Suddenly, Captain Pinch appeared. “Why are you here?” he (5)______. (6)______ said they wanted to find the treasure. The crab gave them a riddle to solve.

After thinking hard, Pedro yelled, “A computer!” (7)______ Pinch laughed and said they were (8)______. He showed them the treasure. The friends used the treasure to build a playground, and Captain Pinch became their new friend. They all learned that friendship is the best treasure.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a treasure to you?

2. How would you feel if you found a treasure?

3. Do you like crabs? Why or why not?

4. What is your favorite thing to do at the beach?

5. Do you think friendship is important? Why?

6. How would you feel if a crab talked to you?

7. What is your favorite food to bring on a picnic?

8. Do you think solving riddles is fun? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. treasure
2. magnifying glass
3. metal detector
4. riddle
5. solve
6. playground
7. guarded
8. village
9. beware
10. friendship

Meanings:
(A) A small town
(B) Be careful of something
(C) A tricky question or puzzle
(D) A special bond between friends
(E) Something very valuable that people look for
(F) A tool that makes small things look bigger
(G) A machine that finds metal objects underground
(H) A place where children play
(I) To find the answer to a problem or puzzle
(J) Watched over and protected
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the friends want to find?
(a) A toy
(b) Treasure
(c) A pet
(d) A book

2. Who guarded the treasure?
(a) A dog
(b) A cat
(c) Captain Pinch
(d) A bird

3. What did Tessa wonder about Captain Pinch?
(a) If he was big or tiny
(b) If he could talk
(c) If he liked food
(d) If he was friendly

4. What did the friends bring with them?
(a) A ball
(b) A kite
(c) A blanket
(d) A map

5. What did the sign say?
(a) Welcome to the beach!
(b) Beware of the Snapping Crab!
(c) Find the treasure here!
(d) Watch out for the waves!

6. What did Captain Pinch give the friends?
(a) A snack
(b) A toy
(c) A map
(d) A riddle

7. What did Pedro shout out?
(a) A computer!
(b) A crab!
(c) A treasure!
(d) A sandwich!

8. What did the friends use the treasure for?
(a) To buy ice cream
(b) To go home
(c) To build a playground
(d) To play a game

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. There is no hidden treasure in Sunstone Cove.
2. Pedro answers the puzzle with “A laptop!”
3. Captain Pinch gives the friends a riddle to solve.
4. A crab named Captain Pinch helps protect the treasure.
5. Captain Pinch shows them the treasure after they solve the riddle.
6. They bring a map and a metal detector with them.
7. Three enemies named Milo, Tessa, and Pedro want to find the treasure.
8. The friends use the treasure to build a playground and become friends with Captain Pinch.
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. What did Milo, Tessa, and Pedro want to find in Sunstone Cove?
They wanted to find hidden treasure.

2. What did Tessa think about Captain Pinch?
Tessa wondered if he was a big crab or a tiny one with a big hat.

3. What did the friends bring with them to the beach?
They brought a map, a magnifying glass, a metal detector, and peanut butter sandwiches.

4. What did Captain Pinch give the friends to solve?
He gave them a riddle to solve.

5. What did Pedro shout out when he solved the riddle?
Pedro yelled, “A computer!”

6. What did the friends use the treasure for?
They used the treasure to build a playground.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) crab
(2) named
(3) wondered
(4) Pinch
(5) asked
(6) Milo
(7) Captain
(8) right
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. treasure
Answer: (E) Something very valuable that people look for

2. magnifying glass
Answer: (F) A tool that makes small things look bigger

3. metal detector
Answer: (G) A machine that finds metal objects underground

4. riddle
Answer: (C) A tricky question or puzzle

5. solve
Answer: (I) To find the answer to a problem or puzzle

6. playground
Answer: (H) A place where children play

7. guarded
Answer: (J) Watched over and protected

8. village
Answer: (A) A small town

9. beware
Answer: (B) Be careful of something

10. friendship
Answer: (D) A special bond between friends
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the friends want to find?
Answer: (b) Treasure

2. Who guarded the treasure?
Answer: (c) Captain Pinch

3. What did Tessa wonder about Captain Pinch?
Answer: (a) If he was big or tiny

4. What did the friends bring with them?
Answer: (d) A map

5. What did the sign say?
Answer: (b) Beware of the Snapping Crab!

6. What did Captain Pinch give the friends?
Answer: (d) A riddle

7. What did Pedro shout out?
Answer: (a) A computer!

8. What did the friends use the treasure for?
Answer: (c) To build a playground
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. There is no hidden treasure in Sunstone Cove. (Answer: False)
2. Pedro answers the puzzle with “A laptop!” (Answer: False)
3. Captain Pinch gives the friends a riddle to solve. (Answer: True)
4. A crab named Captain Pinch helps protect the treasure. (Answer: False)
5. Captain Pinch shows them the treasure after they solve the riddle. (Answer: True)
6. They bring a map and a metal detector with them. (Answer: True)
7. Three enemies named Milo, Tessa, and Pedro want to find the treasure. (Answer: False)
8. The friends use the treasure to build a playground and become friends with Captain Pinch. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

Oliver, the tiniest elf, surprises everyone with his clever strategies and magical find at the Great Elf Games.

The Littlest Elf

Oliver, the small elf, showed everyone that being small doesn’t stop you from doing great things.

The Land of Wizards

Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom, there lived a group of wizards. These wizards were very powerful

Three friends stumble upon a magical peach palace filled with talking animals and enchanted treasures, unlocking their own creativity and joy.

The Peculiar Peach Palace

Max, Sam, and Mia found a special house with talking animals and fairies that made them laugh. They discovered magic inside and learned that they could make their own magic too.

Lily discovers a hidden door in the enchanted forest and befriends a sparkling fairy named Hazel.

The Fairy’s Secret

Lily found a secret door in the woods and met a fairy named Hazel. They danced with fairies and made the woods pretty again.

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