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 Secret of the Old Clock Tower

A brave girl named Lucy discovers a hidden treasure in the old clock tower, inspiring her town to come together and help those in need.
Try this story at a different level?

In a little place called Rivertown, there was a big old clock. People in the town thought it was pretty and had secrets. They talked about hidden gold and ghost stories. No one ever went inside.

One day, a girl named Lucy and her dog Rufus went up the clock with a light. It was dark and quiet at the top. Lucy found a secret spot with an old treasure map inside. The map had a red X by the river.

Lucy and Rufus followed the map to the X. They found a hidden place with lots of gold and shiny things. The gold was from pirates a long, long time ago. Lucy wanted to help people with the treasure.

Lucy told everyone and they all gave money to help others. The old clock was now a sign of happiness and caring. Lucy showed everyone that sharing is the best treasure. The clock’s story was now about being brave and kind.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1clockA big round thing that tells you the time
2secretsThings that nobody knows about
3hiddenSomething that you can’t see easily
4treasureSomething valuable that people hide
5mapA picture that shows you where to find something
6riverA long area of water
7goldThe best color of medal
8shinyLooks pretty under a light
9piratesPeople who steal things at sea
10sharingGiving or using things with other people

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the people in Rivertown think about the big old clock?
2. Who went up the clock with her dog Rufus?
3. What did Lucy find inside the secret spot?
4. Where did Lucy and Rufus go after finding the treasure map?
5. What did Lucy want to do with the treasure?
6. What did Lucy show everyone about sharing?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a little place called River(1)______, there was a big old clock. People in the town thought it was pretty and had secrets. They (2)______ about hidden gold and ghost stories. No one ever went inside.

One day, a girl named Lucy and her dog Rufus went up the clock with a light. It was dark and (3)______ at the top. Lucy found a (4)______ spot with an old treasure map inside. The map had a red X by the river.

Lucy and Rufus followed the map to the X. They found a hidden (5)______ with lots of (6)______ and shiny things. The gold was from pirates a long, long time ago. Lucy wanted to help people with the treasure.

Lucy told everyone and they all gave money to help others. The old clock was now a sign of happiness and caring. (7)______ (8)______ everyone that sharing is the best treasure. The clock’s story was now about being brave and kind.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a clock?
2. How would you feel if you found a treasure map?
3. Do you like pirates? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Lucy did with the treasure?
5. How would you feel if you found a hidden place with lots of gold?
6. Do you think it’s important to help others? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the people in the town thought about the clock?
8. How would you feel if you were brave and kind like Lucy?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. clock
2. secrets
3. hidden
4. treasure
5. map
6. river
7. gold
8. shiny
9. pirates
10. sharing

Meanings:
(A) Giving or using things with other people
(B) A big round thing that tells you the time
(C) Things that nobody knows about
(D) Looks pretty under a light
(E) A long area of water
(F) The best color of medal
(G) People who steal things at sea
(H) Something valuable that people hide
(I) A picture that shows you where to find something
(J) Something that you can’t see easily
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did Lucy find the treasure map?
(a) Inside the clock
(b) Under a tree
(c) In the river
(d) On a mountain

2. What color was the X on the treasure map?
(a) Blue
(b) Green
(c) Red
(d) Yellow

3. Who went with Lucy to find the treasure?
(a) Sherlock
(b) Watson
(c) Smith
(d) Rufus

4. Where did Lucy and Rufus find the hidden treasure?
(a) In a cave
(b) By the river
(c) On a hill
(d) In a house

5. What was the treasure made of?
(a) Silver
(b) Diamonds
(c) Wood
(d) Gold

6. What did Lucy want to do with the treasure?
(a) Help people
(b) Keep it for herself
(c) Sell it
(d) Hide it

7. What did Lucy show everyone about the treasure?
(a) Keeping it is the best treasure
(b) Selling it is the best treasure
(c) Sharing is the best treasure
(d) Hiding it is the best treasure

8. What did the old clock become after Lucy found the treasure?
(a) A sign of sadness and anger
(b) A sign of happiness and caring
(c) A sign of fear and darkness
(d) A sign of loneliness and greed

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Inside the secret spot, Lucy found a new treasure map with a red X by the desert.
2. Lucy decided to keep the treasure for herself and showed everyone that hoarding is the best treasure.
3. There was a big clock in a little town called Rivertown.
4. Lucy and Rufus ignored the map and found a mundane place with no gold or shiny things.
5. Everyone frequently went inside the clock.
6. One day, a girl named Lucy and her dog Rufus went up the clock and found a secret spot.
7. People in the town thought the clock was pretty and had secrets.
8. They talked about hidden gold and ghost stories connected to the clock.
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 the people in Rivertown think about the big old clock?
The people in Rivertown thought the big old clock was pretty and had secrets.

2. Who went up the clock with her dog Rufus?
Lucy went up the clock with her dog Rufus.

3. What did Lucy find inside the secret spot?
Lucy found an old treasure map inside the secret spot.

4. Where did Lucy and Rufus go after finding the treasure map?
Lucy and Rufus followed the treasure map to the X by the river.

5. What did Lucy want to do with the treasure?
Lucy wanted to help people with the treasure.

6. What did Lucy show everyone about sharing?
Lucy showed everyone that sharing is the best treasure.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) town
(2) talked
(3) quiet
(4) secret
(5) place
(6) gold
(7) Lucy
(8) showed
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. clock
Answer: (B) A big round thing that tells you the time

2. secrets
Answer: (C) Things that nobody knows about

3. hidden
Answer: (J) Something that you can’t see easily

4. treasure
Answer: (H) Something valuable that people hide

5. map
Answer: (I) A picture that shows you where to find something

6. river
Answer: (E) A long area of water

7. gold
Answer: (F) The best color of medal

8. shiny
Answer: (D) Looks pretty under a light

9. pirates
Answer: (G) People who steal things at sea

10. sharing
Answer: (A) Giving or using things with other people
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did Lucy find the treasure map?
Answer: (a) Inside the clock

2. What color was the X on the treasure map?
Answer: (c) Red

3. Who went with Lucy to find the treasure?
Answer: (d) Rufus

4. Where did Lucy and Rufus find the hidden treasure?
Answer: (b) By the river

5. What was the treasure made of?
Answer: (d) Gold

6. What did Lucy want to do with the treasure?
Answer: (a) Help people

7. What did Lucy show everyone about the treasure?
Answer: (c) Sharing is the best treasure

8. What did the old clock become after Lucy found the treasure?
Answer: (b) A sign of happiness and caring
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Inside the secret spot, Lucy found a new treasure map with a red X by the desert. (Answer: False)
2. Lucy decided to keep the treasure for herself and showed everyone that hoarding is the best treasure. (Answer: False)
3. There was a big clock in a little town called Rivertown. (Answer: True)
4. Lucy and Rufus ignored the map and found a mundane place with no gold or shiny things. (Answer: False)
5. Everyone frequently went inside the clock. (Answer: False)
6. One day, a girl named Lucy and her dog Rufus went up the clock and found a secret spot. (Answer: True)
7. People in the town thought the clock was pretty and had secrets. (Answer: True)
8. They talked about hidden gold and ghost stories connected to the clock. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

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.

The Giant’s Garden

Greg and Whiskers had a pretty garden, but mean Goblins took the seeds. Whiskers helped and they made it pretty again.

Duncan, The Cheeky Monkey

Once upon a time, deep in the lush jungle of the Amazon rainforest, there lived a mischievous little monkey named

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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