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 Sapphire Sphinx

Three siblings embark on a daring quest to solve the mystery of the Sapphire Sphinx.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, in a magical place, there were three siblings: Mia, Max, and Ben. They found an old book about a “Sapphire Sphinx” secret. They wanted to find this secret so they started an adventure.

They came to a big pyramid in the desert. The book helped them inside where they saw traps and puzzles. They met a big blue sphinx that asked them hard questions.

Mia, Max, and Ben worked together to answer the sphinx’s questions. They remembered their grandma’s advice about teamwork. They answered all the questions and the sphinx let them pass.

Inside, they found not just treasure but also a letter. The letter said the true treasure was knowledge, not gold or jewels. They went home, happy and smart, and told everyone about their adventure. They learned that the best treasures are things you learn.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventureGoing on a fun trip where you see and do new things
2pyramidA big triangle building in Egypt
3desertA very hot place with lots of sand and very few plants
4sphinxA statue with a lion’s body and a person’s head
5questionsThings people ask when they want to know something
6teamworkWorking together with friends or family to do something
7treasureSomething very special that people want to find or have
8knowledgeThings you know and understand
9letterA piece of paper that someone writes a message on
10learnGetting new information in your head

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the three siblings in the story?
2. What did they find in the old book?
3. Where did they go to find the secret?
4. What did they see inside the pyramid?
5. How did they answer the sphinx’s questions?
6. What did they learn was the true treasure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a magical place, there were three siblings: Mia, Max, and Ben. They found an old (1)______ about a “Sapphire Sphinx” (2)______. They wanted to find this secret so they started an adventure.

They came to a big pyramid in the desert. The book helped them inside where they saw traps and puzzles. They met a big blue sphinx that (3)______ them hard (4)______.

Mia, Max, and Ben worked together to (5)______ the sphinx’s questions. They (6)______ their grandma’s advice about teamwork. They answered all the questions and the sphinx let them pass.

Inside, they found not just treasure but also a letter. The letter said the (7)______ treasure was knowledge, not (8)______ or jewels. They went home, happy and smart, and told everyone about their adventure. They learned that the best treasures are things you learn.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a pyramid?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret book?
3. Do you like solving puzzles and riddles? Why or why not?
4. What is teamwork? Why is it important?
5. How would you feel if you met a big blue sphinx? Why?
6. Do you think knowledge is more valuable than gold or jewels? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever been on an adventure? What did you do?
8. What is the best treasure you have ever found? Why do you like it?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventure
2. pyramid
3. desert
4. sphinx
5. questions
6. teamwork
7. treasure
8. knowledge
9. letter
10. learn

Meanings:
(A) A statue with a lion’s body and a person’s head
(B) Going on a fun trip where you see and do new things
(C) Things people ask when they want to know something
(D) Things you know and understand
(E) Working together with friends or family to do something
(F) A big triangle building in Egypt
(G) Something very special that people want to find or have
(H) Getting new information in your head
(I) A very hot place with lots of sand and very few plants
(J) A piece of paper that someone writes a message on
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who are the three siblings in the story?
(a) Mia, Max, and Ben
(b) Lily, Lucy, and Leo
(c) Sam, Sophie, and Sarah
(d) Jack, Jill, and James

2. What did the siblings find?
(a) A shiny necklace
(b) An old book
(c) A magical wand
(d) A talking dog

3. Where did the siblings go to find the Sapphire Sphinx secret?
(a) A small house in the forest
(b) A big pyramid in the desert
(c) A tall tower in the city
(d) A deep cave in the mountains

4. What did the sphinx ask the siblings?
(a) Easy questions
(b) Riddles
(c) Jokes
(d) Hard questions

5. How did the siblings answer the sphinx’s questions?
(a) They ran away
(b) They cried
(c) They worked together
(d) They ignored the questions

6. What did the letter say the true treasure was?
(a) Gold and jewels
(b) Toys and games
(c) Knowledge
(d) Candy and chocolate

7. How did the siblings feel after their adventure?
(a) Sad and tired
(b) Angry and bored
(c) Scared and lost
(d) Happy and smart

8. What did the siblings learn about the best treasures?
(a) They are things you learn
(b) They are things you buy
(c) They are things you eat
(d) They are things you break

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They wanted to find this secret, so they went on an adventure.
2. – They worked alone and answered none of the sphinx’s questions.
3. They learned that the true treasure was knowledge, not gold or jewels.
4. They found an old book about a secret called the “Sapphire Sphinx.”
5. – They stumbled upon a small pyramid in the desert.
6. There were three siblings named Mia, Max, and Ben.
7. – Inside the pyramid, they avoided traps and puzzles.
8. – They encountered a small red sphinx that asked them easy questions.
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 were the three siblings in the story?
The three siblings in the story were Mia, Max, and Ben.

2. What did they find in the old book?
They found a secret about a “Sapphire Sphinx” in the old book.

3. Where did they go to find the secret?
They went to a big pyramid in the desert to find the secret.

4. What did they see inside the pyramid?
Inside the pyramid, they saw traps and puzzles.

5. How did they answer the sphinx’s questions?
They worked together and used their knowledge to answer the sphinx’s questions.

6. What did they learn was the true treasure?
They learned that the true treasure was knowledge, not gold or jewels.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) book
(2) secret
(3) asked
(4) questions
(5) answer
(6) remembered
(7) true
(8) gold
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventure
Answer: (B) Going on a fun trip where you see and do new things

2. pyramid
Answer: (F) A big triangle building in Egypt

3. desert
Answer: (I) A very hot place with lots of sand and very few plants

4. sphinx
Answer: (A) A statue with a lion’s body and a person’s head

5. questions
Answer: (C) Things people ask when they want to know something

6. teamwork
Answer: (E) Working together with friends or family to do something

7. treasure
Answer: (G) Something very special that people want to find or have

8. knowledge
Answer: (D) Things you know and understand

9. letter
Answer: (J) A piece of paper that someone writes a message on

10. learn
Answer: (H) Getting new information in your head
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who are the three siblings in the story?
Answer: (a) Mia, Max, and Ben

2. What did the siblings find?
Answer: (b) An old book

3. Where did the siblings go to find the Sapphire Sphinx secret?
Answer: (b) A big pyramid in the desert

4. What did the sphinx ask the siblings?
Answer: (d) Hard questions

5. How did the siblings answer the sphinx’s questions?
Answer: (c) They worked together

6. What did the letter say the true treasure was?
Answer: (c) Knowledge

7. How did the siblings feel after their adventure?
Answer: (d) Happy and smart

8. What did the siblings learn about the best treasures?
Answer: (a) They are things you learn
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They wanted to find this secret, so they went on an adventure. (Answer: True)
2. – They worked alone and answered none of the sphinx’s questions. (Answer: False)
3. They learned that the true treasure was knowledge, not gold or jewels. (Answer: True)
4. They found an old book about a secret called the “Sapphire Sphinx.” (Answer: True)
5. – They stumbled upon a small pyramid in the desert. (Answer: False)
6. There were three siblings named Mia, Max, and Ben. (Answer: True)
7. – Inside the pyramid, they avoided traps and puzzles. (Answer: False)
8. – They encountered a small red sphinx that asked them easy questions. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 1 stories?

A llama farmer builds an obstacle course to keep his mischievous llamas entertained and happy.

The Llama Farmer

Mr. Thompson’s llamas loved to play on the fun course he made, and everyone in the village liked watching them.

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.

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.

The Island of Cats

Once upon a time, there was a small island in the middle of the ocean. It was a magical place

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