Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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Short Stories for Kids

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Oliver’s Ocean Adventure

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

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once there was a boy named Oliver who loved the idea of going on an adventure. One day, while he was playing outside, he found a hidden treasure map that pointed to a place called Emerald Island. He was super excited and decided to go find the treasure. Oliver had a funny parrot named Polly, and together they left on a small boat.

While they were out at sea, a big storm came and scared them. The water was rough and the wind was loud. Oliver was scared, but he remembered his dad saying he should stay calm when things get tough. Holding the boat’s wheel really tight, he managed to steer through the storm like a brave captain.

When they finally got to Emerald Island, they met some silly creatures like mermaids who talked and an octopus that liked to dance. Even though these creatures were funny, Oliver felt there might be trouble ahead. They found the treasure chest, but some pirates showed up wanting to take it.

Oliver had a clever idea. He used ticklish starfish he found earlier to make the pirates laugh so much that they couldn’t fight back. Oliver and Polly took the treasure and sailed home. They didn’t find gold, but they used the treasure to help people who didn’t have much.

Oliver learned that the real treasure was being kind and helping others. His adventure taught him to be brave and smart, even when things are hard. He and Polly became famous for their adventures and for the laughter and kindness they shared with everyone.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1adventureA fun and exciting experience
2treasureSomething valuable that is hidden or lost
3parrotA colorful bird that can talk
4stormA very bad weather with strong wind and rain
5scaredFeeling afraid or frightened
6captainThe person in charge of a ship or boat
7creaturesStrange and interesting animals or beings
8piratesPeople who steal from others at sea
9cleverBeing smart and quick to think of ideas
10laughterThe sound of happiness and joy
11famousWell-known and recognized by many people
12kindnessBeing nice and helpful to others

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was the main character in the story?
2. What did Oliver find while he was playing outside?
3. How did Oliver feel when the storm came?
4. What did Oliver use to make the pirates laugh?
5. What did Oliver and Polly do with the treasure they found?
6. What did Oliver learn from his adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once there was a boy named (1)______ who loved the idea of going on an adventure. One day, while he was playing outside, he found a hidden treasure map that pointed to a place called (2)______ Island. He was super excited and decided to go find the treasure. Oliver had a funny parrot named Polly, and together they left on a small (3)______.

While they were out at sea, a big storm came and scared them. The water was rough and the wind was loud. Oliver was scared, but he remembered his dad saying he should stay calm when (4)______ get (5)______. Holding the boat’s wheel really tight, he managed to steer through the storm like a brave captain.

When they finally got to Emerald Island, they met some (6)______ creatures like mermaids who talked and an octopus that liked to dance. Even though these creatures were (7)______, Oliver felt there might be trouble ahead. They found the treasure chest, but some pirates showed up wanting to take it.

Oliver had a clever idea. He used ticklish (8)______ he found earlier to make the pirates laugh so much that they couldn’t fight back. Oliver and (9)______ took the treasure and sailed home. They didn’t find gold, but they used the treasure to help (10)______ who didn’t (11)______ much.

Oliver learned that the real treasure was being kind and helping others. His adventure taught him to be brave and smart, even when things are hard. He and Polly became famous for their adventures and for the laughter and (12)______ they shared with everyone.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an adventure? Have you ever been on an adventure? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if you found a hidden treasure map? Why?
3. Do you like storms? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it means to be brave? Can you give an example of a time when you were brave?
5. Do you think it’s important to help others? Why or why not?
6. How do you think Oliver felt when he made the pirates laugh? Why?
7. What would you do if you found a treasure chest? Why?
8. Do you think it’s more important to have lots of gold or to be kind to others? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventure
2. treasure
3. parrot
4. storm
5. scared
6. captain
7. creatures
8. pirates
9. clever
10. laughter
11. famous
12. kindness

Meanings:
(A) Well-known and recognized by many people
(B) The sound of happiness and joy
(C) A very bad weather with strong wind and rain
(D) A colorful bird that can talk
(E) Being nice and helpful to others
(F) Strange and interesting animals or beings
(G) Feeling afraid or frightened
(H) People who steal from others at sea
(I) The person in charge of a ship or boat
(J) Something valuable that is hidden or lost
(K) A fun and exciting experience
(L) Being smart and quick to think of ideas
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Oliver find while playing outside?
(a) A funny parrot
(b) A hidden treasure map
(c) A boat’s wheel
(d) A storm

2. How did Oliver feel when he found the treasure map?
(a) Scared
(b) Sad
(c) Angry
(d) Super excited

3. What did Oliver do when the storm came?
(a) Stayed calm and steered through it
(b) Cried and hid under the boat
(c) Called for help on his phone
(d) Jumped into the water and swam away

4. What kind of creatures did Oliver meet on Emerald Island?
(a) Scary creatures like dragons and monsters
(b) Boring creatures like snails and worms
(c) Silly creatures like talking mermaids and dancing octopus
(d) Dangerous creatures like sharks and crocodiles

5. What did Oliver use to make the pirates laugh?
(a) Funny jokes
(b) Ticklish starfish
(c) Loud music
(d) Scary masks

6. What did Oliver and Polly do with the treasure?
(a) Used it to help people who didn’t have much
(b) Kept it all for themselves
(c) Buried it on Emerald Island
(d) Sold it to the highest bidder

7. What did Oliver learn from his adventure?
(a) The real treasure was gold and jewels
(b) Adventures are scary and should be avoided
(c) It’s better to stay at home and not take risks
(d) The real treasure was being kind and helping others

8. What did Oliver and Polly become famous for?
(a) Their singing and dancing skills
(b) Their ability to find hidden treasure
(c) Their adventures and the laughter and kindness they shared
(d) Their bravery in the face of danger

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Oliver panicked and lost control while steering through the storm.
2. Oliver and Polly used the treasure to help people in need and became famous for their adventures.
3. Oliver found a treasure map that led him to Emerald Island.
4. They avoided any storms while they were at sea.
5. Pirates showed up and tried to take the treasure.
6. On Emerald Island, they met funny creatures like talking mermaids and a dancing octopus.
7. Oliver used ticklish jellyfish to make the pirates laugh and couldn’t fight back.
8. Oliver and Polly went on a mundane trip to find the treasure.
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 was the main character in the story?
Oliver was the main character in the story.

2. What did Oliver find while he was playing outside?
Oliver found a hidden treasure map while he was playing outside.

3. How did Oliver feel when the storm came?
Oliver felt scared when the storm came.

4. What did Oliver use to make the pirates laugh?
Oliver used ticklish starfish to make the pirates laugh.

5. What did Oliver and Polly do with the treasure they found?
Oliver and Polly used the treasure to help people who didn’t have much.

6. What did Oliver learn from his adventure?
Oliver learned that the real treasure was being kind and helping others.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Oliver
(2) Emerald
(3) boat
(4) things
(5) tough
(6) silly
(7) funny
(8) starfish
(9) Polly
(10) people
(11) have
(12) kindness
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventure
Answer: (K) A fun and exciting experience

2. treasure
Answer: (J) Something valuable that is hidden or lost

3. parrot
Answer: (D) A colorful bird that can talk

4. storm
Answer: (C) A very bad weather with strong wind and rain

5. scared
Answer: (G) Feeling afraid or frightened

6. captain
Answer: (I) The person in charge of a ship or boat

7. creatures
Answer: (F) Strange and interesting animals or beings

8. pirates
Answer: (H) People who steal from others at sea

9. clever
Answer: (L) Being smart and quick to think of ideas

10. laughter
Answer: (B) The sound of happiness and joy

11. famous
Answer: (A) Well-known and recognized by many people

12. kindness
Answer: (E) Being nice and helpful to others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Oliver find while playing outside?
Answer: (b) A hidden treasure map

2. How did Oliver feel when he found the treasure map?
Answer: (d) Super excited

3. What did Oliver do when the storm came?
Answer: (a) Stayed calm and steered through it

4. What kind of creatures did Oliver meet on Emerald Island?
Answer: (c) Silly creatures like talking mermaids and dancing octopus

5. What did Oliver use to make the pirates laugh?
Answer: (b) Ticklish starfish

6. What did Oliver and Polly do with the treasure?
Answer: (a) Used it to help people who didn’t have much

7. What did Oliver learn from his adventure?
Answer: (d) The real treasure was being kind and helping others

8. What did Oliver and Polly become famous for?
Answer: (c) Their adventures and the laughter and kindness they shared
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Oliver panicked and lost control while steering through the storm. (Answer: False)
2. Oliver and Polly used the treasure to help people in need and became famous for their adventures. (Answer: True)
3. Oliver found a treasure map that led him to Emerald Island. (Answer: True)
4. They avoided any storms while they were at sea. (Answer: False)
5. Pirates showed up and tried to take the treasure. (Answer: True)
6. On Emerald Island, they met funny creatures like talking mermaids and a dancing octopus. (Answer: True)
7. Oliver used ticklish jellyfish to make the pirates laugh and couldn’t fight back. (Answer: False)
8. Oliver and Polly went on a mundane trip to find the treasure. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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Fluffy the cat wanted to fly, so he built a machine, but got scared when he went too high, luckily some seagulls helped him land safely and taught him an important lesson.

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