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 Curious Lantern of the Lost Lighthouse

Jamie discovers that laughter holds the key to saving Seashell Cove from a mysterious whirlpool.

Try this story at a different level?

 

At the edge of Seashell Cove was an old, empty lighthouse. Inside, a strange lantern glowed as if it had a life of its own. The townspeople said it shined brightest when the moon was full. Jamie, a curious kid, wanted to solve the mystery of this lantern.

One sunny day, Jamie headed to the lighthouse with a sandwich and his rubber duck, Quackers. Jamie laughed at a sign that warned about seagulls, then opened the creaky door. Inside, cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and dust floated in the air. Jamie and Quackers went up the spiral stairs, ready for adventure.

When they reached the top, they saw the weirdest sketches on the walls: mermaids with snorkels and octopuses on roller skates! Suddenly, an old seagull named Frank flew in and squawked at Jamie. “Who’s in my lighthouse?” Jamie bravely answered, “I want to know about the lantern!” Frank grumbled but flew away.

The happy glow of the lantern filled the room, and a sign next to it said, “To light a path, one must laugh.” The lantern asked Jamie to tell a joke. Jamie told a funny knock-knock joke, making the lantern laugh and shine even brighter. Frank even smiled a little. Jamie learned that humor had a special power.

The lantern then warned Jamie about a dangerous whirlpool that could hurt the village. It said that only laughter could stop it. Jamie, Quackers, and Frank quickly rushed to the ocean. As they told jokes, the whirlpool calmed down and turned into a peaceful pond. Jamie’s laughter had saved Seashell Cove! The villagers cheered, and from then on, the lighthouse shone brightly, reminding everyone that laughter could save the day.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1lanternA light that you can carry around
2curiousWanting to know more about something
3creakyMaking a high-pitched, old sound when moved
4cobwebsSpider webs that are old and dusty
5spiralWinding around in a circle
6sketchesSimple drawings or doodles
7mermaidsImaginary sea creatures with human upper bodies and fish tails
8snorkelsTubes used for breathing underwater
9squawkedMade a loud, harsh noise like a bird
10whirlpoolA fast, spinning water current that can be dangerous
11villagersPeople who live in a small town or village
12cheeredShouted in happiness or excitement

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Jamie bring with him to the lighthouse?

2. What did Jamie find on the walls of the lighthouse?

3. Who is Frank and what did he do when he saw Jamie?

4. What did the lantern ask Jamie to do?

5. How did Jamie help stop the dangerous whirlpool?

6. What lesson did Jamie learn from his adventure in the lighthouse?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

At the edge of Seashell Cove was an old, empty lighthouse. Inside, a strange (1)______ glowed as if it had a life of its own. The townspeople said it shined brightest when the moon was full. Jamie, a (2)______ kid, wanted to solve the mystery of this lantern.

One (3)______ day, Jamie headed to the lighthouse with a sandwich and his rubber duck, Quackers. Jamie laughed at a sign that warned about seagulls, then opened the creaky door. Inside, cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and dust floated in the air. Jamie and Quackers went up the spiral stairs, (4)______ for adventure.

When they reached the top, they saw the weirdest sketches on the walls: mermaids with (5)______ and (6)______ on roller skates! Suddenly, an old seagull named Frank flew in and squawked at Jamie. “Who’s in my lighthouse?” Jamie bravely answered, “I want to know about the lantern!” Frank grumbled but flew away.

The happy glow of the lantern (7)______ the room, and a sign next to it said, “To (8)______ a path, one must laugh.” The lantern asked Jamie to (9)______ a joke. Jamie told a funny knock-knock joke, making the lantern laugh and shine even brighter. Frank even smiled a little. Jamie learned that humor had a special power.

The lantern then warned Jamie about a dangerous whirlpool that could hurt the village. It (10)______ that only laughter could stop it. Jamie, Quackers, and Frank quickly rushed to the ocean. As they told jokes, the whirlpool calmed down and (11)______ into a peaceful pond. Jamie’s laughter had saved Seashell Cove! The villagers cheered, and from then on, the (12)______ shone brightly, reminding everyone that laughter could save the day.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite joke?

2. How would you feel if you found a glowing lantern?

3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?

4. What is a funny memory you have with your friends or family?

5. Do you think laughter can really help in scary situations? Why?

6. How would you feel if a talking animal asked you a question?

7. What is your favorite place to explore?

8. Do you think it is important to laugh every day? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. lantern
2. curious
3. creaky
4. cobwebs
5. spiral
6. sketches
7. mermaids
8. snorkels
9. squawked
10. whirlpool
11. villagers
12. cheered

Meanings:
(A) A light that you can carry around
(B) Tubes used for breathing underwater
(C) Winding around in a circle
(D) People who live in a small town or village
(E) Wanting to know more about something
(F) Shouted in happiness or excitement
(G) Imaginary sea creatures with human upper bodies and fish tails
(H) Making a high-pitched, old sound when moved
(I) A fast, spinning water current that can be dangerous
(J) Spider webs that are old and dusty
(K) Simple drawings or doodles
(L) Made a loud, harsh noise like a bird
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Jamie bring with him to the lighthouse?
(a) A book and a flashlight
(b) A sandwich and a rubber duck
(c) A fishing rod and a net
(d) A ball and a kite

2. What did the townspeople say about the lantern?
(a) It was broken and never worked
(b) It was haunted by a ghost
(c) It shined brightest when the moon was full
(d) It only shined during the day

3. Who did Jamie meet inside the lighthouse?
(a) An old seagull named Frank
(b) A friendly ghost
(c) A lost sailor
(d) A magical fish

4. What did the lantern ask Jamie to do?
(a) Sing a song
(b) Tell a joke
(c) Dance
(d) Draw a picture

5. What did Jamie learn about humor?
(a) It was not important
(b) It made people sad
(c) It was only for kids
(d) It had a special power

6. What danger did the lantern warn Jamie about?
(a) A dangerous whirlpool
(b) A giant wave
(c) A storm
(d) A shark

7. How did Jamie and his friends stop the whirlpool?
(a) By singing loudly
(b) By throwing rocks
(c) By telling jokes
(d) By swimming away

8. What did the lighthouse remind everyone of after Jamie’s adventure?
(a) That the ocean was dangerous
(b) That seagulls were annoying
(c) That the lighthouse was haunted
(d) That laughter could save the day

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The lantern in the lighthouse tells Jamie that laughter is needed to light a path and stop a dangerous whirlpool.
2. An elderly seagull named Frank strolls into the lighthouse and interrogates Jamie about why he is not there.
3. The tale unfolds in a location known as Seashell Cove, where there is a modern lighthouse.
4. Jamie brings a sandwich and a rubber duck named Quackers with him to the lighthouse.
5. Within the lighthouse, Jamie discovers ordinary drawings of seagulls and crabs on the walls.
6. Jamie, Quackers, and Frank tell jokes to calm the whirlpool, which turns into a peaceful pond.
7. After Jamie’s laughter saves the village, the lighthouse shines brightly as a reminder of the power of humor.
8. Jamie is an indifferent child who has no interest in learning about a flickering candle inside the lighthouse.
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 Jamie bring with him to the lighthouse?
Jamie brought a sandwich and his rubber duck, Quackers.

2. What did Jamie find on the walls of the lighthouse?
Jamie found weird sketches of mermaids with snorkels and octopuses on roller skates.

3. Who is Frank and what did he do when he saw Jamie?
Frank is an old seagull. When he saw Jamie, he squawked and asked who was in his lighthouse.

4. What did the lantern ask Jamie to do?
The lantern asked Jamie to tell a joke.

5. How did Jamie help stop the dangerous whirlpool?
Jamie helped stop the whirlpool by telling jokes, which made it calm down.

6. What lesson did Jamie learn from his adventure in the lighthouse?
Jamie learned that laughter has a special power and can save the day.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) lantern
(2) curious
(3) sunny
(4) ready
(5) snorkels
(6) octopuses
(7) filled
(8) light
(9) tell
(10) said
(11) turned
(12) lighthouse
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. lantern
Answer: (A) A light that you can carry around

2. curious
Answer: (E) Wanting to know more about something

3. creaky
Answer: (H) Making a high-pitched, old sound when moved

4. cobwebs
Answer: (J) Spider webs that are old and dusty

5. spiral
Answer: (C) Winding around in a circle

6. sketches
Answer: (K) Simple drawings or doodles

7. mermaids
Answer: (G) Imaginary sea creatures with human upper bodies and fish tails

8. snorkels
Answer: (B) Tubes used for breathing underwater

9. squawked
Answer: (L) Made a loud, harsh noise like a bird

10. whirlpool
Answer: (I) A fast, spinning water current that can be dangerous

11. villagers
Answer: (D) People who live in a small town or village

12. cheered
Answer: (F) Shouted in happiness or excitement
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Jamie bring with him to the lighthouse?
Answer: (b) A sandwich and a rubber duck

2. What did the townspeople say about the lantern?
Answer: (c) It shined brightest when the moon was full

3. Who did Jamie meet inside the lighthouse?
Answer: (a) An old seagull named Frank

4. What did the lantern ask Jamie to do?
Answer: (b) Tell a joke

5. What did Jamie learn about humor?
Answer: (d) It had a special power

6. What danger did the lantern warn Jamie about?
Answer: (a) A dangerous whirlpool

7. How did Jamie and his friends stop the whirlpool?
Answer: (c) By telling jokes

8. What did the lighthouse remind everyone of after Jamie’s adventure?
Answer: (d) That laughter could save the day
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The lantern in the lighthouse tells Jamie that laughter is needed to light a path and stop a dangerous whirlpool. (Answer: True)
2. An elderly seagull named Frank strolls into the lighthouse and interrogates Jamie about why he is not there. (Answer: False)
3. The tale unfolds in a location known as Seashell Cove, where there is a modern lighthouse. (Answer: False)
4. Jamie brings a sandwich and a rubber duck named Quackers with him to the lighthouse. (Answer: True)
5. Within the lighthouse, Jamie discovers ordinary drawings of seagulls and crabs on the walls. (Answer: False)
6. Jamie, Quackers, and Frank tell jokes to calm the whirlpool, which turns into a peaceful pond. (Answer: True)
7. After Jamie’s laughter saves the village, the lighthouse shines brightly as a reminder of the power of humor. (Answer: True)
8. Jamie is an indifferent child who has no interest in learning about a flickering candle inside the lighthouse. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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The Marshmallow Mountains

Lily goes to the Marshmallow Mountains and meets animals who help her find a secret recipe for everlasting marshmallows.

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