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 Legend of the Phantom Ship

Three friends discover the truth behind the Phantom Ship, finding laughter and friendship instead of fear.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In the fishing village of Windy Cove, there was a spooky story about a Phantom Ship. At night, this glowing ship would appear, and some fishermen said they heard strange laughter coming from it. Kids loved talking about Captain McGuffin, a playful ghost who liked to prank people. They often gathered at the dock, hoping to see the ship.

One stormy night, three friends—Tommy, Bella, and Max—decided to find out if the legend was true. They took a telescope, a big flashlight, and a pie Bella had made. Bella thought they could make peace with Captain McGuffin using the pie. They were excited and set off into the fog, ready for an adventure.

When they got to the dock, they saw a strange light in the fog. They looked closer and saw the Phantom Ship with old sails. A ghostly figure appeared, waving his arms. It was Captain McGuffin! But he looked more like a confused old man than a scary ghost.

“Hello, kids!” shouted the captain. He said he was just looking for his missing sock. The kids laughed and gave him Bella’s pie. Captain McGuffin was very happy and called the pie a treasure. They all sat together, sharing the pie and telling jokes.

Captain McGuffin told them he sailed looking for treasures but found something better: friends, laughter, and treats. The Phantom Ship roamed to find someone to share these with. He gave each kid a silver coin for good luck and reminded them that the best treasures are the friends you make. The friends waved goodbye, now with a fun story about friendship and laughter to share.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1PhantomA ghost or spirit
2SpookyScary or creepy
3PrankA trick or joke played on someone
4TelescopeA tool to see things far away
5FogThick mist that makes it hard to see
6SailsLarge pieces of cloth on a ship that catch the wind
7ConfusedNot sure what is happening
8TreasureSomething very valuable or precious
9RoamedMoved around without a specific direction
10SilverA shiny, grayish-white metal
11LegendA traditional story or myth
12AdventureAn exciting and unusual experience

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the spooky story about in the fishing village of Windy Cove?
2. Who are the three friends that wanted to find out if the legend was true?
3. What did Bella bring with her to the dock for Captain McGuffin?
4. How did Captain McGuffin look when he appeared to the kids?
5. What did Captain McGuffin say he was looking for?
6. What important lesson did Captain McGuffin share with the kids at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In the fishing village of Windy (1)______, there was a spooky story about a Phantom Ship. At night, this glowing ship would appear, and some fishermen (2)______ they heard strange laughter coming from it. Kids loved talking about Captain McGuffin, a playful ghost who liked to (3)______ people. They often gathered at the dock, hoping to see the ship.

One stormy night, three friends—Tommy, Bella, and Max—decided to find out if the (4)______ was true. They took a telescope, a big flashlight, and a pie Bella had (5)______. Bella thought they could (6)______ peace with Captain McGuffin using the pie. They were excited and set off into the fog, ready for an adventure.

When they got to the dock, they saw a strange light in the fog. They looked closer and saw the Phantom Ship with old sails. A (7)______ figure appeared, waving his arms. It was Captain McGuffin! But he looked more like a confused old man than a scary ghost.

“Hello, (8)______!” (9)______ the captain. He said he was just looking for his missing sock. The kids laughed and gave him Bella’s pie. Captain McGuffin was very happy and called the pie a treasure. They all sat together, sharing the pie and telling jokes.

Captain McGuffin told them he sailed looking for treasures but found something better: friends, laughter, and treats. The Phantom (10)______ roamed to find someone to share these with. He gave each kid a silver (11)______ for (12)______ luck and reminded them that the best treasures are the friends you make. The friends waved goodbye, now with a fun story about friendship and laughter to share.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite story about a ghost or a spooky adventure?

2. How would you feel if you saw a ghost like Captain McGuffin? Why?

3. Do you like to go on adventures with your friends? Why or why not?

4. What do you think makes a good friend?

5. How would you react if you found a treasure like the silver coins?

6. Do you think it’s fun to tell jokes and share food with friends? Why?

7. What is a special treat you would share with a ghost?

8. How would you feel if you had a magical ship that could take you anywhere? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Phantom
2. Spooky
3. Prank
4. Telescope
5. Fog
6. Sails
7. Confused
8. Treasure
9. Roamed
10. Silver
11. Legend
12. Adventure

Meanings:
(A) Large pieces of cloth on a ship that catch the wind
(B) A shiny, grayish-white metal
(C) Not sure what is happening
(D) Scary or creepy
(E) A trick or joke played on someone
(F) Something very valuable or precious
(G) A tool to see things far away
(H) A ghost or spirit
(I) Thick mist that makes it hard to see
(J) A traditional story or myth
(K) An exciting and unusual experience
(L) Moved around without a specific direction
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the village where the story takes place?
(a) Sunny Bay
(b) Misty Harbor
(c) Stormy Beach
(d) Windy Cove

2. Who are the three friends in the story?
(a) Jack, Lily, and Sam
(b) Alex, Emma, and Noah
(c) Tommy, Bella, and Max
(d) Charlie, Mia, and Ethan

3. What did Bella bring with her on the adventure?
(a) A sandwich
(b) A cake
(c) A pie
(d) Cookies

4. What did the kids see when they arrived at the dock?
(a) The Phantom Ship
(b) A fishing boat
(c) A lighthouse
(d) A treasure chest

5. What was Captain McGuffin looking for?
(a) His lost treasure
(b) His missing sock
(c) His ship’s map
(d) His fishing rod

6. How did the kids feel when they met Captain McGuffin?
(a) They laughed
(b) They were scared
(c) They were angry
(d) They were confused

7. What did Captain McGuffin call the pie?
(a) A snack
(b) A treasure
(c) A meal
(d) A dessert

8. What did Captain McGuffin give to each kid?
(a) A gold coin
(b) A piece of treasure
(c) A magic charm
(d) A silver coin

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. There is a rumor about a creepy Phantom Ship that appears at night.
2. When they meet Captain McGuffin, he is looking for his missing sock.
3. The kids share Bella’s pie with Captain McGuffin, and he calls it a treasure.
4. Bella brings a cake to offer to Captain McGuffin in hopes of making peace.
5. Captain McGuffin is a mischievous ghost who enjoys pranking people.
6. The story takes place in a fishing village called Windy Cove.
7. Captain McGuffin gives each child a silver coin and teaches them that friendship is the best treasure.
8. Three friends named Tommy, Bella, and Max decide to explore the legend of the Phantom Ship.
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 is the spooky story about in the fishing village of Windy Cove?
The spooky story is about a Phantom Ship that appears at night and has a ghost named Captain McGuffin.

2. Who are the three friends that wanted to find out if the legend was true?
The three friends are Tommy, Bella, and Max.

3. What did Bella bring with her to the dock for Captain McGuffin?
Bella brought a pie she had made for Captain McGuffin.

4. How did Captain McGuffin look when he appeared to the kids?
Captain McGuffin looked like a confused old man, not a scary ghost.

5. What did Captain McGuffin say he was looking for?
Captain McGuffin said he was looking for his missing sock.

6. What important lesson did Captain McGuffin share with the kids at the end of the story?
Captain McGuffin shared that the best treasures are friends, laughter, and treats.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Cove
(2) said
(3) prank
(4) legend
(5) made
(6) make
(7) ghostly
(8) kids
(9) shouted
(10) Ship
(11) coin
(12) good
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Phantom
Answer: (H) A ghost or spirit

2. Spooky
Answer: (D) Scary or creepy

3. Prank
Answer: (E) A trick or joke played on someone

4. Telescope
Answer: (G) A tool to see things far away

5. Fog
Answer: (I) Thick mist that makes it hard to see

6. Sails
Answer: (A) Large pieces of cloth on a ship that catch the wind

7. Confused
Answer: (C) Not sure what is happening

8. Treasure
Answer: (F) Something very valuable or precious

9. Roamed
Answer: (L) Moved around without a specific direction

10. Silver
Answer: (B) A shiny, grayish-white metal

11. Legend
Answer: (J) A traditional story or myth

12. Adventure
Answer: (K) An exciting and unusual experience
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the village where the story takes place?
Answer: (d) Windy Cove

2. Who are the three friends in the story?
Answer: (c) Tommy, Bella, and Max

3. What did Bella bring with her on the adventure?
Answer: (c) A pie

4. What did the kids see when they arrived at the dock?
Answer: (a) The Phantom Ship

5. What was Captain McGuffin looking for?
Answer: (b) His missing sock

6. How did the kids feel when they met Captain McGuffin?
Answer: (a) They laughed

7. What did Captain McGuffin call the pie?
Answer: (b) A treasure

8. What did Captain McGuffin give to each kid?
Answer: (d) A silver coin
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. There is a rumor about a creepy Phantom Ship that appears at night. (Answer: False)
2. When they meet Captain McGuffin, he is looking for his missing sock. (Answer: True)
3. The kids share Bella’s pie with Captain McGuffin, and he calls it a treasure. (Answer: True)
4. Bella brings a cake to offer to Captain McGuffin in hopes of making peace. (Answer: False)
5. Captain McGuffin is a mischievous ghost who enjoys pranking people. (Answer: False)
6. The story takes place in a fishing village called Windy Cove. (Answer: True)
7. Captain McGuffin gives each child a silver coin and teaches them that friendship is the best treasure. (Answer: True)
8. Three friends named Tommy, Bella, and Max decide to explore the legend of the Phantom Ship. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Jasper's jungle journey teaches him the power of curiosity, kindness, and embracing diversity.

Jasper’s Jungle Journey

Jasper went on an amazing adventure in the Amazon jungle, where he saw cool animals, helped a sloth, and danced with new friends.

Embarking on a magical adventure in Vegetable Land, Max discovers that vegetables are superheroes in disguise.

The Voyage to Vegetable Land

Max, a boy who hated vegetables, went on an adventure to Vegetable Land and met talking veggies who changed his mind about healthy food.

Four friends embark on a magical adventure, only to discover that the real treasure is their friendship.

The Four Leaf Clover Quest

Four friends go on an adventure to find a special clover that grants wishes, but learn that friendship is the real magic.

Three friendly ghosts bring joy and laughter to a lonely boy, teaching him the power of true friendship.

The Three Friendly Ghosts

Three friendly ghosts named Casper, Jasper, and Hester meet a sad boy named Timmy and become his secret friends, playing tricks and having fun adventures together, teaching Timmy the importance of friendship and spreading joy to others.

Feedback