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 Little Ghost Who Was Afraid of the Dark

Casper the Fearless ghost inspires his friends to conquer their fears and embrace the darkness.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical forest, there was a small ghost called Casper who was scared of the dark. This was a big problem because ghosts usually like the dark. Casper would hide when it was dark and his ghost friends made fun of him, calling him “Casper the Cowardly Ghost.” Even when they tried to help him, Casper still thought the dark was too scary.

One night, Casper met a bright firefly named Sparkle. Sparkle loved the dark and told Casper about all the cool things she saw at night. Casper decided to be brave and go with Sparkle to see what the dark was really like.

Casper and Sparkle had great adventures at night. They saw awesome things in caves and the night sky. Casper began to enjoy the dark and see it was beautiful. His fear slowly changed into a love for the night and all its secrets.

Casper became known for being brave and his ghost friends were surprised. They wanted to know how he stopped being scared. Casper told all the ghosts his story and encouraged them to face their own fears.

Following Casper’s lead, all the ghosts decided to explore the dark together. They found that they loved the dark too and had a lot of fun. They learned that being brave with friends can help everyone be less scared. From that time on, Casper was called “Casper the Fearless,” and everyone remembered that courage can make fears disappear.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that is like a fairy tale or has special powers
2cowardlyBeing afraid and not having much bravery
3adventuresExciting experiences or journeys
4awesomeReally amazing and cool
5cavesBig holes in the ground or under a hill where you can go inside
6encouragedGave someone the hope or confidence to do something
7fearlessNot afraid at all
8courageBeing brave and able to face difficult things
9secretsThings that are hidden or not known by many people
10exploreTo look around a place carefully to see what is there
11brightShining with a lot of light
12slowlyHappening or moving in a way that is not fast

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What is Casper scared of?
3. What did Casper’s ghost friends call him?
4. Who did Casper meet one night?
5. What did Casper and Sparkle see on their adventures at night?
6. How did Casper’s ghost friends feel after hearing his story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical forest, there was a small ghost (1)______ Casper who was scared of the (2)______. This was a big problem because ghosts usually like the dark. Casper would hide when it was dark and his ghost friends made fun of him, calling him “Casper the Cowardly (3)______.” Even when they tried to help him, Casper still thought the dark was too scary.

One (4)______, Casper met a bright firefly named (5)______. Sparkle loved the dark and told Casper about all the cool (6)______ she saw at night. Casper decided to be brave and go with Sparkle to see what the dark was really like.

Casper and Sparkle had great adventures at night. They saw awesome things in caves and the night sky. Casper began to enjoy the dark and see it was (7)______. His fear slowly changed into a love for the night and all its secrets.

(8)______ became known for being brave and his ghost friends were surprised. They wanted to know how he stopped being scared. Casper told all the ghosts his story and encouraged them to (9)______ their own fears.

Following Casper’s lead, all the ghosts (10)______ to explore the dark together. They found that they loved the dark too and had a lot of fun. They learned that being brave with friends can (11)______ everyone be less scared. From that time on, Casper was called “Casper the Fearless,” and everyone (12)______ that courage can make fears disappear.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a ghost?
2. How would you feel if your friends made fun of you?
3. Do you like the dark? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Casper saw when he went with Sparkle at night?
5. How do you think Casper’s ghost friends felt when they saw him being brave?
6. What is something you are scared of? How do you think you could face that fear?
7. Do you think it’s important to have friends when you’re scared? Why or why not?
8. Why do you think Casper’s name changed to “Casper the Fearless”?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. cowardly
3. adventures
4. awesome
5. caves
6. encouraged
7. fearless
8. courage
9. secrets
10. explore
11. bright
12. slowly

Meanings:
(A) Not afraid at all
(B) Happening or moving in a way that is not fast
(C) Really amazing and cool
(D) Big holes in the ground or under a hill where you can go inside
(E) Shining with a lot of light
(F) Exciting experiences or journeys
(G) Being brave and able to face difficult things
(H) Something that is like a fairy tale or has special powers
(I) Things that are hidden or not known by many people
(J) Gave someone the hope or confidence to do something
(K) Being afraid and not having much bravery
(L) To look around a place carefully to see what is there
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the problem that Casper had?
(a) He couldn’t fly
(b) He didn’t have any friends
(c) He was scared of the dark
(d) He was too small

2. Who did Casper meet one night?
(a) Charlie the cat
(b) Sparkle the firefly
(c) Oscar the owl
(d) Bella the bat

3. What did Casper’s ghost friends call him?
(a) Casper the Cowardly Ghost
(b) Casper the Brave Ghost
(c) Casper the Funny Ghost
(d) Casper the Friendly Ghost

4. What did Sparkle love?
(a) The light
(b) The rain
(c) The dark
(d) The sun

5. What did Casper and Sparkle see in caves?
(a) Scary monsters
(b) Boring rocks
(c) Shiny treasures
(d) Awesome things

6. How did Casper’s fear change?
(a) It got worse and worse
(b) It disappeared completely
(c) It made him run away
(d) It turned into a love for the dark

7. How did Casper’s ghost friends react when they saw him being brave?
(a) They were jealous
(b) They were surprised
(c) They were angry
(d) They were scared

8. What did Casper encourage his ghost friends to do?
(a) Face their own fears
(b) Hide in the dark
(c) Make fun of him
(d) Stay away from the night sky

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Casper starts to enjoy the dark and realizes it is beautiful, changing his fear into a love for the night.
2. Casper chooses to be scared and declines Sparkle’s offer to explore the dark.
3. All the ghosts decide to avoid the dark and stay in groups, realizing that facing their fears alone is the best way to overcome them.
4. Casper is a ghost who is afraid of the dark, which is unusual for ghosts.
5. Casper’s ghost friends make fun of him and call him “Casper the Cowardly Ghost.”
6. Casper and Sparkle have boring nights and witness mundane things in caves and the night sky.
7. Casper encounters a firefly named Sparkle who despises the dark and complains about the creepy things she sees at night.
8. Casper shares his story with his ghost friends and encourages them to face their own fears.
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 is the main character in the story?
Casper is the main character in the story.

2. What is Casper scared of?
Casper is scared of the dark.

3. What did Casper’s ghost friends call him?
Casper’s ghost friends called him “Casper the Cowardly Ghost.”

4. Who did Casper meet one night?
Casper met a bright firefly named Sparkle one night.

5. What did Casper and Sparkle see on their adventures at night?
Casper and Sparkle saw awesome things in caves and the night sky on their adventures at night.

6. How did Casper’s ghost friends feel after hearing his story?
Casper’s ghost friends felt surprised after hearing his story, and they decided to explore the dark together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) dark
(3) Ghost
(4) night
(5) Sparkle
(6) things
(7) beautiful
(8) Casper
(9) face
(10) decided
(11) help
(12) remembered
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (H) Something that is like a fairy tale or has special powers

2. cowardly
Answer: (K) Being afraid and not having much bravery

3. adventures
Answer: (F) Exciting experiences or journeys

4. awesome
Answer: (C) Really amazing and cool

5. caves
Answer: (D) Big holes in the ground or under a hill where you can go inside

6. encouraged
Answer: (J) Gave someone the hope or confidence to do something

7. fearless
Answer: (A) Not afraid at all

8. courage
Answer: (G) Being brave and able to face difficult things

9. secrets
Answer: (I) Things that are hidden or not known by many people

10. explore
Answer: (L) To look around a place carefully to see what is there

11. bright
Answer: (E) Shining with a lot of light

12. slowly
Answer: (B) Happening or moving in a way that is not fast
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the problem that Casper had?
Answer: (c) He was scared of the dark

2. Who did Casper meet one night?
Answer: (b) Sparkle the firefly

3. What did Casper’s ghost friends call him?
Answer: (a) Casper the Cowardly Ghost

4. What did Sparkle love?
Answer: (c) The dark

5. What did Casper and Sparkle see in caves?
Answer: (d) Awesome things

6. How did Casper’s fear change?
Answer: (d) It turned into a love for the dark

7. How did Casper’s ghost friends react when they saw him being brave?
Answer: (b) They were surprised

8. What did Casper encourage his ghost friends to do?
Answer: (a) Face their own fears
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Casper starts to enjoy the dark and realizes it is beautiful, changing his fear into a love for the night. (Answer: True)
2. Casper chooses to be scared and declines Sparkle’s offer to explore the dark. (Answer: False)
3. All the ghosts decide to avoid the dark and stay in groups, realizing that facing their fears alone is the best way to overcome them. (Answer: False)
4. Casper is a ghost who is afraid of the dark, which is unusual for ghosts. (Answer: True)
5. Casper’s ghost friends make fun of him and call him “Casper the Cowardly Ghost.” (Answer: True)
6. Casper and Sparkle have boring nights and witness mundane things in caves and the night sky. (Answer: False)
7. Casper encounters a firefly named Sparkle who despises the dark and complains about the creepy things she sees at night. (Answer: False)
8. Casper shares his story with his ghost friends and encourages them to face their own fears. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Humphrey the Hippogriff embarks on a quest to cure his hiccups and discovers the power of laughter.

The Hiccuping Hippogriff

Humphrey the Hippogriff had a big problem – he couldn’t stop hiccupping! He asked wise animals for help, but nothing worked. Then, a unicorn named Luna told him to laugh, and it actually worked! Humphrey learned that laughter can fix things and make others happy too.

A jolly jellyfish named Finley gets lost in the deep sea but finds new friends along the way.

The Jolly Jellyfish

Finley the jellyfish gets lost in a storm, but makes new friends and finds his way back home.

The broken letterbox becomes a source of laughter and connection as the townsfolk turn it into an interactive game for a mischievous squirrel named Nutkin.

The Broken Letterbox

In a town called Blossomville, the letterbox broke and everyone got worried. They made puzzles for a squirrel named Nutkin to fix it, and it turned into a fun adventure.

Feedback