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 Crystal Cavern

Oliver uncovers a magical map, leading him and a mischievous squirrel to unexpected adventures.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a busy village called Whimsy Woods, a boy named Oliver found an old map in his attic. It said “Crystal Cavern” in shiny letters. Excited, he packed snacks and started his adventure.

In the woods, trees whispered, and birds cheered. After walking for hours, Oliver found the cavern hidden by shiny vines. A playful squirrel appeared and wanted to join. Oliver agreed, saying he had the map.

Inside the cavern, it sparkled like stars. A loud voice asked, “Who is here?” A fluffy creature named Glimmer appeared and said Oliver must answer a riddle. Oliver was nervous but determined.

The riddle was, “I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. What am I?” Oliver guessed, “The sun!” Glimmer laughed and let them explore. They found a shining pool, and the squirrel jumped in. A tiny fish with a crown popped out and offered one wish.

Oliver wished for a feast in the village. The fish granted the wish, and delicious food appeared in the village square. Everyone celebrated, and Oliver shared his adventure. The village learned that curiosity and friendship lead to wonderful discoveries.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1atticA space or room just below the roof of a house, often used for storage
2adventureAn exciting or unusual experience
3whisperedSpoke very softly
4cavernA large cave or underground chamber
5playfulFull of fun and wanting to play
6determinedHaving made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it
7riddleA puzzling question or problem that needs to be solved
8feastA large meal with many different types of food
9celebratedShowed happiness or joy, often with a party
10curiosityA strong desire to know or learn something
11discoveriesThings that are found or learned about for the first time
12grantedGave or allowed something to happen

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Oliver find in his attic?
2. What did Oliver pack for his adventure?
3. Who joined Oliver on his journey to the Crystal Cavern?
4. What did Oliver see inside the cavern that sparkled?
5. What was the riddle that Glimmer asked Oliver?
6. What did Oliver wish for when he met the tiny fish?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a busy village called Whimsy (1)______, a boy named Oliver found an old map in his attic. It said “Crystal Cavern” in shiny (2)______. Excited, he packed snacks and started his adventure.

In the woods, trees (3)______, and birds cheered. After walking for hours, Oliver found the cavern hidden by shiny vines. A playful (4)______ appeared and wanted to join. Oliver agreed, (5)______ he had the map.

Inside the cavern, it sparkled like stars. A loud voice asked, “Who is here?” A fluffy creature (6)______ Glimmer appeared and said Oliver must answer a (7)______. Oliver was nervous but determined.

The riddle was, “I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. What am I?” Oliver guessed, “The sun!” Glimmer laughed and let them explore. They found a shining pool, and the squirrel jumped in. A tiny (8)______ with a crown (9)______ out and offered one wish.

Oliver wished for a feast in the (10)______. The fish granted the wish, and delicious food appeared in the village square. Everyone celebrated, and Oliver shared his adventure. The village learned that curiosity and friendship (11)______ to (12)______ discoveries.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite adventure you have ever had?

2. How would you feel if you found an old map like Oliver did?

3. Do you like exploring new places? Why or why not?

4. What do you think is more important: friendship or adventure? Why?

5. Have you ever had a pet like the squirrel in the story? What was it like?

6. How would you feel if you had to answer a riddle to go somewhere special?

7. If you could make one wish like Oliver did, what would it be?

8. Do you think curiosity is important? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. attic
2. adventure
3. whispered
4. cavern
5. playful
6. determined
7. riddle
8. feast
9. celebrated
10. curiosity
11. discoveries
12. granted

Meanings:
(A) A puzzling question or problem that needs to be solved
(B) A large cave or underground chamber
(C) A large meal with many different types of food
(D) Full of fun and wanting to play
(E) A strong desire to know or learn something
(F) A space or room just below the roof of a house, often used for storage
(G) Things that are found or learned about for the first time
(H) Spoke very softly
(I) Showed happiness or joy, often with a party
(J) An exciting or unusual experience
(K) Gave or allowed something to happen
(L) Having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Oliver find in his attic?
(a) An old map
(b) A treasure chest
(c) A diary
(d) A toy

2. What was written on the map?
(a) Hidden Treasure
(b) Crystal Cavern
(c) Secret Garden
(d) Magic Forest

3. What kind of animal joined Oliver on his adventure?
(a) A squirrel
(b) A rabbit
(c) A bird
(d) A fox

4. What did Oliver have to answer to enter the cavern?
(a) A password
(b) A question
(c) A riddle
(d) A challenge

5. What was the riddle that Oliver had to solve?
(a) “What has keys but can’t open locks?”
(b) “What has a heart but no other organs?”
(c) “What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?”
(d) “I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. What am I?”

6. What did the tiny fish offer Oliver?
(a) A treasure
(b) A secret
(c) One wish
(d) A friend

7. What did Oliver wish for?
(a) A new map
(b) A feast in the village
(c) A pet squirrel
(d) A magical adventure

8. What lesson did the village learn from Oliver’s adventure?
(a) Always follow the map
(b) Squirrels are good friends
(c) Riddles are fun to solve
(d) Curiosity and friendship lead to wonderful discoveries

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Oliver found an old map in his attic that led to a place called Crystal Cavern.
2. The riddle that Glimmer asked was about something that flies without wings and cries without eyes.
3. After solving the riddle, Oliver and the squirrel discovered a shining pool inside the cavern.
4. Oliver wished for a famine in the village, and the wish was denied by a tiny fish with a crown.
5. Outside the cavern, there was a fierce creature named Glimmer who asked Oliver a riddle.
6. A playful squirrel joined Oliver on his adventure to the cavern.
7. Oliver guessed the answer to the riddle was “the moon.”
8. The village where Oliver lived is called Mystic Meadows.
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 Oliver find in his attic?
Oliver found an old map.

2. What did Oliver pack for his adventure?
Oliver packed snacks.

3. Who joined Oliver on his journey to the Crystal Cavern?
A playful squirrel joined Oliver.

4. What did Oliver see inside the cavern that sparkled?
Inside the cavern, it sparkled like stars.

5. What was the riddle that Glimmer asked Oliver?
The riddle was, “I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. What am I?”

6. What did Oliver wish for when he met the tiny fish?
Oliver wished for a feast in the village.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Woods
(2) letters
(3) whispered
(4) squirrel
(5) saying
(6) named
(7) riddle
(8) fish
(9) popped
(10) village
(11) lead
(12) wonderful
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. attic
Answer: (F) A space or room just below the roof of a house, often used for storage

2. adventure
Answer: (J) An exciting or unusual experience

3. whispered
Answer: (H) Spoke very softly

4. cavern
Answer: (B) A large cave or underground chamber

5. playful
Answer: (D) Full of fun and wanting to play

6. determined
Answer: (L) Having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it

7. riddle
Answer: (A) A puzzling question or problem that needs to be solved

8. feast
Answer: (C) A large meal with many different types of food

9. celebrated
Answer: (I) Showed happiness or joy, often with a party

10. curiosity
Answer: (E) A strong desire to know or learn something

11. discoveries
Answer: (G) Things that are found or learned about for the first time

12. granted
Answer: (K) Gave or allowed something to happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Oliver find in his attic?
Answer: (a) An old map

2. What was written on the map?
Answer: (b) Crystal Cavern

3. What kind of animal joined Oliver on his adventure?
Answer: (a) A squirrel

4. What did Oliver have to answer to enter the cavern?
Answer: (c) A riddle

5. What was the riddle that Oliver had to solve?
Answer: (d) “I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. What am I?”

6. What did the tiny fish offer Oliver?
Answer: (c) One wish

7. What did Oliver wish for?
Answer: (b) A feast in the village

8. What lesson did the village learn from Oliver’s adventure?
Answer: (d) Curiosity and friendship lead to wonderful discoveries
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Oliver found an old map in his attic that led to a place called Crystal Cavern. (Answer: True)
2. The riddle that Glimmer asked was about something that flies without wings and cries without eyes. (Answer: True)
3. After solving the riddle, Oliver and the squirrel discovered a shining pool inside the cavern. (Answer: True)
4. Oliver wished for a famine in the village, and the wish was denied by a tiny fish with a crown. (Answer: False)
5. Outside the cavern, there was a fierce creature named Glimmer who asked Oliver a riddle. (Answer: False)
6. A playful squirrel joined Oliver on his adventure to the cavern. (Answer: True)
7. Oliver guessed the answer to the riddle was “the moon.” (Answer: False)
8. The village where Oliver lived is called Mystic Meadows. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A dragon overcomes the challenge of losing his voice by using enchanted invitations for his birthday party.

The Dragon’s Birthday

Sparkle the dragon couldn’t talk, but he found a clever way to invite his friends to his birthday party.

A young boy named Milo solves the mystery of the missing moon with the help of woodland creatures.

The Mystery of the Missing Moon

One night, the moon disappeared in Sunfield, and Milo wanted to find out where it went. He discovered that the animals in Dark Forest had hidden it while playing a game, so he and his new friend Oliver the owl gathered everyone to search for it. Finally, they found the moon and put it back in the sky, teaching everyone the power of teamwork and friendship.

A lonely turtle named Timothy embarks on an adventure to find friends and discovers a hidden cove.

The Lonely Turtle

Timothy the turtle was sad because he didn’t have any friends to play with. But one day, he found a magical compass that could help him find friends. Timothy followed the compass on an exciting adventure and eventually found a group of turtles who welcomed him with open arms. Now, Timothy is no longer lonely because he has found friends who like him for who he is.

Peter the mischievous penguin learns the importance of bringing joy to others through a grand party.

The Playful Penguin’s Party

Peter the penguin loves throwing parties, but he forgot the music – luckily, his friend Sammy the seal helps him out and they have the best party ever!

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