Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

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The Secret of the Sunken Ship

Emma, Jack, and Lily, the village's best detectives, discover a mysterious map leading to buried treasure.

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In a small village by the sea, there were three kids named Emma, Jack, and Lily who loved to solve mysteries. One day, while exploring a cave on the beach, they found a map that showed where a treasure was on a sunken ship. They got super excited and decided to go on a big adventure to find it.

They jumped into a colorful blow-up boat with their detective stuff and snacks and sailed off. They saw lots of colorful fish in the water. But then, a big storm came and made huge waves. They worked together and made it to an empty island, even though it was tough.

Tired but still wanting to find the treasure, the kids looked all over the island. They found a secret tunnel and went inside. It was dark, and their voices echoed. They ran into a bunch of bats and tried to get them to go away. They still wanted to find that sunken ship more than anything.

Deep in the tunnel, they found a very old journal from a pirate. It had a hint about where the treasure was, saying it was under a “fiery mountain.” They remembered an island with a volcano and thought it must be the place. They quickly went back to the boat to find it.

They got to the volcano island just in time because the volcano almost erupted! They dug for hours, had mud fights, and found the treasure under a big, green rock. It was full of gold coins! They were so happy and decided to use the money to build something for everyone in the village. They learned that working together and sharing are super important. Emma, Jack, and Lily became village heroes, showing that the best treasures are friendship and giving.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1villageA small town or community, usually in the countryside
2exploringLooking around a place to discover new things
3adventureAn exciting and sometimes dangerous experience
4stormA bad weather condition with a lot of wind and rain
5toughHard to do or deal with
6tunnelA long underground passage that you can walk or drive through
7echoedWhen sounds bounce off walls and you hear them again
8journalA book where someone writes down their thoughts or what happens each day
9fieryBurning or looking like fire
10eruptedWhen a volcano explodes and lava comes out
11treasureA collection of valuable things like gold, silver, or jewels
12heroesPeople who are admired for doing something very brave or great

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the three kids that loved to solve mysteries?
2. What did the kids find in the cave on the beach?
3. What happened to the kids when they were sailing?
4. What did the kids find on the empty island?
5. What did the kids find in the secret tunnel?
6. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure they found?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village by the sea, there were three kids named Emma, Jack, and Lily who loved to solve mysteries. One day, while exploring a cave on the beach, they found a map that showed where a treasure was on a sunken ship. They got super excited and decided to go on a big (1)______ to find it.

They jumped into a colorful blow-up boat with their detective stuff and (2)______ and (3)______ off. They saw lots of colorful (4)______ in the water. But then, a big storm came and made huge waves. They worked together and made it to an empty island, even though it was tough.

Tired but still wanting to find the treasure, the kids looked all over the island. They found a secret tunnel and went inside. It was dark, and their voices echoed. They ran into a (5)______ of (6)______ and tried to get them to go away. They still wanted to find that (7)______ ship more than anything.

Deep in the (8)______, they found a very old journal from a pirate. It had a hint about where the treasure was, saying it was under a “fiery mountain.” They remembered an island with a (9)______ and thought it must be the place. They quickly went back to the boat to find it.

They got to the volcano island just in time because the volcano almost (10)______! They dug for hours, had mud fights, and found the treasure under a big, green (11)______. It was full of gold coins! They were so happy and decided to use the money to build something for everyone in the village. They learned that working together and sharing are super important. Emma, Jack, and Lily became village heroes, showing that the (12)______ treasures are friendship and giving.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a treasure? Why do you think people like to find treasures?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret tunnel? Why?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the kids learned from their big adventure? Why is working together important?
5. Have you ever seen a volcano? What was it like? Would you like to visit a volcano? Why or why not?
6. Do you think it’s important to share with others? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you found a journal from a pirate? Why?
8. What would you do if you found a treasure full of gold coins? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. exploring
3. adventure
4. storm
5. tough
6. tunnel
7. echoed
8. journal
9. fiery
10. erupted
11. treasure
12. heroes

Meanings:
(A) An exciting and sometimes dangerous experience
(B) Hard to do or deal with
(C) A book where someone writes down their thoughts or what happens each day
(D) A small town or community, usually in the countryside
(E) When sounds bounce off walls and you hear them again
(F) A long underground passage that you can walk or drive through
(G) People who are admired for doing something very brave or great
(H) When a volcano explodes and lava comes out
(I) Burning or looking like fire
(J) Looking around a place to discover new things
(K) A collection of valuable things like gold, silver, or jewels
(L) A bad weather condition with a lot of wind and rain
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the kids find in the cave on the beach?
(a) Shells and rocks
(b) Seaweed and fish
(c) A map to a treasure
(d) A message in a bottle

2. How did the kids get to the empty island?
(a) They swam across the water
(b) They sailed on a blow-up boat
(c) They flew on a helicopter
(d) They walked on a bridge

3. What did the kids find inside the secret tunnel?
(a) A hidden treasure chest
(b) A bunch of bats
(c) An old journal from a pirate
(d) A secret door to another island

4. Where did the kids think the treasure was located?
(a) On an island with a volcano
(b) Underneath a big tree
(c) Inside a hidden cave
(d) In the middle of the ocean

5. What almost happened to the volcano on the island?
(a) It almost disappeared
(b) It almost erupted
(c) It almost turned into ice
(d) It almost became a waterfall

6. What did the kids find under a big, green rock?
(a) A secret message from the pirate
(b) A hidden passage to another island
(c) A magical potion that grants wishes
(d) A treasure full of gold coins

7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure?
(a) Use the money to build something for everyone in the village
(b) Keep it all for themselves
(c) Donate it to a museum
(d) Bury it back in the cave

8. What did the kids learn from their adventure?
(a) The best treasures are gold and jewels
(b) Exploring caves is dangerous
(c) Pirates are always looking for treasure
(d) Working together and sharing are important

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They dug for hours and found the treasure under a big, green rock.
2. They found a recent journal from a pirate that hinted at the treasure’s location.
3. The kids sailed on a wooden boat and saw dull fish in the water.
4. The kids went to a volcano island and narrowly avoided an eruption.
5. They went on an adventure to find the treasure on a sunken ship.
6. Emma, Jack, and Lily found a treasure map in a cave by the cliff.
7. The kids discovered a secret tunnel on the island and encountered dolphins.
8. They encountered a big storm and made it to an empty island.
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 were the three kids that loved to solve mysteries?
Emma, Jack, and Lily were the three kids that loved to solve mysteries.

2. What did the kids find in the cave on the beach?
The kids found a map that showed where a treasure was on a sunken ship in the cave on the beach.

3. What happened to the kids when they were sailing?
A big storm came and made huge waves while the kids were sailing.

4. What did the kids find on the empty island?
The kids found a secret tunnel on the empty island.

5. What did the kids find in the secret tunnel?
The kids found a very old journal from a pirate in the secret tunnel.

6. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure they found?
The kids decided to use the money from the treasure to build something for everyone in the village.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) adventure
(2) snacks
(3) sailed
(4) fish
(5) bunch
(6) bats
(7) sunken
(8) tunnel
(9) volcano
(10) erupted
(11) rock
(12) best
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (D) A small town or community, usually in the countryside

2. exploring
Answer: (J) Looking around a place to discover new things

3. adventure
Answer: (A) An exciting and sometimes dangerous experience

4. storm
Answer: (L) A bad weather condition with a lot of wind and rain

5. tough
Answer: (B) Hard to do or deal with

6. tunnel
Answer: (F) A long underground passage that you can walk or drive through

7. echoed
Answer: (E) When sounds bounce off walls and you hear them again

8. journal
Answer: (C) A book where someone writes down their thoughts or what happens each day

9. fiery
Answer: (I) Burning or looking like fire

10. erupted
Answer: (H) When a volcano explodes and lava comes out

11. treasure
Answer: (K) A collection of valuable things like gold, silver, or jewels

12. heroes
Answer: (G) People who are admired for doing something very brave or great
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the kids find in the cave on the beach?
Answer: (c) A map to a treasure

2. How did the kids get to the empty island?
Answer: (b) They sailed on a blow-up boat

3. What did the kids find inside the secret tunnel?
Answer: (c) An old journal from a pirate

4. Where did the kids think the treasure was located?
Answer: (a) On an island with a volcano

5. What almost happened to the volcano on the island?
Answer: (b) It almost erupted

6. What did the kids find under a big, green rock?
Answer: (d) A treasure full of gold coins

7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure?
Answer: (a) Use the money to build something for everyone in the village

8. What did the kids learn from their adventure?
Answer: (d) Working together and sharing are important
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They dug for hours and found the treasure under a big, green rock. (Answer: True)
2. They found a recent journal from a pirate that hinted at the treasure’s location. (Answer: False)
3. The kids sailed on a wooden boat and saw dull fish in the water. (Answer: False)
4. The kids went to a volcano island and narrowly avoided an eruption. (Answer: True)
5. They went on an adventure to find the treasure on a sunken ship. (Answer: True)
6. Emma, Jack, and Lily found a treasure map in a cave by the cliff. (Answer: False)
7. The kids discovered a secret tunnel on the island and encountered dolphins. (Answer: False)
8. They encountered a big storm and made it to an empty island. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

A princess falls in love with a humble peasant who brings her a plain potato.

The Princess and the Potato

Once upon a time, there was a princess named Penelope who loved potatoes more than anything. Her dad, the king, wanted her to get married, but she didn’t like any of the princes. So, she said she would marry anyone who could bring her another great potato. Many people tried, but only a simple man named Peter succeeded. He showed that being kind and true is more important than fancy things or looks.

A small village is transformed by a baker's magical pies, teaching the importance of sharing.

The Peculiar Purple Pie

Mr. Higgins made magical pies that made people do funny things, but when the villagers got greedy, he taught them about kindness and sharing.

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.

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.

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.

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