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 were famous for solving mysteries. One day, while exploring a secret cave on the beach, they found an old map. The map showed where a ship full of treasure had sunk a long time ago. The kids were super excited and planned to go find it.

They packed their detective stuff and snacks, and set off on their colorful rubber boat. While they were diving in the beautiful clear water, looking at all the fish, a big storm suddenly came. The water got really rough, but they worked together and made it to a small, empty island.

Even though they were tired, the kids didn’t give up looking for the shipwreck. On the island, they found a secret tunnel entrance. They went inside, and it was dark and a bit scary with echoes and lots of bats flying around. They had to chase the bats away, but they were still really focused on finding that treasure.

Deep inside the tunnel, they found a really old diary from a pirate. It had a clue about the treasure, something about a mountain that looked like it was on fire. They knew an island with a volcano, which could be the “fiery mountain” from the diary. They quickly went back to their boat to get there.

After they escaped the volcano erupting, they started digging around on the volcano island. They were having so much fun and got really muddy. Finally, they found a secret spot under a big rock that led to a cave full of gold. They had found the treasure!

The kids were super happy and thought about how they could use the treasure to help their village. They decided to build a place where everyone could have fun together. The adventure showed them how important it is to never give up, work as a team, and help others. Emma, Jack, and Lily became heroes in their village, proving that the real treasure is having good friends and doing good things for others.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1villageA small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town
2exploringTraveling through an area to learn about it or find something
3shipwreckThe remains of a destroyed ship that has sunk to the bottom of the sea
4detectiveSomeone who solves mysteries or finds out hidden information
5rubberA material that is flexible and can stretch, often used to make waterproof items
6divingSwimming underwater, sometimes with special equipment to breathe
7stormA severe weather condition with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow
8tunnelA long, narrow underground passage, often man-made or natural
9echoesSounds that are repeated as they bounce off different surfaces, like walls
10diaryA book where someone writes their personal experiences or thoughts
11clueA piece of information that helps solve a mystery or problem
12volcanoA mountain with a hole in the top where lava can come out from inside the earth
13eruptingWhen a volcano throws out lava, ash, and gases from inside the earth
14muddyCovered in or splattered with wet dirt
15heroesPeople who are admired for their brave acts or noble qualities

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the three kids in the story and what were they famous for?
2. What did the kids find while exploring the secret cave on the beach?
3. What happened while the kids were diving in the water?
4. How did the kids feel when they found the secret tunnel entrance on the island?
5. What clue did the kids find in the old pirate diary?
6. What did the kids find under the big rock on the volcano island?
7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure they found?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a (1)______ village by the sea, there were three kids named Emma, Jack, and Lily who were famous for solving mysteries. One day, while (2)______ a secret cave on the beach, they found an old map. The map showed where a ship full of (3)______ had sunk a long time ago. The kids were super excited and planned to go find it.

They packed their detective stuff and snacks, and set off on their colorful rubber boat. While they were diving in the (4)______ clear water, looking at all the fish, a big storm suddenly came. The water got really rough, but they worked together and made it to a small, empty island.

Even though they were tired, the kids didn’t give up looking for the shipwreck. On the island, they (5)______ a (6)______ tunnel (7)______. They went inside, and it was dark and a bit scary with echoes and lots of bats flying around. They had to chase the bats away, but they were still really focused on (8)______ that treasure.

Deep inside the tunnel, they found a really old (9)______ from a (10)______. It had a clue about the treasure, something about a mountain that looked like it was on fire. They knew an (11)______ with a (12)______, which could be the “fiery mountain” from the diary. They quickly went back to their boat to get there.

After they escaped the volcano erupting, they started digging around on the volcano island. They were having so much fun and got really muddy. Finally, they found a secret spot under a big rock that led to a cave full of gold. They had found the treasure!

The kids were super happy and thought about how they could use the treasure to help their (13)______. They decided to build a place where everyone could have fun together. The adventure showed them how important it is to never give up, work as a team, and help (14)______. Emma, Jack, and Lily became heroes in their village, proving that the real treasure is (15)______ good friends and doing good (16)______ for others.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think it would be like to solve mysteries like Emma, Jack, and Lily?
2. How would you feel if you found an old treasure map? Why?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it means to never give up? Can you give an example from your own life?
5. How do you think the kids felt when they found the treasure? Why?
6. What would you do if you found a secret tunnel entrance like the kids did?
7. Do you think it’s important to work as a team? Why or why not?
8. What do you think the kids learned from their adventure? Why is it important?
9. Have you ever helped someone in your community? How did it make you feel?
10. How do you think the kids’ lives changed after they became heroes in their village? Why?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. exploring
3. shipwreck
4. detective
5. rubber
6. diving
7. storm
8. tunnel
9. echoes
10. diary
11. clue
12. volcano
13. erupting
14. muddy
15. heroes

Meanings:
(A) Covered in or splattered with wet dirt
(B) A piece of information that helps solve a mystery or problem
(C) The remains of a destroyed ship that has sunk to the bottom of the sea
(D) Swimming underwater, sometimes with special equipment to breathe
(E) A book where someone writes their personal experiences or thoughts
(F) A long, narrow underground passage, often man-made or natural
(G) A severe weather condition with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow
(H) Traveling through an area to learn about it or find something
(I) People who are admired for their brave acts or noble qualities
(J) A material that is flexible and can stretch, often used to make waterproof items
(K) A mountain with a hole in the top where lava can come out from inside the earth
(L) Someone who solves mysteries or finds out hidden information
(M) When a volcano throws out lava, ash, and gases from inside the earth
(N) Sounds that are repeated as they bounce off different surfaces, like walls
(O) A small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What were the names of the three kids who found the old map?
(a) Sarah, Tom, and Emily
(b) Olivia, Ethan, and Ava
(c) James, Sophia, and Benjamin
(d) Emma, Jack, and Lily

2. What did the kids find in the secret tunnel?
(a) An old diary from a pirate
(b) A hidden treasure chest
(c) A mysterious message in a bottle
(d) A map leading to another island

3. What clue did the kids find in the pirate’s diary?
(a) A secret code that needed to be deciphered
(b) Something about a mountain that looked like it was on fire
(c) Directions to a hidden cave underwater
(d) A riddle about a hidden key

4. Where did the kids go after finding the clue in the diary?
(a) A deserted island with a lighthouse
(b) An island with a volcano
(c) A tropical rainforest
(d) A bustling city by the sea

5. What happened while the kids were on the volcano island?
(a) They found a secret passage to another island
(b) They got lost in a maze of caves
(c) They discovered a hidden waterfall
(d) The volcano erupted

6. Where did the kids finally find the treasure?
(a) In a cave under a big rock
(b) Buried in the sand on the beach
(c) Inside an abandoned shipwreck
(d) On top of a mountain

7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure?
(a) Donate it to a museum
(b) Keep it hidden for themselves
(c) Build a place where everyone could have fun together
(d) Trade it for valuable artifacts

8. What did the adventure teach the kids?
(a) The value of money and material possessions
(b) The dangers of exploring dangerous caves
(c) The importance of never giving up, working as a team, and helping others
(d) The thrill of solving mysteries and finding treasure

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Emma, Jack, and Lily are famous in their village for solving mysteries.
2. The kids avoid a big storm while diving in the water.
3. After escaping an erupting volcano, they find a cave full of gold and become heroes in their village.
4. The kids do not find an old map in a secret cave on the beach.
5. Inside the tunnel, they discover an old diary from a pirate with a clue about the treasure.
6. They fail to make it to a small, empty island despite the rough water.
7. The kids do not find a secret tunnel entrance on the island.
8. The map shows the location of a sunken ship full of treasure.
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 in the story and what were they famous for?
The three kids in the story were Emma, Jack, and Lily. They were famous for solving mysteries.

2. What did the kids find while exploring the secret cave on the beach?
The kids found an old map while exploring the secret cave on the beach.

3. What happened while the kids were diving in the water?
A big storm suddenly came while the kids were diving in the water.

4. How did the kids feel when they found the secret tunnel entrance on the island?
The kids felt excited when they found the secret tunnel entrance on the island.

5. What clue did the kids find in the old pirate diary?
The kids found a clue about a mountain that looked like it was on fire in the old pirate diary.

6. What did the kids find under the big rock on the volcano island?
The kids found a cave full of gold under the big rock on the volcano island.

7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure they found?
The kids decided to use the treasure to build a place where everyone could have fun together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) small
(2) exploring
(3) treasure
(4) beautiful
(5) found
(6) secret
(7) entrance
(8) finding
(9) diary
(10) pirate
(11) island
(12) volcano
(13) village
(14) others
(15) having
(16) things
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (O) A small community or group of houses in a rural area, smaller than a town

2. exploring
Answer: (H) Traveling through an area to learn about it or find something

3. shipwreck
Answer: (C) The remains of a destroyed ship that has sunk to the bottom of the sea

4. detective
Answer: (L) Someone who solves mysteries or finds out hidden information

5. rubber
Answer: (J) A material that is flexible and can stretch, often used to make waterproof items

6. diving
Answer: (D) Swimming underwater, sometimes with special equipment to breathe

7. storm
Answer: (G) A severe weather condition with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow

8. tunnel
Answer: (F) A long, narrow underground passage, often man-made or natural

9. echoes
Answer: (N) Sounds that are repeated as they bounce off different surfaces, like walls

10. diary
Answer: (E) A book where someone writes their personal experiences or thoughts

11. clue
Answer: (B) A piece of information that helps solve a mystery or problem

12. volcano
Answer: (K) A mountain with a hole in the top where lava can come out from inside the earth

13. erupting
Answer: (M) When a volcano throws out lava, ash, and gases from inside the earth

14. muddy
Answer: (A) Covered in or splattered with wet dirt

15. heroes
Answer: (I) People who are admired for their brave acts or noble qualities
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What were the names of the three kids who found the old map?
Answer: (d) Emma, Jack, and Lily

2. What did the kids find in the secret tunnel?
Answer: (a) An old diary from a pirate

3. What clue did the kids find in the pirate’s diary?
Answer: (b) Something about a mountain that looked like it was on fire

4. Where did the kids go after finding the clue in the diary?
Answer: (b) An island with a volcano

5. What happened while the kids were on the volcano island?
Answer: (d) The volcano erupted

6. Where did the kids finally find the treasure?
Answer: (a) In a cave under a big rock

7. What did the kids decide to do with the treasure?
Answer: (c) Build a place where everyone could have fun together

8. What did the adventure teach the kids?
Answer: (c) The importance of never giving up, working as a team, and helping others
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Emma, Jack, and Lily are famous in their village for solving mysteries. (Answer: True)
2. The kids avoid a big storm while diving in the water. (Answer: False)
3. After escaping an erupting volcano, they find a cave full of gold and become heroes in their village. (Answer: True)
4. The kids do not find an old map in a secret cave on the beach. (Answer: False)
5. Inside the tunnel, they discover an old diary from a pirate with a clue about the treasure. (Answer: True)
6. They fail to make it to a small, empty island despite the rough water. (Answer: False)
7. The kids do not find a secret tunnel entrance on the island. (Answer: False)
8. The map shows the location of a sunken ship full of treasure. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧

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