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 Treasure of the Pirate Parrot

Once upon a time, there was a small island that was home to a mysterious pirate parrot. The parrot was said to have a hidden treasure buried somewhere on the island, but no one had ever been able to find it.

Captain Jack was a brave and daring pirate who had heard about the treasure and was determined to find it. He sailed to the island with his crew and began searching for the treasure.

They searched all over the island, from the sandy beaches to the highest peaks, but they still couldn’t find the treasure. Captain Jack knew he had to find it if he was to become a famous pirate, so he decided to ask the parrot.

Captain Jack found the parrot perched high in a tree and asked it where the treasure was hidden. The parrot was silent at first, but then it spoke up and told him the secret. The parrot said the treasure was hidden at the base of a big tree on the other side of the island.

Captain Jack and his crew rushed to the spot and found a big chest filled with gold coins and jewels. They cheered and thanked the parrot for leading them to the treasure. Captain Jack was now a famous pirate, and the parrot was his trusted friend.

From then on, the parrot was known as the Pirate Parrot, and the island was known as the Island of the Pirate Parrot. It was a place filled with adventure and mystery, but most importantly, it was a place of friendship and treasure.

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Vocabulary

1. Parrot (noun): a type of bird that can talk, usually brightly colored.
2. Treasure (noun): valuable items that are hidden or buried.
3. Daring (adjective): bold and brave.
4. Searching (verb): looking for something.
5. Sandy (adjective): made of sand.
6. Peaks (noun): the top of a mountain or hill.
7. Perched (verb): sitting or balancing on something.
8. Chest (noun): a large box with a lid, often used for storage.
9. Jewels (noun): precious stones or gems.
10. Adventure (noun): an exciting and unusual experience.

Comprehension Questions

1. Where was the mysterious pirate parrot said to have hidden its treasure?
2. What did Captain Jack sail to the island with?
3. What did Captain Jack and his crew search for on the island?
4. What did the parrot tell Captain Jack when he asked where the treasure was hidden?
5. What did Captain Jack and his crew find when they arrived at the spot the parrot told them?
6. What did Captain Jack become after finding the treasure?
7. What did the parrot become known as after helping Captain Jack find the treasure?
8. What was the island known as after the parrot helped Captain Jack find the treasure?
9. What was the main theme of the island after the parrot helped Captain Jack find the treasure?
10. What did Captain Jack and the parrot become to each other after finding the treasure?

Gap Fill Questions

1. Captain Jack and his crew searched all over the island, from the ____ beaches to the ____ peaks.
2. Captain Jack asked the parrot where the treasure was hidden, but the parrot was ____ at first.
3. The parrot told him the secret that the treasure was hidden at the ____ of a big tree on the other side of the island.
4. When Captain Jack and his crew found the chest of gold coins and jewels, they ____ and thanked the parrot.
5. The island was now known as the Island of the ____ Parrot.
6. Captain Jack became a ____ pirate after finding the treasure.
7. The parrot was now known as the ____ Parrot.
8. The island was a place of ____ and mystery.
9. The parrot was a ____ friend to Captain Jack.
10. Captain Jack sailed to the island with his ____.

Conversation Questions

1. What is your favorite type of adventure story?
2. What do you think makes a good treasure hunt story?
3. Have you ever been on a treasure hunt in real life?
4. Do you think pirates are romanticized too much in movies and books?
5. What do you think is the most valuable thing a person can find?
6. Do you think there’s still undiscovered treasure out there in the world?
7. What would you do if you found a treasure?
8. What do you think would be the most exciting part of going on a treasure hunt?
9. Do you think it would be fun to be a pirate?
10. Would you rather be a pirate or a treasure hunter?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The mysterious pirate parrot was said to have hidden its treasure on the small island.
2. Captain Jack sailed to the island with his crew.
3. Captain Jack and his crew searched for the treasure.
4. The parrot told Captain Jack that the treasure was hidden at the base of a big tree on the other side of the island.
5. Captain Jack and his crew found a big chest filled with gold coins and jewels.
6. Captain Jack became a famous pirate after finding the treasure.
7. The parrot became known as the Pirate Parrot after helping Captain Jack find the treasure.
8. The island became known as the Island of the Pirate Parrot after the parrot helped Captain Jack find the treasure.
9. The main theme of the island after the parrot helped Captain Jack find the treasure was friendship and treasure.
10. Captain Jack and the parrot became trusted friends after finding the treasure.

Gap Fill Question Answers:

1. Sandy, highest
2. Silent
3. Base
4. Cheered
5. Pirate
6. Famous
7. Pirate
8. Adventure
9. Trusted
10. Crew

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

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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.