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Squanto's Squash (Group Participation and Short Versions) (R=4.5)

publication date: Nov 13, 2014
 | 
author/source: Carol Montgomery
|
 

SquantosSquashThanksgiving"Squanto's Squash" jumps into the history of Thanksgiving with Pilgrims, Native Americans, and more. "Squanto's Squash" is available in two flavors: lively, with group participation or calmer, without interruptions.  The longer, livelier version is perfect to engage a younger audience, parents, or a larger group of students.  The short version is appropriate for smaller groups or more mature students who frown on silliness. Complete with a vocabulary list and annotated curriculum links for lesson planning.

TIME: 3 1/2 or 6 min  CAST:  7-10+  TONE: light or more serious, your choice!   READABILITY: grade 4.5 (with the word narrator, less without)

Here is a brief excerpt from this free Readers Theater Thanksgiving (or Native American unit study) script, group participation version:

Squanto's Squash

A Thanksgiving Readers Theater
By Carol Montgomery ©2010


Narrator 1:  Now don’t get me wrong;  I’m not trying to change history or anything. I just want the facts straight.

Narrator 2:  What facts?  What in the world are you talking about?

Narrator 1:  Well, according to the World Book Encyclopedia volume 16, page 639 (copyright 1960), and I quote: 
(voice of authority)  “Squash is the name given to three groups of pumpkin plants.”

Narrator 2:  Who cares?

Narrator 1:  I care because today we’re sharing “Squanto’s Squash.”

Narrator 2:  Do I get to eat it?

Narrator 1:  No, just listen.  And every time you hear the words “Squanto” or “squash” cheer, okay?

Narrator 2:  Gotcha.  But, the rest of these guys better join me.  (gestures to audience)

Narrator 1:  What do you say audience?  Will you cheer when you hear the words “Squanto” or “squash”?

Chorus/Audience:  Hooray!

Narrator 2:  (to audience)  Okay, every time I cheer, you  cheer.

Narrator 1:  Great! You’ve probably heard of the Pilgrims.  They had a terrible first winter in Plymouth.  It was bitter cold.

Narrator 3:  They were weak from three months at sea.  Many became sick and about half their number died—51 to be exact.

Narrator 4:  But, they didn’t give up when things got hard.

Narrator 3:  They worked hard and prayed.

Voice:  For squash?

Narrator 2 & Chorus:  (with audience) Hooray!

Narrator 3:  One day the men were meeting in the common house when they heard a shout,

Voice:  Indian coming!

Captain Standish:  What?  You must mean Indians...

Click on the PDF link below to see the full printable version of the free Thanksgiving Readers Theater script "Squanto's Squash" (contains both versions) with curriculum links for easy lesson plans.

Download the PDF "Squanto's Squash" (Contains both Group Participation Version and Short Version).
* Here's the article page for the SIMPLIFIED version of "Squanto's Squash" (readability grade 2.5).

*** BONUS LINKS ON THE NATIVE AMERICANS (valid as of Sept. 2014):

"Squanto's Squash" jumps into the history of Thanksgiving with Pilgrims, Native Americans, and more. "Squanto's Squash" is available in two flavors: lively, with group participation or calmer, without interruptions.  The longer, livelier version is perfect to engage a younger audience, parents, or a larger group of students.  The short version is appropriate for smaller groups or more mature students who frown on silliness. Complete with a vocabulary list and annotated curriculum links for lesson planning.  (The script is also appropriate for a unit study on Native Americans.)

TIME: 3 1/2 or 6 min  CAST:  7-10+  TONE: light or more serious, your choice!  READABILITY: grade 4.5 (with the word narrator, less without)


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Readers Theater All Year™ LLC builds leaders and creators for positive influence through an inexpensive, easy, flexible system.  Readers Theater All Year™ LLC curriculum services provides a caring community for using and creating Readers Theater scripts for families, classrooms, homeschools, camps, and drama clubs.

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> ...I have been teaching for 35 years. RT has been part of my education journey for the majority of that time. Initially my experience with it was as a performance genre in the Drama Curriculum. Now I use it across the curriculum - a wonderful high motivation strategy in the language program - particularly reading - and so much more as you would know. I was drawn to your 'community' by the idea of leadership... I think what you're doing is wonderful..."
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I found the free readers theater online scripts, teaching tips, and curriculum teleseminars at Readers Theater All Year very inspirational to me. I used the Twelve Days of Christmas...Vacation script in my ESOL classes before Christmas break and my students all enjoyed it..
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"> ..We did Squanto's Squash for the family on Thanksgiving and [my sons] participated and loved it. I am so excited about making this a major part of homeschooling. What a great way to learn!
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> ...re: our script "The Earth Day Hen and Friends" I've used this! The kids love it. Thank you for sharing...It's just right for all levels in the class...Your free scripts are wonderful!...They learn so much from drama and reader's theatre...I see the shy ones gain confidence as they read. Fluency and prosody increases with reader's theatre...
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