Do you have students who LOVE skateboarding?  Our non-fiction Readers Theater script "Skateboarding Pioneer: Patti McGee" may be appropriate for those students. A member of our Script Buffet Club who tutored two Syrian refugee sisters learning English asked me to write a custom Readers Theater script for the girls. Wow! When I asked what the girls were interested in the tutor told me that they both LOVED to skateboard. So, with some serious research I created "Skateboarding Pioneer: Patti McGee." (Patti became famous as a woman skateboarder and brand ambassador who helped pioneer this popular sport in the 1960s.) This original Readers Theater script for elementary and middle school grades 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 focuses on Patti's story, but includes helpful annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans. Enjoy it with your English Language Learners or anyone! (Yes, adults would appreciate this story, too.)

TIME: 4 1/2 min.     CAST: 2-5+ (optional chorus)    TONE: upbeat, positive     READABILITY: grade 4.0

Character-building fun from a Mexican fable?  Why not?  "The Ants and the Tortilla" Readers Theater script is roughly adapted from a Mexican fable and the children's book The Little Red Ant and the Great Big Crumb.  This Readers Theater script works well for cross-curricular lessons or unit studies on ants, insects, Mexico, fables, and even Hispanic culture or literature.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "The Ants and the Tortilla" is perfect for elementary students in grades 3, 4, or 5,  middle schoolers, and ELL or ESL students.  This script also comes in a simplified version with a readability of grade 1.3 as well as the original version with a readability of grade 4.7.  WARNING:  May cause giggles.

TIME:  about 6 1/2 min     CAST:  3-10+       TONE:  serious and light       READABILITY: grade 5.6 

Would your students enjoy getting to know a heroine from Black History?  "Harriet Tubman, Alias Moses:  The Swamp Mystery" is #2 in our true-to-life Readers Theater scripts from the original biography of Harriet Tubman by Sarah Bradford (1869).  Harriet Tubman told Mrs. Bradford the story of her life, including some of her adventures as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. 

Join an adventurous trip with Harriet Tubman and some escaped slaves–including twin babies–in this exclusive member's only Readers Theater script with annotated curriculum links for lesson plans. 

TIME:  about 5 min.         CAST:  5-7+            TONE:  serious and reflective          READABILITY:  grade 2.1

Would your students enjoy meeting a heroine from Black History?  "Harriet Tubman, Alias Moses:  Joe's Journey (Simplified)" is a true-to-life Readers Theater script from the original biography of Harriet Tubman by Sarah Bradford (1869).  Harriet Tubman told Mrs. Bradford the story of her life, including some of her adventures as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.   Harriet had a strong faith in God and this script is true to her story.  Join an adventurous trip with Harriet Tubman and some escaped slaves–including Joe–in this free Readers Theater script with curriculum links for lesson plans.  This is the Simplified version of our original script.  (The original version has a readability of grade 4.2.)

TIME:  about 9 1/2 minutes  CAST:  8-12  TONE:  somber with joy   READABILITY:  grade 3.4

Where's the tortoise?  This Readers Theater adaptation of Aesop's familiar fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare,"  has no tortoise.  With all the excitement of a true race, "Racer Rabbit's Marathon" builds mystery–who will win the race?  Even if you know the story, you may not guess the outcome–or the character-building moral at the end.  Packed with fun, this lightly humorous Readers Theater script is perfect for elementary (grades 3, 4, 5), middle school, ESL (or ESOL) students, and family fun.  The annotated curriculum links help make lesson planning easy.  (Updated 2017)  (Note: This fable is included in our Flexi-Curric™ STORE product, "Aesop's Fables Collection, Vol. 1".)

TIME:  about 10 1/2 minutes   CAST:  3-8+ (chorus possible)  TONE:  exciting, fun, mysterious, with a serious moral (great for discussions!)   READABILITY:  grade 3.2  

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure. "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 3–Simplified)" brings this exciting 3-part story from history to an exciting conclusion.   Invite your students to participate in the Great Race of Mercy in 1925 that saved children and adults in Nome, Alaska, from a diphtheria epidemic.  You can find other related scripts in our Iditarod section (e.g., "Togo–Sled Dog Hero").  Like all of our scripts, "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 3–Simplified)" comes complete with vocabulary and annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.

 The Iditarod, held in March in Alaska every year, commemorates The Great Race of Mercy (also known as The Great Serum Race).  Students love tracking the adventure and reliving the thrill of people committed to helping save the lives of others.  Perfect for students in grades 2–4 and English language learners, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1, 2, & 3–Simplified)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!

TIME:  about 8 1/2 minutes    CAST:  5–8      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 3.3 (grade 2.4 using "Nat" for "Narrator")

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure. "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 2–Simplified)" continues this exciting 3-part story from history.   Invite your students to participate in the Great Race of Mercy in 1925 that saved children and adults in Nome, Alaska, from a diphtheria epidemic.  You can find other related scripts in our Iditarod section (e.g., "Togo–Sled Dog Hero").  Like all of our scripts, "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 2–Simplified)" comes complete with vocabulary and annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  

The Iditarod, held in March in Alaska every year, commemorates The Great Race of Mercy (also known as The Great Serum Race).  Students love tracking the adventure and reliving the thrill of people committed to helping save the lives of others.  Perfect for students in grades 2–4 and English language learners, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1, 2, & 3–Simplified)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!

TIME:  about 5 minutes    CAST:  4–7      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 2.9 (grade 2.2 using "Nat" for "Narrator")

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure.  "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 1–Simplified)" begins this exciting 3-part story from history.   Invite your students to participate in the Great Race of Mercy in 1925 that saved children and adults in Nome, Alaska, from a diphtheria epidemic.  You can find other related scripts in our Iditarod section (e.g., "Togo–Sled Dog Hero").  Like all of our scripts, "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 1–Simplified)" comes complete with vocabulary and annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  The Iditarod, held in March in Alaska every year, commemorates The Great Race of Mercy (also known as The Great Serum Race).  Students love tracking the adventure and reliving the thrill of people committed to helping save the lives of others.  Perfect for students in grades 2–4 and English language learners, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1, 2, & 3–Simplified)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!

TIME:  about 6 minutes    CAST:  3-6      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 3.7 (grade 3.0 using "Nat" for "Narrator")

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure.  "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 1)" begins this exciting 3-part story from history.   Invite your students to participate in the Great Race of Mercy in 1925 that saved children and adults in Nome, Alaska, from a diphtheria epidemic.  You can find other related scripts in our Iditarod section (e.g., "Togo–Sled Dog Hero").  Like all of our scripts, "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 1)" comes complete with vocabulary and annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  The Iditarod, held in March in Alaska every year, commemorates The Great Race of Mercy (also known as The Great Serum Race).  Students love tracking the adventure and reliving the thrill of people committed to helping save the lives of others.  Perfect for students in grades 3–5 and English language learners, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1, 2, & 3)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!  NOTE:  We also have a middle school and simplified version.

TIME:  about 7 1/2 minutes    CAST:  3-6      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 5.8 (grade 5.2 using "Nat" for "Narrator")

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure.  "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 2)" continues this exciting 3-part story from history.   Invite your students to participate in the Great Race of Mercy in 1925 that saved children and adults in Nome, Alaska, from a diphtheria epidemic.  You can find other related scripts in our Iditarod section (e.g., "Togo–Sled Dog Hero").  Like all of our scripts, "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 2)" comes complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  The Iditarod, held in March in Alaska every year, commemorates The Great Race of Mercy (also known as The Great Serum Race).  Students love tracking the adventure and reliving the thrill of people committed to helping save the lives of others.  Perfect for students in grades 3–5 and English language learners, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1, 2, & 3)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!  Note:  We also have a middle school and simplified version of this script.

TIME:  about 5 minutes    CAST:  4-7      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 5.3

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure.  "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 3)" concludes this exciting 3-part story from history.   Invite your students to participate in the Great Race of Mercy in 1925 that saved children and adults in Nome, Alaska, from a diphtheria epidemic.  Although this is the last script of the full story, you will find other related scripts in our Iditarod section (e.g., "Togo–Sled Dog Hero").  Like all of our scripts, "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 3)" comes complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  The Iditarod, held in March in Alaska every year, commemorates The Great Race of Mercy (also known as The Great Serum Race).  Students love tracking the adventure and reliving the thrill of people committed to helping save the lives of others.  Perfect for elementary students in grades 3-5 and English language learners, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1, 2, & 3)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!  Note:  We also have a middle school and simplified version of this script.

TIME:  about 8 1/2 minutes (optional intermission)   CAST:  5-8      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 4.8

A Script Buffet Club member requested a script on the Iditarod, the Alaskan race commemorating the historic Great Race of Mercy (also known as the Great Serum Race).  "Togo–Sled Dog Hero (Part 1)" shows Togo's adventure as a puppy BEFORE being a sled dog in the Great Race of Mercy–the 1925 race against a diphtheria epidemic threatening to wipe out Nome.  Although this is a stand-alone script, your students will enjoy learning more about Togo in Part 2 (ice adventure) and Part 3 (the Great Race of Mercy).  Complete with 45 annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Togo–Sled Dog Hero (Part 1, Advanced)" integrates character-building examples with nature's wildness to motivate readers in grades 5, 6, and 7.  (NOTE:  We have a simplified version for grades 2 and 3, plus our original version for grades 4 and 5.)  This historical adventure is part of our growing Iditarod collection.

TIME:  about 4 1/2 minutes     CAST:  3-5      TONE:  serious    READABILITY:  grade 5.9