What happens when the hero needs help? "Balto Tales" includes 4 SHORT scripts for beginning readers based on the same story as our "Balto–Helping Hero" Readers Theater scripts. These scripts share the amazing true story of this famous true sled dog adventure in a fresh way. How did children help the dogs? Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Balto Tales" is best for beginning readers and English Language Learners. Enjoy these 4 SHORT scripts as part of our collection of true sled dog adventure Readers Theater scripts based on Alaskan history. "Balto Tales" (#1-#4) provides 4 opportunities for an easy partner plays or choral readers theater activities for any size group. Each script is printed in 2 different font styles–including "Chalkboard" font (similar to hand printing).

TIME: less than 1 minute each       CAST: 2 or 2 choral groups      TONE: serious     READABILITY: overall grade 0.8

What happens when the hero needs help? "Balto–Sled Dog Hero" Readers Theater script shares the amazing true story of this famous sled dog adventure in a fresh way. What lessons can we learn from this incredible sled dog team who pushed to the end of "The Great Race of Mercy" helping others? Your students will glean character-building ideas from the People's chorus and later discussions. Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Balto–Sled Dog Hero (Simplified)" is best for primary elementary students or English Language Learners. (There is no Advanced version for older students, but there is the original version for upper elementary students.) Enjoy Parts 1 & 2 as part of our collection of true sled dog adventure Readers Theater scripts based on Alaskan history. WARNING: Your students may be motivated to discover ways that THEY can also be helping heroes.

TIME: 7 minutes       CAST: 5+, includes a chorus      TONE: serious, exciting      READABILITY: grade 2.0

What happens when the hero needs help? "Balto–Sled Dog Hero" Readers Theater script shares the amazing true story of this famous sled dog adventure in a fresh way. What lessons can we learn from this incredible sled dog team who pushed to the end of "The Great Race of Mercy" helping others? Your students will glean character-building ideas from the People's chorus and later discussions. Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Balto–Sled Dog Hero (Simplified)" is best for primary elementary students or English Language Learners. (There is no Advanced version for older students, but there is the original version for upper elementary students.) Enjoy Parts 1 & 2 as part of our collection of true sled dog adventure Readers Theater scripts based on Alaskan history. WARNING: Your students may be motivated to discover ways that THEY can also be helping heroes.

TIME: 7 minutes       CAST: 5+, includes a chorus      TONE: serious, exciting      READABILITY: grade 2.2

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

"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.  (This is the SIMPLIFIED version; the original version has a readability of grade 4.5.)

TIME: 3 1/2 or 6 min  CAST:  7-10+  TONE: light or more serious, your choice!   READABILITY: grade 2.6

Short.  Spunky!  Character building. "The Beaver and the Lumberjack" Readers Theater is adapted from one of Aesop's Fables.  The original Aesop's Fable is known as "The Honest Woodcutter," "The Honest Woodman," "The Golden Axe," "Mercury and the Woodsmen," and more. Part of our character building category,"The Beaver and the Lumberjack" comes with vocabulary and annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  (Updated 2021.)  (Note:  This script is included in our Flexi-Curric™ TPT Store product, "Aesop's Fables Collection, Vol. 1".)

 If you like simple fun for a small groups it should be perfect!  Or, use the script chorally with two groups reading the character parts and the teacher reading the narrator parts.  Although the readability is grade 3, Aesop's Fables are classic, so this script motivates students in grades 2-8.  Use it as a springboard for discussion–even in middle school. 

TIME: 3 minutes    CAST: 2-4 (or 2 choral groups plus narrator)  TONE:  varies (sad and light)   READABILITY: grade 3.3

How do you teach about honoring soldiers, veterans, or their memories?  "Sack Lunch Flying (Simplified)" is a free Readers Theater script that will make it easy--both with the touching story and the annotated curriculum links (updated in Jan., 2016) at the end for easy lesson plans.  Perfect for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, and patriotic programs, this script contains links to the stories of veterans, plus an opportunity to write someone in the military.  

TIME:  about 4 minutes  TONE:  serious  CAST:  9  READABILITY:  grade 3.1 because of some 3-4 syllable words (e.g., Afghanistan)

Short.  Easy.  Fun.  "Ring!  Ring!  Ring!  Alexander Graham Bell" uses the idea of a phone call in CHORAL Readers Theater style for primary level readers.  Use this cross-curricular script as a springboard for discussions on how the telephone has changed the world or as part of a unit study on sound or hearing.  Comes complete with four pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.

TIME:  1 min.    CAST: 3 or 3 CHORAL groups    TONE:  educational, light    READABILITY:  grade 0.0 (Think grades K-1.)

Fun.  Character-building.  Nature study.  Based on true groundhog stories, "Waddles, the Grateful Groundhog Part 3" introduces readers to the last of a three-part story of Waddles, a real groundhog who lived in our yard.  We've had a groundhog at two different homes, but this three-part story combines our family's groundhog experiences. 

You will want to do all three parts—on different days for a week of Readers Theater OR with different groups for a full production (15 minutes total?)  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans and unit studies, "Waddles, the Grateful Groundhog" is great for Groundhog's Day, Thanksgiving, and family fun.  Written for elementary, ESL, or ESOL students, this three-part Readers Theater script is perfect for rainy or snowy days. Here's the statistics on part 3
TIME:  about 4 minutes   CAST:  3 or CHORAL   TONE:  light    READABILITY:  grade 2.6

Fun.  Character-building.  Nature study.  Based on true groundhog stories, "Waddles, the Grateful Groundhog Part 2" introduces readers to the second of a three-part story of Waddles, a real groundhog who lived in our yard.  We've had a groundhog at two different homes, but this three-part story combines our family's groundhog experiences. 

You will want to do all three parts—on different days for a week of Readers Theater OR with different groups for a full production (15 minutes total?)  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans and unit studies, "Waddles, the Grateful Groundhog Part 2" is great for Groundhog's Day, Thanksgiving, and family fun.  Written for elementary, ESL, or ESOL students, this three-part Readers Theater script is perfect for rainy or snowy days.
TIME:  less than 4 1/2 minutes   CAST:  6-7    TONE:  light   READABILITY:  grade 3.3

Fun.  Character-building.  Nature study.  Based on true groundhog stories, "Waddles, the Grateful Groundhog Part 1" introduces readers to the first of a three-part story of Waddles, a real groundhog who lived in our yard.  We've had a groundhog at two different homes, but this three-part story combines our family's groundhog experiences. 

You will want to do all three parts—on different days for a week of Readers Theater OR with different groups for a full production (15 minutes total?)  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans and unit studies, "Waddles, the Grateful Groundhog Part 1" is great for Groundhog's Day, Thanksgiving, and family fun.  Written for elementary, ESL, or ESOL students, this three-part Readers Theater script is perfect for rainy or snowy days.
TIME:  less than 4 1/2 minutes    CAST:  6-7      TONE:  light     READABILITY:  grade 2.7

Positive character building.  Nature study.  Environmental science lesson.  Choral reading fun.  "Ant Hill Heroes" has it all--including an air of excitement!  This primary level Readers Theater script was created with emergent readers in mind.  Yet, it's ideal for family Readers Theater, ESL or ESOL classes, Special Ed, or anyone who loves leafcutter ants, bugs, or insects!  The annotated curriculum links at the end help make lesson plans easy. 

TIME:  less than 3 minutes  CAST:  5+?   TONE: light to serious to light  READABILITY:  grade 1.4