Do you like Laura Ingalls Wilder's children's book "Little House on the Prairie"? She shares stories based on her growing up years in her "Little House" books. This script, adapted from the beginning of her "Little House on the Prairie" book, introduces readers to the series with a family adventure in the days of the pioneers. Students will ride with the family in their covered wagon for a taste of pioneer life. If you've already read the book you may enjoy this 2-part script as a fun follow-up or part of a unit study on pioneers. You'll love the annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans and extension activities.

The scripts are written at approximately a grade 3 reading level, but not all Flesch-Kincaide reading level calculators agree. There's a vocabulary list to help you evaluate what your students need. Since the topic is appropriate for grades 2-6, I think even adults, ELL, special ed, or middle school students could enjoy performing "Little House Laura and Jack" (Parts 1 & 2) Readers Theater for younger students. NOTE: This is Part 2 of this 2-part story.

TIME: about 3+ min.      CAST: 8 (or less)      TONE: mysterious     READABILITY: about grade 3, but check vocabulary     

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 

Another script in our series on Aesop's Fables, "The Dog and the Wolf" creates a conflict with no real resolution.  Who is right?  Let your students decide.  This flexible script could be used with any age level.  Younger students will enjoy the story.  Older students will appreciate the thought-provoking discussions you may choose. This serious script with a few light-hearted lines explores deeper issues suitable for grades 3-5, 6-8, and up.  You could include it in a study on slavery and the Underground Railroad or just keep it as a fun story by Aesop.  "The Dog and the Wolf" comes with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  (Updated 2017.) What moral do your students suggest for this Readers Theater script? 

TIME: 3 1/2 min.     CAST: 4      TONE: serious and light       READABILITY: grade 2.7

(Note:  This script is included in our coming Store product, "Aesop's Fables Collection, Vol. 1".)

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

Are you looking for a script for a variety of readers at different reading levels?  "The Frogs Who Wished for a King," has a few stimulating vocabulary words for three characters (e.g.,  Señor Sage Frog).  But, this Readers Theater adaptation of Aesop's Fable includes a frog chorus for challenged readers, too (e.g., "Ribbit.  Ribbit.  Ribbit.  Zing!").  Aesop does not mention an election in his story, but our Reader's Theater adaptation includes one where the frog chorus cheers, "Bubba!  Bubba!  Bubba!..." Keep the discussion light, or dig deeper because historically this Aesop's fable has had political undertones. Perfect for grades 2-8, "The Frogs Who Wished for a King" comes with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  (Updated 2017.)  (Note:  This script is included in our coming Flexi-Curric™ Store product, "Aesop's Fables Collection, Vol 1.")  

TIME:  9 1/2 min  CAST: 2-9+  TONE:  serious & light  READABILITY:  grade 2.5

Adapted from Aesop's Fables for Readers Theater, "The Council of Mice" provides an opportunity for a wide range of readers to participate in the fun.  The "Council" functions as a chorus in this creative twist on a sometimes familiar story.  Casting suggestions show you how to adapt the script so any number of readers.  Perfect for grades 2-8, "The Council of Mice" comes with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  (Note:  This script is part of our coming Flexi-Curric™ STORE product , "Aesop's Fables Collection, Vol. 1".)   

TIME:  about 5 1/2 minutes  CAST:  2-9+  TONE: somewhat light  READABILITY:  grade 2.8

So, you think you know Aesop's Fable "The Fox and the Crow"?  This script for puppets or Readers Theater continues the story and adds a humorous twist at the end to please any audience.  Perfect for 2, 3, or 4 readers or choral groups, "The Fox and the Crow" comes with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  (Updated 2017.)  (Note:  This script is part of our coming Flexi-Curric™ Store product, "Aesop's Fables Collection, Vol. 1.") 

TIME: 2 1/2 --3 minutes  CAST: 2-4+  TONE:  thought-provoking and fun  READABILITY:  grade 3.3

Is it possible to become perfect?  Benjamin Franklin thought it was possible, so he set up a system to focus on specific virtues–one each week.  It's interesting to see the list of virtues he constructed and his struggles.  In his autobiography he wrote, "In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order."  Messy, maybe?  "Benjamin Franklin's Virtues:  Project Perfection (Simplified)" includes many of Franklin's quotes while telling the story of his quest for perfection.  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Benjamin Franklin's Virtues:  Project Perfection (Simplified)" is one of our collection of scripts on Benjamin Franklin.  Although this is a full class version with over 30 speaking parts, it includes suggestions on how to divide the parts for fewer readers.  This character-building script is perfect for middle school, upper elementary, and gifted students.

TIME:  13 1/2 min.     CAST:  3-32+          TONE:  serious         READABILITY:  grade 5.0  (grade 4.4 replacing "Nat" for "Narrator" and "In" for "Interpreter" as cast names)

Is it possible to become perfect?  Benjamin Franklin thought it was possible, so he set up a system to focus on specific virtues–one each week.  It's interesting to see the list of virtues he constructed and his struggles.  In his autobiography he wrote, "In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order."  Messy, maybe?  "Benjamin Franklin's Virtues:  Project Perfection" includes many of Franklin's quotes while telling the story of his quest for perfection.  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Benjamin Franklin's Virtues:  Project Perfection" is one of our collection of scripts on Benjamin Franklin.  Although this is a full class version with over 30 speaking parts, it includes suggestions on how to divide the parts for fewer readers.  This character-building script is perfect for middle school, upper elementary, and gifted students.

TIME:  13 1/2 min.     CAST:  3-32+          TONE:  serious         READABILITY:  grade 6.3  (grade 5.7 replacing "Nat" for "Narrator" and "In" for "Interpreter" as cast names)

Have you read The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin?  Here's a Readers Theater script based on Franklin's own accounts of his childhood from chapter one, "Benjamin Franklin Speaks About Growing Up (Simplified)."  Franklin, a brilliant man, used extensive vocabulary and long sentences in his autobiography.  This historical Readers Theater Script is filled with Franklin quotes–including quotes from Poor Richard's Almanac.  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Benjamin Franklin Speaks About Growing Up" is perfect for upper elementary or middle school students grades 4, 5, 6.  (See our original middle school version of the script for a more difficult readability–grade 6.3.)

TIME:  7 1/2 min.      CAST:  2-6+ (optional chorus)     TONE:  serious, thoughtful, with light moments      READABILITY:  grade 4.9  (Ben's part = around grade 6)

Bullying. Adventure.  Character building.  Part 2 of Benjamin Franklin's life, "Benjamin Franklin Speaks About Apprenticeship and Beyond" includes so much more than history.   Based on Franklin's memoirs, "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." this Readers Theater script not only uses quotes from Franklin's autobiography, but also quotes from Poor Richard's Almanac.  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Benjamin Franklin Speaks About Apprenticeship and Beyond" is perfect for middle school students or gifted elementary students.

TIME:  about 13 1/2 min.        CAST:  2-6+ (optional chorus)     TONE:  serious, thoughtful   READABILITY:  grade 7.5

Have you read The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin?  Here's a Readers Theater script based on Franklin's own accounts of his childhood from chapter one, "Benjamin Franklin Speaks About Growing Up."  Franklin, a brilliant man, used extensive vocabulary and long sentences in his autobiography.  This historical Readers Theater Script is filled with Franklin quotes–including quotes from Poor Richard's Almanac.  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Benjamin Franklin Speaks About Growing Up" is perfect for middle school students or gifted elementary students.

TIME:  7 1/2 min.      CAST:  2-6+ (optional chorus)         TONE:  serious, thoughtful, with light moments             READABILITY:  grade 6.3  (Ben's part = grade 6.6)