Recent Articles in Science & Nature, Readability Grades 6-8

The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 2, Middle School) R=6.0
Feb 15, 2017

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure.  "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 2, Middle School)" 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, Middle School)" 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 middle school students and adults, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1,2, & 3, Middle School)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!

TIME:  about 6 minutes    CAST:  2-7      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 6.0

The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 3, Middle School) (R = 5.6)
Feb 13, 2017

Sled dogs.  Saving children.  Non-fiction adventure.  "The Great Race of Mercy 1925 (Part 3, Middle School)" 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, Middle School)" 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 middle school students and adults, "The Great Race of Mercy (Part 1,2, & 3, Middle School)" motivates further reading by making history and adventure come alive!

TIME:  about 10 minutes (optional intermission)   CAST:  2-8      TONE:  exciting    READABILITY:  grade 5.6

Togo (R-5.9)
Mar 19, 2016

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

Togo (R=5.7)
Mar 19, 2016

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 2)" shows Togo's adventure 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 about Togo the wild puppy in Part 1 and how he ran in the Great Race of Mercy in Part 3.  Complete with 45 annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Togo–Sled Dog Hero (Part 2, 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 5.7

Togo (R=5.5)
Mar 19, 2016

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 3)" shows Togo's adventure as 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 about Togo the wild puppy in Part 1 and how he saved the team in Part 2.  Complete with 45 annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Togo–Sled Dog Hero (Part 3)" integrates character-building examples with nature's wildness to motivate readers in grades 5, 6, and 7 or advanced ELL students.  (NOTE:  We have a simplified version for grades 2 and 3, plus the original version for grades 4-5.)  This historical adventure is part of our growing Iditarod collection.

TIME:  about 5 1/2 minutes     CAST:  3-9      TONE:  serious    READABILITY:  grade 5.5

How the Digestive System Serves You (R = 5.7)
Mar 16, 2015

Educational.  Flexible.  Full-class or less.  "How the Digestive System Serves You" promotes good health by exploring the digestive system.  This educational script includes a chorus so any number of students may participate.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "How the Digestive System Serves You" includes 24 reader parts rich in vocabulary.  This non-fiction Readers Theater is part of our collection of scripts on the digestive system.  Use it with a unit study on the digestive system and add the other scripts for small groups to practice.  Perfect for upper elementary grades 4, 5, 6 and advanced ELL students, "How the Digestive System Serves You" integrates cross-curricular learning in science or health studies on the human body.  Since this Readers Theater script reads like the script of a documentary—with choral interruptions—encourage your students to use their special newscaster voices for more fun.

TIME:  about 7 minutes         CAST:  2-24+, CHORUS         TONE:  educational        READABILITY:  grade 5.7

Digestion Synopsis (R = 7.2)
Feb 27, 2015

Gifted elementary or middle school students?  "Digestive Synopsis" is rich in vocabulary with a poetic flavor.  Short, concise, and serious, "Digestive Synopsis" comes with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  Use it as part of a unit study on the digestive system or a quick, non-fiction filler.  Perfect for advanced ELL students, this Readers Theater script is also useful for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and high school students.

TIME:  a little over 1 minute        CAST:  6 or 6 CHORAL groups      TONE:  serious       READABILITY:  grade 7.2

Whale Phone Commercial (R = 4.1)
Dec 2, 2014

Persuasive vs. Informative?  How do YOU teach it?  "Whale Phone Commercial," provides an opportunity to teach persuasive writing and speaking via Readers Theater.  Plus, your students can learn a little about the power of advertising.  "Whale Phone Commercial" was created as an "insert" into our non-fiction nature script, "Strange, But True:  NoC–The Beluga Who Tried to Talk" (3 readability levels of this script).  The amazing story of NoC is told through a panel of guests interviewed on a television or radio talk show.  Slipping a commercial into the talk show provides another opportunity for learning.  (Your students could write their own commercials.)  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Whale Phone Commercial" comes with links on "Advertising, Commercials, & Persuasive vs. Informative."  Although this is a stand-alone Readers Theater script, it makes a LOT more sense when used with our member-requested script, "Strange, But True:  NoC–The Beluga Who Tried to Talk."  Perfect for grades 3, 4, 5, 6, "Whale Phone Commercial" may inspire YOUR students to write commercials for creative products.  :)

TIME:  a little over 2 minutes        CAST:  6        TONE:  light          READABILITY:  grade 4.1

Strange, But True: NoC (R=5.1)
Nov 30, 2014

Can whales talk?  One would think not.  Yet, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" non-fiction Readers Theater tells a strange tale of a whale who seemed to attempt to bridge the communication gap.  Based on an article from Smithsonian Magazine, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" presents a panel of experts who knew NoC ("no-see"), plus a professor.  Perfect for unit studies on whales, the ocean, communication, or mammals, this non-fiction Readers Theater will catapult your elementary students into a world of cetaceans, torpedoes, and communication.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" is our original version of this educational script.  (The advanced version has a readability of grade 6.1 and the simplified version has a readability of grade 3.8)  Yes, there's a link to NoC's recording, too!  :)  And, yes, a Script Buffet Club member requested a custom script on whales, so the belugas won!  :)

TIME: about 11 minutes    CAST:  6     TONE:  educational    READABILITY:  grade 5.1

Strange, But True: NoC (R=6.0)
Nov 24, 2014

Can whales talk?  One would think not.  Yet, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk (Advanced)" non-fiction Readers Theater tells a strange tale of a whale who seemed to attempt to bridge the communication gap.  Based on an article from Smithsonian Magazine, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk (Advanced)" presents a panel of experts who knew NoC ("no-see"), plus a professor.  Perfect for unit studies on whales, the ocean, communication, or mammals, this non-fiction Readers Theater will catapult your middle school  or gifted students into a world of cetaceans, torpedoes, and communication.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk (Advanced)" is our most difficult version of this educational script.  Yes, there's a link to NoC's recording, too!  :)   And, yes, a Script Buffet Club member requested a custom script on whales, so the belugas won!  :)

TIME: about 11 minutes    CAST:  6     TONE:  educational    READABILITY:  grade 6.0

Talking Pets (R=4.8)
Mar 26, 2014

Our family experienced a nightmare when my body hit “overload” from being exposed to dryer sheets on my mother’s clothes when she came to visit.  Laundry toxins added another toxic load to my body.  It rebelled with serious symptoms of Environmental Illness.  My family wondered if I was dying.  But, that’s another story...

"Talking Pets—Beyond Earth Day" shares a pet’s imaginary perspective of laundry.  This short Readers Theater may be used to help communicate basic truths about toxic laundry to a younger audience OR a pet-loving audience.  It may also be used to launch a discussion or a unit study on toxins in our world.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy Earth Day or environmental lesson plans, "Talking Pets—Beyond Earth Day" is for upper elementary students—possibly middle school or adults.

TIME:  5 1/2 min.     CAST:  6     TONE:  serious, with occasional light spots     READABILITY:  grade 4.8

 

The Benjamin Franklin Idea and Invention Show (Simplified) (R = 5.6, 6.2)
Feb 21, 2014

Benjamin Franklin looked for practical problems to solve. That led to many ideas and inventions.  "The Benjamin Franklin Idea and Invention Show (Simplified)" pulls together a launching pad for your students to study Franklin's inventions with a fun twist.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "The Benjamin Franklin Idea and Invention Show (Simplified)" is perfect for upper elementary or beginning middle school students.  (Vocabulary is listed.)  This is part of our series of biographical Readers Theater on the life of Benjamin Franklin, but it could also be used for building character and teaching writing.  (See suggestion at the end of the script.)

TIME:  a little over 7 min.     CAST: 3-9+     TONE:  light, fun, educational      READABILITY:  grade 6.2 (grade 5.6 substituting "Nat" for "Narrator" and "Ann" for "Announcer" when computing readability)