Recent Articles in Literature Scripts, Grades 6-8

Collision Course (R = 5.8)
Apr 12, 2013

Excitement.  Surprise ending.  Short.  Adapted for Readers Theater, this classic urban legend tells a popular story students will enjoy–especially the boys! Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Collision Course" provides a platform for multiple extension activities or unit studies.  Highly recommended for advanced ESL or ELL  students and upper elementary or middle school.

TIME:  1 1/2 min.        CAST:  3-5            TONE:  exciting          READABILITY:  grade 5.8

The Tiny Crooked Crack (Advanced) (R = 5.3)
Sep 28, 2012

Here's a simple story with BIG implications!  If you're studying elections or economics this free Readers Theater script, "The Tiny Crooked Crack," will definitely generate some important discussions.  Written as a parable, "The Tiny Crooked Crack (Advanced)" is versatile with many interpretations and character-building lessons.   Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "The Tiny Crooked Crack" is appropriate for grades 5, 6, 7, 8 or high school students.  (Note: We also have a simpler version with at a readability of about grade 4.)

TIME:  a little over 5 minutes  CAST:  4-6-10+ (optional choruses)   TONE:  serious   READABILITY :  grade 5.3

Helping Others: Clara Barton, Battlefield Nurse and Red Cross Founder--Simplified (R = 5.7, 5.1)
Apr 16, 2012

Part III of our series of biographical scripts on the life of Clara Barton, "Helping Others:  Clara Barton, Battlefield Nurse and Red Cross Founder--Simplified"  provides an opportunity to build some vocabulary and discuss history.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this series of scripts complements a unit study on the Civil War, famous women, or helping others.  Although the readability of the original is grade 7, this is the simplified version.  (We have an easier one for beginning readers.) 

TIME:  about 5 1/2 minutes   CAST: 6-7+ (optional chorus)   TONE:  serious and educational  READABILTIY:  grade 5.7 (grade 5.1 without the word narrator)

Helping Others: Clara Barton, Battlefield Nurse and Red Cross Founder (R = 7.6, 7.0)
Apr 12, 2012

Part III of our series of biographical scripts on the life of Clara Barton, "Helping Others:  Clara Barton, Battlefield Nurse and Red Cross Founder"  provides an opportunity to build vocabulary and discuss history.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this series of scripts complements a unit study on the Civil War, famous women, or volunteerism.  Although the readability is grade 7, it was written for upper elementary or gifted students.  Middle schoolers may like it better without the soldiers' chorus.

TIME:  less than 7 minutes   CAST: 6-7+ (optional chorus)   TONE:  serious and educational  READABILTIY:  grade 7.6 (grade 7.0 without the word narrator)

Helping Others: Clara Barton, Teacher (with chorus) (R = 5.0)
Apr 4, 2012

Did you know even though Clara Barton had been a shy little girl, she used Readers Theater in her school?  Although Clara Barton (founder of the American Red Cross) reluctantly became a teacher, "Helping Others:  Clara Barton, Teacher" shows her genuine heart for helping others through teaching. 

Apparently she was a gifted teacher, as you'll learn in this biographical Readers Theater for elementary and middle school students based on some of Clara's own words.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Helping Others:  Clara Barton, Teacher" is the second stage of Clara's life for our series on Clara Barton.  This exact script is also available in a slightly longer version that includes a somewhat silly student chorus.

TIME:  less than 8 minutes    CAST:  8-13      TONE:  light-hearted and educational       READABILITY:  grade 5.0  (easier version available: grade 4.0, 3.6)

Helping Others: Clara Barton, Teacher (No Chorus Version) (R = 5.2)
Mar 28, 2012

Did you know even though Clara Barton had been a shy little girl, she used Readers Theater in her school?  Although Clara Barton (battlefield nurse during the Civil War and founder of the American Red Cross) reluctantly became a teacher, "Helping Others:  Clara Barton, Teacher" shows her genuine heart for helping others through teaching. 

Apparently she was a gifted teacher, as you'll learn in this biographical Readers Theater for elementary and middle school students based on some of Clara's own words.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Helping Others:  Clara Barton, Teacher" is the second stage of Clara's life for our series on Clara Barton.  This exact script is also available in a slightly longer version that includes a somewhat silly student chorus.

TIME:  about 7 minutes      CAST:  8-13      TONE:  educational       READABILITY:  grade 5.2  (easier version grade 3.0-3.6)

Dog Jog Adventure (Advanced; R = 3.0)
Feb 29, 2012

How would you like to go jogging with three big dogs who are not really obedient?  Believe it or not a teacher did and told her story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul story.  I adapted the story a lot for children here in a fun Readers Theater script, "Dog Jog Adventure." 
Because the children in this script are older elementary or teenagers, this script is perfect for mixed ages and abilities--upper elementary, middle school, high school, ESL or ESOL, adults, and family fun.  Since the readability is about third grade, it should be perfect for literacy tutoring, too. You also have the option of using a narrator and two choral reading groups.  NOTE:  This is the advanced version with a more extensive vocabulary.  (The easier version is grade 2.7)

Complete with annotated curriculum links (including You Tube) for easy lesson plans, "Dog Jog Adventure" works well as part of a unit study on fitness, pets or dogs.

TIME: 7 minutes    CAST: 3 or a narrator and two choral groups     TONE: light, fun   READABILITY:  grade 3.0

 

Percy and Pudge: The Sand Castle (R = 2.1)
Dec 31, 2011

Character-building fun at its best, "Percy and Pudge:  The Sand Castle" contrasts two pelican brothers, one wise and one foolish.  Although this memorable Readers Theater script has 2 narrators and 2 character roles, you could adapt it to be 1-2 narrators and 2 choruses.  One chorus could be Percy and the other Pudge. 

Complete with annotated curriculum links on pelicans and sand castles, some readers will recognize similarities to the familiar parable of "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man."  Perfect for elementary, middle school, family fun, and some ESL classes,"Percy and Pudge:  The Sand Castle" could be used as a cross-curricular unit launch for integrative teaching.

TIME: about 6 minutes      CAST:  3+, or 1-2 narrators and 2 choruses   TONE:  lightly serious   READABILITY:  grade 2.1

The Unforgiving Servant (R = 4.4)
Dec 29, 2011

Unforgiveness can destroy relationships, bodies, and lives.  Here's the parable of "The Unforgiving Servant" told in Readers Theater format with a chorus, based on the original parable found in Matthew 18:23-34.  This character-building script comes with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  Suitable for elementary, middle school, high school, adults, and family fun, this Readers Theater script could launch some serious discussions about the concept of forgiveness.

TIME:  about 4 1/2 minutes   CAST:  5+   TONE:  serious with light overtones   READABILITY:  grade 4.4 (easier, I think)

Turkey Dreams (R = 3.4)
Dec 27, 2011

"Once upon a camel there rode a turkey...".  So starts "Turkey Dreams," a fun Readers Theater script that encourages entrepreneurship and positive character qualities for the new year or anytime!  Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Turkey Dreams" is great for ALL AGES.  Perfect for elementary, middle school, ESL, family fun, maybe high school and adults, "Turkey Dreams" enhances a cross-curricular study of entrepreneurship--even for children.  You'll love the subtle character-building qualities in "Turkey Dreams."  Why not use it as a launch for creative writing, too? 

We have added a Flexi-Curric™ version in our TpT store with a preview, thinking questions, worksheets, and extension activities. 

TIME:  a little more than 4 minutes  CAST:  6+   TONE:  light, with serious overtones    READABILITY :  grade 3.4

The Bremen Town Detective Band (Part 2) (R=4.3)
Nov 29, 2011

Here's part two of a fun Readers Theater version of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Bremen Town Musicians," with a different twist at the end.  Guaranteed to sprinkle giggles into your day, this talking animal script comes complete with curriculum links (valid as of June 2017) for easy lesson plans.  Perfect for elementary students, ESL, and family fun "The Bremen Town Detective Band--Parts 1 and 2" can be a launching point for a creative writing assignment for part three. 

 TIME:  about 5 minutes           CAST:  3–12          TONE:  light and lively      READABILITY:  grade 4.3 (because of nonsense words and silly names)  Think third grade readability.

The Bremen Town Detective Band (Part 1)(R=2.8)
Nov 29, 2011

Here's part one of a fun Readers Theater version of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Bremen Town Musicians," with a different twist at the end.  Guaranteed to sprinkle giggles into your day, this talking animal script comes complete with curriculum links (valid as of June 2017) for easy lesson plans.  Perfect for elementary students, ESL, and family fun "The Bremen Town Detective Band–Part 1" and part 2 can be a launching point for a creative writing assignment for part three.

 TIME:  about 5 minutes           CAST:  3-9          TONE:  light and lively      READABILITY:  grade 2.8