Recent Articles in History Scripts, Grades 3-5

Benjamin Franklin Speaks About Growing Up (R = 6.3)
Jan 29, 2014

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)

Justin Goes to the Moon (Part 2--with chorus) (R=3.5)
Nov 30, 2013

Visit a classroom learning about the Moon and Apollo 11 in Part 1.  Catch Justin's excitement and dream to be able to go to the Moon in the light-hearted Part 2.  "Justin Goes to the Moon (Part 2–with chorus and sound effects) is full of surprises to keep readers motivated. Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Justin Goes to the Moon (Part 2–with chorus and sound effects) is perfect for  readers grades  3, 4, 5+.  Use it with our other Moon scripts as part of a unit study.

TIME:  8 1/2 min.   CAST:  4-8+    TONE:  fairly serious, with light moments   READABILITY:  grade 3.5

Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner (Simplified) (R = 4.6)
Aug 3, 2013

Patriotic excitement sprinkled with a little humor, "Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner" makes learning history fun.  This Readers Theater script includes real quotes from history for your elementary or gifted primary students.  Complete with six pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner" tells the story of the United States national anthem and the flag in the context of the War of 1812.   (Note:  This is the simplified version, with less vocabulary and shortened sentences.)

TIME:  about 13 min.       CAST:  6-9         TONE:  serious with humorous sprinkles     READABILITY:  grade 4.6 (vocabulary listed on first page)

Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner (R = 5.9)
Jul 31, 2013

Patriotic excitement sprinkled with a little humor, "Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner" makes learning history fun.  This Readers Theater script includes real quotes from history for your upper elementary or gifted students.  Complete with six pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner" tells the story of the United States national anthem and the flag in the context of the War of 1812.

TIME:  13+ min.       CAST:  6-9         TONE:  serious with humorous sprinkles     READABILITY:  grade 5.9 (vocabulary listed on first page)

The Star-Spangled Banner Lyrics (R = 3.1)
Jun 29, 2013

The United States anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" has inspired generations.  Although we have a script "Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner," with the story behind the patriotic song, this script is a Readers Theater adaptation of the song lyrics.  "The Star-Spangled Banner Lyrics" includes all four verses and comes complete with lots of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  Although the readability scale says grade 3, the lyrics are appropriate for every grade level 2-8+.  (High school students could use this script, but I believe they'd enjoy adapting the lyrics to their own creative script!)

TIME:  less than 2 1/2 min.  CAST:  3-7+, CHORAL (if desired)  TONE:  serious   READABILITY:  grade 3.1

Thomas Edison–Inventor (Part 2 of his life) (R=5.5)
May 2, 2013

Historic quotes brand "Thomas Edison–Inventor (Part 2 of his life)," with the true character of the famous inventor.  This Readers Theater script focuses on the season of his life when he experimented with electricity.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Thomas Edison–Inventor (Part 2 of his life) (Simplified)" stands alone or may be used after our script on his boyhood.  (Your students will be able to write Part 3 after a little research.)  Although the readability in the original script is middle school, this is the simplified version.  The topics are easy enough for older elementary students to understand.

TIME:  4 1/2 min.        CAST:  4-5          TONE:  educational with excerpts from life       READABILITY:  grade 5.5

Thomas Alva Edison: A Bright Boy Full of Surprises (Simplified) (R = 5.6)
Apr 30, 2013

You won't believe Thomas Alva Edison's boyhood!  Some of his experiments got him into trouble growing up.  "Thomas Alva Edison:  A Bright Boy Full of Surprises" mentions those failures as well as Edison's heart to work. Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans,"Thomas Alva Edison:  A Bright Boy Full of Surprises," looks at the life of Edison growing up.  Perfect for upper elementary and middle school, this Readers Theater script includes actual qutoes from Edison and a list of his most famous inventions.  (NOTE:  This is the simplified version.)

TIME: 7 min.   CAST: 4-8    TONE:  light, educational    READABILITY: grade 5.6

Not Your Home on the Range (R = 2.9)
Mar 30, 2013

What happens when an old poem becomes song lyrics that are humorously adapted to a Readers Theater script?  In this case you get "Not Your Home on the Range," a fun, one-page Readers Theater that may inspire futher creativity.  Please, don't blame me if your students start singing silly lyrics because the Readers Theater rhythm works perfectly with the song "Home on the Range."  Maybe they'll be inspired to write their own or change the lyrics to another old song?  This poetic Readers Theater is perfect as a Friday filler, a substitute teacher's lesson, or part of a program.  Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans on "Home on the Range," this script is useful for many ages–including ESL students.

TIME: 1 1/2 min.     CAST:  3 or 3 CHORAL groups    TONE:  light-hearted  READABILITY: grade 3, but grade 2.9 by making fewer lines.  I think grades 2-3.

My Western Home on the Range (Simplified) (R = 3.3)
Mar 29, 2013

Do you know the interesting story of the old folk song and cowboy song, "Home on the Range"?  "My Western Home on the Range" shares the true story of the spontaneous poem becoming a viral song–back in the days before radio, Cds, and ipods. Written special for one of our Script Buffet Club member's spring programs, this member's only Readers Theater script is perfect for western themed programs or unit studies (e.g., Westward Movement, pioneers, cowboys).  Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans or learning the song, "My Western Home on the Range (Simplified)" will create smiles while it builds vocabulary and teaches history to elementary students grades 2, 3, or 4.

TIME:  5 min.     CAST:  4 or 4 CHORAL GROUPS     TONE:  educational      READABILITY:  grade 3.3

My Western Home on the Range (R = 4.2)
Mar 29, 2013

Do you know the interesting story of the old folk song and cowboy song, "Home on the Range"?  "My Western Home on the Range" shares the true story of the spontaneous poem becoming a viral song–back in the days before radio, CDs, and ipods. Written special for one of our Script Buffet Club member's spring programs, this member's-only Readers Theater script is perfect for western themed programs or unit studies (e.g., Westward Movement, pioneers, cowboys).  Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans or learning the song, "My Western Home on the Range" will create smiles while it builds vocabulary and teaches history to elementary students grades 3, 4, 5, or middle school.

TIME:  5 min.     CAST:  4 or 4 CHORAL GROUPS     TONE:  educational      READABILITY:  grade 4.2

Presidents' Day Quiz Parade (Advanced) (R = 5.6)
Jan 31, 2013

Here's the 5th-6th grades version of our popular Readers Theater script "Presidents' Day Quiz Parade."  There are four versions of this fun audience-participation quiz show script. Others are original (R=3.7), primary (R=2.0), and middle school versions. Combine different level scripts for multi-level teaching. Focused on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, this quiz show includes fun facts from American history.  Complete with many annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, the most difficult vocabulary is listed before the script. 

TIME:  about 11 min.    CAST: 2-13       TONE:  light, educational, positive     READABILITY:  grade 5.6

Alexander Graham Bell--Part 2: Teacher and Inventor (Simplified) (R=4.4)
Dec 13, 2012

From teaching the deaf to inventing the telephone, "Alexander Graham Bell–Part 2:  Teacher and Inventor" covers this part of his life with historical accuracy.  Although this could be a stand-alone Readers Theater script, it continues the story from Part 1 (based on Bell's childhood).  Complete with six pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans (e.g., ear, hearing...), "Alexander Graham Bell–Part 2:  Teacher and Inventor" uses some of Bell's actual words.  This is the Simplified Version for grades 3-4, ESL/ELL, and remedial students in middle or high school.

TIME: 11+ minutes     CAST: 3-8         TONE:  educational        READABILITY:  grade 4.4  (grade 3.8 replacing "Narrator" with "Nat")