Do you want your students to be whiners or winners? Readers Theater can help you achieve your goals. And, if you include character-building discussions, you may see students blossoming with courage and confidence. They'll become stars in their own lives as you choose trustworthy Readers Theater scripts. This article includes a few suggestions for your character-building adventure.

"The Secret Visitor–An Absolutely True Story" recounts my husband's encounter with an unusual critter. My husband called it, "The Great Kitchen Standoff." You'll probably be surprised by the identity of the furry creature that showed up in our kitchen. But, I don't want to spoil the surprises in this humorous story. I got tears in my eyes from laughing when my husband acted out his morning adventure with "the secret visitor." Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans and unit studies on the creature in the story, this script could be enjoyed by anyone who reads at a 3rd grade level or above. (I MAY do a simplified version later since the story is so entertaining.)

TIME: about 4 1/2 minutes.     CAST: 4 or 3 plus a chorus.     TONE: light, fun.     READABILITY: overall grade 3.5, but Mr. Monty's part is probably easier (chorus?)

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

Can families enjoy Readers Theater, too? Absolutely! Whether you're homeschooling, pursuing family hobbies, or just trying to have fun and build some positive memories Family Readers Theater inspires participants. By choosing trustworthy and appropriate scripts your options are unlimited. This article covers just 8 opportunities for Family Readers Theater. But, perhaps you'll think of more?

What happens when the hero needs help? "Balto–Helping 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"? 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–Helping 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

Part 2 of "Balto–Helping Hero (Simplified–Part 2)Part 2 of "Balto–Helping Hero (Simplified–Part 2)What happens when the hero needs help? "Balto–Helping 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"? 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–Helping 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

What happens when the hero needs help? "Balto–Helpin 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"? 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–Helping Hero" is best for elementary students. (There is no Advanced version for older students, but there is a simplified version for younger 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: 4 1/2 minutes       CAST: 6+, includes a chorus      TONE: serious, exciting      READABILITY: grade 4.5

What happens when the hero needs help? "Balto–Helping 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"? 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–Helping Hero" is best for elementary students. (There is no Advanced version for older students, but there is a simplified version for younger 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 1/2 minutes       CAST: 5+, includes a chorus      TONE: serious, exciting      READABILITY: grade 4.2

WHO is Elephuntus? Here's a clue: "Elephuntus played the trumpet in the local band..." This short, silly animal poem may inspire some crazy illustrations or short stories from your students. Include this animal poem as part of your poetry unit or even a unit study on elephants. (As always, you'll find annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.) Although this script works well as a partner play or Choral Readers Theater, all of your students will want to participate in the surprise ending.

TIME: less than a minute      CAST: 2 or 2 choral groups      TONE: light, fun      READABILITY: grade 2

Did you ever follow a path to discover surprises? Your students will meet a few animals in this original 1-page poem. This is part of our Animal Poems collection for all ages. Of course, for easy lesson plans you'll find annotated curriculum links for every animal encountered as well as some annotated curriculum links on teaching poetry to children. Perfect for students of all ages, "Wonders" may be enjoyed as a read-aloud, a partner play, or a Choral Readers Theater.

TIME: about a minute.     CAST: 2 or 2 choral groups.     TONE: mysterious.     READABILITY: grade 1.9

"Whiskers, friskers, hippity hop; Up he scrambles to the top..." That's the first line of "The Squirrel"– part of our Animal Poems collection for readers of all ages. Do your students ever see squirrels? The annotated curriculum links after the script share plenty of photos, information, and even videos to help you with an expanded unit study or easy lesson plans. I smiled a lot during the short video documentary of the physicist, the squirrel, and the bird feeder (a true story documented on video by the physicist). Enjoy this cute poem as a Choral Readers Theater or partner play.

TIME: about a minute        CAST: 2 or 2 choral groups       TONE: light, fun       READABILITY: grade 2.4

A purple creature? Escaped? This light-hearted poem adds to our collection of animal poems. Just like the other animal poems this one includes annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans and unit studies. If you're tuned in, you may just sing it to the old folk tune, "The Wabash Cannonball." But, your students will have to create the chorus! Perfect for all ages, this silly poem should make students smile.

TIME: less than a minute......CAST: 2 or 2 choral groups.     TONE: light, silly.     READABILITY: grades 1-2