Recent Articles in Diligence, Grades 3-5

Alexander Graham Bell--Part 1: Childhood Inventor (R=3.2)
Dec 4, 2012

The early life of Bell is filled with fun stories of inventions and experiments.  Can you imagine a "talking dog"?  "Alexander Graham Bell--Part 1:  Childhood Inventor (Full Class Version)" includes three stories from Aleck's life growing up.  (His mom was deaf.)  This Readers Theater biography about the famous inventor of the telephone is based on history and includes some of his actual quotes.  (Note:  Full class version means the narrators and Aleck's parts are divided among more readers. Part 1 comes in a 4 versions:  full class, original  with a cast of 3-7 and the simplified versions of those.  The original version is readability grade 5.0--grade 4.4 without substituting "N" for "Narrator.")

Complete with 5 pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans (e.g., Bell, the telephone, hearing, the ear, and talking dogs), this science Readers Theater will have your students begging for Part 2.   

TIME: a little over 6 1/2 minutes     CAST: 3-7     TONE:  educational     READABILITY:  3.2

Alexander Graham Bell--Part 1: Childhood Inventor (R=5,0)
Dec 4, 2012

The early life of Bell is filled with fun stories of inventions and experiments.  Can you imagine a "talking dog"?  "Alexander Graham Bell–Part 1:  Childhood Inventor " includes three stories from Aleck's life growing up.  (His mom was deaf.)  This Readers Theater biography about the famous inventor of the telephone is based on history and includes some of his actual quotes.  (Note:  Full class version means the narrators and Aleck's parts are divided among more readers. Part 1 comes in a 4 versions:  full class, original  with a cast of 3-7 and the simplified versions of those.  The simplified version is readability grade 3.2)

Complete with 5 pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans (e.g., Bell, the telephone, hearing, the ear, and talking dogs), this science Readers Theater will have your students begging for Part 2. 

TIME: a little over 6 1/2 minutes     CAST: 3-7     TONE:  educational     READABILITY:  grade 5.0 (4.4 using "N" for "Narrator.")

Alexander Graham Bell--Part 1: Childhood Inventor (Simplified Full Class Version) (R=3.2)
Dec 4, 2012

The early life of Bell is filled with fun stories of inventions and experiments.  Can you imagine a "talking dog"?  "Alexander Graham Bell–Part 1:  Childhood Inventor (Simplified Full Class Version)" includes three stories from Aleck's life growing up.  (His mom was deaf.) This Readers Theater biography about the famous inventor of the telephone is based on history and includes some of his actual quotes.  (Note:  Full class version means the narrators and Aleck's parts are divided among more readers. Part 1 comes in a 4 versions:  full class, original  with a cast of 3-7 and the simplified versions of those.  The original version is grade 4.4-5.0 depending on whether or not you use the word "Narrator.")

Complete with 5 pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans (e.g., Bell, the telephone, hearing, the ear, and talking dogs), this science Readers Theater will have your students begging for Part 2.     

TIME: a little over 6 1/2 minutes     CAST: 6-23+     TONE:  educational     READABILITY:  grade 3.2

Alexander Graham Bell--Part 1: Childhood Inventor (Full Class Version) (R=5.0)
Dec 3, 2012

The early life of Bell is filled with fun stories of inventions and experiments.  Can you imagine a "talking dog"?  "Alexander Graham Bell–Part 1:  Childhood Inventor (Full Class Version)" includes three stories from Aleck's life growing up.  (His mom was deaf.) This Readers Theater biography about the famous inventor of the telephone is based on history and includes some of his actual quotes.  (Note:  Full class version means the narrators and Aleck's parts are divided among more readers. Part 1 comes in a 4 versions:  full class, original  with a cast of 3-7 and the simplified versions of those with a readability of grade 3.2.)

Complete with 5 pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans (e.g., Bell, the telephone, hearing, the ear, and talking dogs), this science Readers Theater will have your students begging for Part 2. 

TIME: a little over 6 1/2 minutes     CAST: 6-23+     TONE:  educational     READABILITY:  grade 5.0  (grade 4.4 using N for Narrator)

Clara Barton, Nurse and Red Cross Founder (R = 3.3)
Apr 16, 2012

Part III of our biographical series for beginning readers on the life of Clara Barton, "Clara Barton, Nurse and Red Cross Founder"  is the super simple version of our original Readers Theater script written for upper elementary or gifted students.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Clara Barton, Nurse and Red Cross Founder" fits well with a study of community helpers.

TIME:  about 2 1/2 minutes   CAST: 6-7+ (optional chorus)   TONE:  serious and educational   READABILITY:  grade 3.3 (Grade 3.0 removing Clara's lines with these words:  president, bandages, medicine.)  I think second graders could handle it easily, but give Clara's part to a better reader.

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)

Super Bowl Students vs. Salamander Sly (R = 3.4)
Jan 27, 2012

Once again Salamander Sly and his team, The Distractions, challenge the students on the field.  But, this time it's the Super Bowl Students, "the best of the best."  "Super Bowl Students vs. Salamander Sly" is the second free Readers Theater script where the students battle The Distractions, only this time it's the mysterious play-off game.  Although this character-building script was written by request for Super Bowl season, it's useful anytime for a wide range of ages since "Kids Talk Sports" relates to all.

Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Super Bowl Students vs. Salamander Sly" is perfect for grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 performing, but may also help ESL/ESOL and remedial classes.  Grab another family for some family fun even!   Since it includes a chorus, any number of students may participate.

TIME:  13 minutes        CAST:  6-7+         TONE:  fun, exciting          READABILITY:  grade 3.4

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

Fly a Bike? (R = 3.4, 2.7)
Sep 15, 2011

Here's a fun, easy, character-building Readers Theater script based on the history of flight and the Wright Brothers airplane.  "Fly a Bike?" escorts primary and elementary readers into a world filled with amazing experiments, failures, and successes as two brothers chase their dream. 
Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Fly a Bike?" provides cross-curricular experiences for family fun, primary students, 3rd-4th+ graders, ESL students, special ed students, and even adult literacy students.   

TIME: 4 1/2 minutes    CAST: 4+ (includes a chorus)  TONE:  serious & light     READABILITY: grade 3.4  (2.7 substituting "nar" for "narrator"!)

Back-to-School Team vs. Salamander Sly (R = 2.3)
Aug 11, 2011

Sports announcing.  Character building.  Excitement.  Motivation.  Perfect for beginning a new school year, "Back-to-School Team vs. Salamander Sly"  communicates to students from primary to upper elementary.  Salamander Sly coaches an invisible team called The Distractions in this lively free Readers Theater script full of surprises. 

Although this is not choral Readers Theater, there is a chorus (the School Team) that recites motivational cheers that help build character.  (Think about the commercial jingles you remember!) Contains curriculum links for easy lesson plans.

TIME:  11 minutes  CAST:  5-10+  TONE:  light, exciting   READABILITY:  grade 2.3, but I think some parts are harder

Luis Walter Alvarez: Famous Scientist (R = 3.6)
May 25, 2011

Who is Luis Walter Alvarez?  He's the 1968 Nobel Prize winner in Physics.  Son of a Spanish dad and an Irish mom, Luis loved to learn--especially science.  This biographical Readers Theater script with annotated curriculum links (some on science lessons) looks briefly at Luis Alvarez's life.  The man is a bit controversial because he was recruited to work on the atom bomb.  He figured there would be less life lost with the bomb than with World War II if it continued.  The bomb and his work on it are not mentioned in this sometimes exciting script, but you could easily foster some stimulating discussions with the information.  (Note:  Luis never claimed to be a famous Hispanic.)

TIME:  about 3 1/2 minutes  CAST: 4+ (chorus)  TONE:  serious  READABILITY:  grade 3.6

The Little Red Rooster, Master Chef (R=4.7)
Jan 8, 2011

Do your kids like spaghetti?   Everyone likes Sparkling Special Spaghetti in the humorous Readers Theater script, "The Little Red Rooster, Master Chef".  Chef Raymond cooks up a witty take-off from the familiar tale "The Little Red Hen."  Goose, Peacock, and the athletic Emu ooze personality in this clever Readers Theater script with curriculum links for lesson plans.  Although some students will think this is silly fun, we know the positive twist packs a lesson in character building.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll inspire a student's heart to serve? 

TIME:  abaout 5 1/2 min.  CAST:  5, plus chorus  TONE:  light-hearted with a practical punch   READABILITY: Grade 4.7