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!
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.
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. :)
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! :)...Keep doing what you are doing. There are not enough quality scripts available for children and teens. So many are inappropriate from a parent's perspective. As a teacher I want to also build character and integrity while I teach a subject. Why can't drama build up, inspire and be thought provoking?...Anyway, keep doing what you're doing...we need all the help we can get!
Jen H., Drama teacher
> ...I have been teaching for 35 years. RT has been part of my education journey for the majority of that time. Initially my experience with it was as a performance genre in the Drama Curriculum. Now I use it across the curriculum - a wonderful high motivation strategy in the language program - particularly reading - and so much more as you would know. I was drawn to your 'community' by the idea of leadership... I think what you're doing is wonderful..."
Graham B. Former primary teacher (now a Visual Art and Drama specialist)
Readers Theater All Year is the most comprehensive collection of Readers Theater scripts and resources I have found on the internet!...Thank you Carol for your leadership and vision and for making Readers Theater so accessible for teachers and parents.
Daniel Fiore, Elementary teacher/author What They Have Taught Me
I found the free readers theater online scripts, teaching tips, and curriculum teleseminars at Readers Theater All Year very inspirational to me. I used the Twelve Days of Christmas...Vacation script in my ESOL classes before Christmas break and my students all enjoyed it..
Lily T. Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
"> ..We did Squanto's Squash for the family on Thanksgiving and [my sons] participated and loved it. I am so excited about making this a major part of homeschooling. What a great way to learn!
Bethany P. Homeschooling Mom
> ...re: our script "The Earth Day Hen and Friends" I've used this! The kids love it. Thank you for sharing...It's just right for all levels in the class...Your free scripts are wonderful!...They learn so much from drama and reader's theatre...I see the shy ones gain confidence as they read. Fluency and prosody increases with reader's theatre...
Angela D., 3rd grade teacher
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