Recent Articles in Holiday, Season, and Event Scripts, Grades 6-8

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

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

Three Cheers for Teachers! (R = 3.9)
Nov 22, 2011

Thank you for caring enough to teach!  Here's a gift Choral Readers Theater script I sent the teachers who shared their email addresses with me, "Three Cheers for Teachers!"  Unlike all our other scripts this one has NO curriculum links, but it does have words to honor teachers who make a difference--like you.
TIME:  less than 2 minutes   CAST:  2- 4+ (Choral Groups?)  TONE:  grateful   READABILITY:  grade 3.9

Never, Never, Never Forget 9/11 (R = 6.2)
Sep 6, 2011

"Never, Never, Never Forget 9/11"  honors heroes as we remember the attacks and the lives lost on September 11, 2001, in this free Readers Theater script.  This powerful script, told from the eyewitness Lady Liberty, includes flashback newscasts to create the feeling of current events--not history.

 Although this is a difficult topic, the extensive annotated curriculum links for easy plans will simplify your life. There is also a link to "Thinking Questions" that go along with this Readers Theater. Written for mature 3rd-4th graders, the script is probably best used with 5th-6th graders, middle schoolers, and possibly high schoolers or adults doing patriotic programs or Patriot Day activities. 

TIME:  about 10 1/2 minutes  CAST: 5+ (includes a chorus)  TONE:  somber   READABILITY:  grade 6.2 (multi-syllable vocabulary; mostly listed on cover page)

Sack Lunch Flying (R = 4.6)
May 7, 2011

How do you teach about honoring soldiers, veterans, or their memories?  "Sack Lunch Flying" is a free Readers Theater script that will make it easy--both with the touching story and the annotated curriculum links at the end for easy lesson plans.  Perfect for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, and patriotic programs, this script contains links to the stories of veterans, plus an opportunity to write someone in the military.  (NOTE:  Simplified version has a readability of grade 3.1.)

TIME:  about 4 minutes  TONE:  serious  CAST:  9  READABILITY:  grade 4.6 because of some 3-4 syllable words (e.g., Afghanistan)

The Twelve Days of Christmas...Vacation (R=3.8)
Dec 10, 2010

No Santa.  No elves.  Just twelve tongue-twisting days of Christmas... vacation.  Based on the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" ("12 Days of Christmas"), this rollicking rendition may motivate students to clean their rooms by the time they finish!  The curriculum links at the end of this free Christmas Readers Theater script even include math lessons for a variety of lesson plans.  Surely your students would have fun creating their own compositions of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?  

TIME:  about 3 1/2 min.    CAST:  12?  TONE:  cheery   READABILITY: Grade 3.8

Epiphany Celebration: Wise Men Worship (R=6.0)
Dec 4, 2010

Straight Bible literature (KJV).  The story of the wise men or kings.  Straightforward.  "Epiphany Celebration:  Wise Men Worship" could just as easily be entitled "Matthew's Christmas" since it's directly from Matthew 2:1-15 (KJV).  This free Christmas Readers Theater script could easily be adapted to any Bible version.  Make sure you read the Epiphany ideas and curriculum links for lesson plans at the end of the script! 

TIME:  about 2 1/4 minutes  CAST: 11?  TONE:  serious   READABILITY: Grade 6.0

Not the Night Before Christmas (R=4.2/3.8)
Dec 3, 2010

"Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house
Ev'ry creature was stirring, especially the mouse!"

So starts this rollicking rendition of the old poem "The Night Before Christmas."  Your family will enjoy this free Christmas Readers Theater script full of fun.  All you'll need is a plate of cookies to keep the party going.  How about trying different voices?  Curriculum links help to expand "Not the Night Before Christmas" to full lesson plan potential.

TIME:  3 1/2 minutes  CAST: 2-6  TONE:  Light, even without Santa   READABILITY: Grade 4.2/3.8

American Thanks (R=4.9)
Nov 11, 2010

What?  A delicious nation?  And we're not talking turkey dinners here.  Although this free Readers Theater script with curriculum links for lesson plans is appropriate for Thanksgiving, it's also appropriate for any study on immigration.  The short, flexible script serves a crazy focus on foods from the nations.  Yum! 

TIME:  a little over a minute  CAST:  3-19, plus a chorus (or audience participation)  TONE:  light-hearted to serious  READABILITY: Grade 4.9

Las Posadas: El Burro and the Miracle (R=4.0)
Nov 6, 2010

Have you heard of Las Posadas?  It's a special Hispanic Christmas celebration and tradition in many places, including Mexico.  A joyful procession, a cooperative donkey, and unique songs typify Las Posadas.   But, in this free Christmas Readers Theater script (with curriculum links) there's a mysterious Christmas miracle awaiting the participants... 

CAST:  13, unless parts are doubled.  TIME:  about 5 minutes  TONE: varies--joyful, serious, with a sprinkiing of humor and mystery   READABILITY: Grade 4.0

In the Beginning: Christmas (R=5.4, 2.4)
Oct 10, 2010

Have you ever heard the Christmas story from the the New Testament book of John?  John starts out the same as the book of Genesis, "In the beginning..."  This short expanded adaptation from John may set the stage for a Christmas breakthrough with only two narrators and an audience or chorus.

PERFORMANCE TIME: 2 min.   CAST: 2 plus an optional chorus   TONE: Celebratory, Inspirational   READABILITY: Grade 5.4 (2.4 substituting "N" for Narrator and dropping the word audience)

The Betsy Ross Story (R=5.2)
Jul 24, 2010

Based on three sworn historical affidavits from Betsy’s daughter, granddaughter, and niece, this free Readers Theater script briefly presents the story of the first flag of the United States of America.  Although it's a serious subject, the characters in "The Betsy Ross Story" are jovial and patriotic.  This historical script embodies character qualities of respect, diligence, helpfulness, and honesty.  Perfect for Flag Day, patriotic programs, or unit studies on American history, "The Betsy Ross Story"  should also be useful for ESL classes.  Curriculum Links current as of January, 2017.

TIME:  about 10 minutes  CAST: 6  TONE:  realistic historical   READABILITY: Grade 5.2 (4.7 without the word "Narrator") (Note:  This Readers Theater script would work well in a program with patriotic music.)