Recent Articles in Holiday, Season, and Event Scripts, Grades 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

Fancy Frogs (R = 1.3, 2.5)
May 3, 2013

Short.  Light-hearted. Poetic.  "Fancy Frogs" explores summer fun and frogs with this Readers Theater script for primary level readers.  Complete with two pages of frog curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Fancy Frogs" will help your students have a frog party as they illustrate the word pictures.  Perfect for ESL, ESOL, ELL and primary readers, "Fancy Frogs" makes a great Friday filler or substitute's emergency lesson.

TIME:  less than 1 minute     CAST: 3+, CHORUS (optional)    TONE:  light-hearted    READABILITY:  grades 1.3-2.5  (grade 1.3 substituting "Red" for "Reader")

Collision Course (R = 5.8)
Apr 12, 2013

Excitement.  Surprise ending.  Short.  Adapted for Readers Theater, this classic urban legend tells a popular story students will enjoy–especially the boys! Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Collision Course" provides a platform for multiple extension activities or unit studies.  Highly recommended for advanced ESL or ELL  students and upper elementary or middle school.

TIME:  1 1/2 min.        CAST:  3-5            TONE:  exciting          READABILITY:  grade 5.8

Oh, Give Me a Home in a Book (R = 1.6)
Mar 30, 2013

Poetry?  Song lyrics?  Literacy fun? "Oh, Give Me a Home in a Book" includes all.  Based on the song lyrics to "Home on the Range," this Readers Theater script adaptation will launch your students into a new world of thinking about literacy.  It's perfect for discussions about books, comparing fiction with non-fiction.  Use it to motivate your students to read a book or two over summer break. Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans on "Home on the Range," this one-page primary level script is one of a series of Script Buffet Club member's exclusive scripts.  But, you get it free!

TIME:  less than 1 1/2 min.   CAST:  3 or 3 CHORAL groups    TONE: dreamy    READABILITY:  grade 1.6

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.

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Radio Show (Middle School) (R = 6.8)
Feb 27, 2013

Flexible.  Informative.  Non-fiction.  "St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Radio Show (Middle School)" allows teachers to use this free Readers Theater script as a full-class choral project or small reading group presentation.  Romp through a short radio show on the basics of St. Patrick, the shamrock, and "Why wear green?"  The more difficult vocabulary and Irish words are listed on the front page.  Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this is the middle school version of our classic script.  (The other versions have a readability of grade 3.6 or 4.4.)

TIME:  a wee bit less than 5 min.    CAST:  3, or 3 CHORAL groups    TONE:  light, educational     READABILITY: grade 6.8

 

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Radio Show (Simplified) (R = 3.6)
Feb 27, 2013

Flexible.  Informative.  Non-fiction.  "St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Radio Show (Simplified)" allows teachers to use this free Readers Theater script as a full-class choral project or small reading group presentation.  Romp through a short radio show on the basics of St. Patrick, the shamrock, and "Why wear green?"  The more difficult vocabulary and Irish words are listed on the front page.  Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this is the easiest version of our classic script.  (The other versions have a readability of grade 4.4 or 6.8.)

TIME:  a wee bit less than 5 min.    CAST:  3, or 3 CHORAL groups    TONE:  light, educational     READABILITY: grade 3.6

 

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

Students Save Shad! (Part III) (R = 4.2)
May 7, 2012

Based on a true science story from the book Let the River Run Silver Again by Sandy Burk and trustworthy online resources, this 3-part environmental script series shares how students helped save the American shad (fish).  Hosted by student TV journalists, our free "Students Save Shad!" Readers Theater script integrates curriculum across subject lines in a memorable experience.  Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans and further research, this inspiring story will motivate elementary and middle school students to take action and make a difference.

TIME:  almost 9 mins.    CAST: 10-12+    TONE:  educational, light    READABILITY:  grade 4.2 (grade 3.8 without the words "announcer" or  "narrator")

 

Students Save Shad! (Part II) R = 4.8
May 7, 2012

Based on a true science story from the book Let the River Run Silver Again by Sandy Burk and trustworthy online resources, this 3-part environmental script series shares how students helped save the American shad (fish).  Hosted by student TV journalists, our free "Students Save Shad!" Readers Theater script integrates curriculum across subject lines in a memorable experience for the whole class.  Complete with curriculum links for easy lesson plans and further research, this inspiring story will motivate elementary and middle school students to take action and make a difference.

TIME: 6 1/2 minutes    CAST:  8+   TONE:  educational, light   READABILITY:  grade 4.8 (4.3 without the words "announcer" and "narrator.")