Readers' Theater: Greatest Hits

Readers’ Theater
Greatest FREE Hits
created by Jaime Locke

Hi!
My name is Jaime Locke and I ! Readers’ Theater! I love to
write scripts and put on plays with my students. The growth in
fluency (pace, smoothness, expression) is amazing!
Many of my plays are for 5-7 characters but, more and more,
I’m creating scripts for 2 and 3 kids because it’s great to use during
Guided Reading either as part of my group or for Read with
Someone.
I’ve used Readers’ Theater in both my 2nd and 1st grade
classrooms, in both French and English, for the past 17 years of my
teaching career and can’t say enough about the benefits and fun of
it!
I decided to put all my free plays into one download because. . .
why not? Hope you consider using these plays and the concept of
Readers’ Theater in your classroom!
Sincerely,
Jaime
www.firstgradebloom.blogspot.com
Table of Contents
!
FICTION
The Very Cranky Bear
Moose’s Loose Tooth
Too Many Pumpkins
Pigs
I Love You Stinky Face
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Stinky Cheese Man
The Fox and the Crow
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Dogs Don’t Wear Sneakers
Chimps Don’t Wear Glasses
Snakes Don’t Wear Pants
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
The Sneaky Leprechaun
NON-FICTION
Fireworks
How Crayons Are Made
Ants
based on the story by Nick Bland
Name _____________________ Character: ______________________
The Very Cranky Bear
Narrator 1 Narrator 2 Bear Sheep Lion Zebra Moose
Narrator 1: In a big, green jungle on a cold and rainy day.
Narrator 2: Four furry friends found the perfect place to play.
Moose: Wow, it’s raining cats and dogs out there! My big, beautiful antlers
got all wet.
Lion: I’m not sure what you saw falling from the sky, but I saw big fat
raindrops-that’s for sure! My golden mane is soaking wet.
Zebra: I have never seen it rain this much. I’m surprised my awesome stripes
didn’t wash right off me.
Narrator 1: Moose had antlers and Lion had a mane
Narrator 2: Zebra had awesome stripes and sheep… Well sheep was just
Sheep: plain. I don’t have big fancy features like my friends. I’m just plain.
They call me Jane. Plain Jane.
Moose: Let’s play cards in this nice warm cave.
Lion: Can we play Go Fish?
Narrator 1: None of them noticed that someone else was there.
Narrator 2: Sleeping in that cave was a very cranky

Moose, Lion, Zebra & Sheep: BEAR!

Bear: Roar, ROAR, ROAR!
Narrator 1: He showed his teeth and roared again.

Narrator 2: And scared them out of his nice, warm den.
Bear: So in the big, green jungle on that cold and rainy day, those
four bothersome animals had nowhere warm to play.
Zebra: Wait a minute! Maybe if we cheered that grumpy old bear up he’d
let us back in the cave.
Sheep: He looked pretty tired to me.
Zebra: I know that if I didn’t have my stripes, I’d be cranky too. That bear
needs some stripes!
Sheep: I think he needs a nap.

Moose: Stripes are silly. What Mr. Crankypants needs are some antlers. My
antlers always cheer me up and make me happy.
Sheep: You guys know that bears sleep all winter, right?
Lion: No, no, no, no, no. Stripes are silly and antlers are boring. A beautiful
golden mane like mine is what Mr. Grumpybottom needs.
Sheep: It’s October. That means the bear wants to go to sleep for the winter.
Zebra: Sheep what are you babbling about?

Sheep: Never mind. This should be interesting.

Narrator 1: So Zebra fetched some mud and lion some grass of gold.
Narrator 2: And Moose got two big branches and…well…sheep just got cold.
Sheep: They have no idea what they’re getting into.
Moose: Yoo hoo, grumpy old bear!
Zebra: Hellooooooooo Mr. Crankypants!
Lion: Bonjour Mr. Grumpybottom!

Narrator 1: Sheep was getting worried.
Sheep: Maybe they’ve been eaten?
Narrator 2: But then, from the cave, came a very cranky
Bear: ROAR!
Narrator 1: The animals ran out and the bear was right behind them.
Narrator 2: They hid behind the bushes where they hoped he wouldn’t find
them.
Bear: Look at me! I look ridiculous! I’m a bear, not a moozebrion!
Sheep: I think he just made that word up.
Bear: Yes I did! All I really want is a quiet place to sleep!
Sheep: That’s what I thought.
Bear: You knew? Why didn’t you tell your friends?


Sheep: I tried, but they wouldn’t listen to me. Wait right here, I have an idea.
Narrator 1: So she found a pair of clippers and clipped off half her wool.
Narrator 2: She stuffed it in a cotton bag until the bag was full.
Narrator 1: She tip-toed back inside the cave.
Moose: That sheep is really very brave.
Zebra: Oh now I know what she was babbling about!
Lion: What?
Zebra: The bear is tired because he’s going to hibernate for the winter!
Moose: Why didn’t she just tell us that?
Narrator 1: Back inside the bear’s cave the sheep bravely said
Sheep: Here you go Mr. Bear, a comfy pillow for your head.
Bear: Well thank you very much, that’s exactly what I need.
You can all stay and play if you will just read.
Narrator 2: So Moose, Zebra, Lion and Sheep
Narrator 1: Read the bear a bedtime story so he could fall asleep.
Moose, Zebra, Lion, Sheep: The End.
Bear: (snoring) Zzzzzzzzzzz.

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KG Behind These Hazel Eyes
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Moose’s
Loose
Tooth
by jaime Locke
bloomwithmrslocke@blogspot.com
Name _____________________ Character: ______________________
Moose’s Loose Tooth
Narrator Moose Bird Tiger Zebra Elephant
Narrator: It’s a sunny morning in the forest and Moose was out looking for a
snack.
Moose: I’m hungry and tree bark looks good to me.
Narrator: As he searched for a yummy tree, he tripped and bonked his head
on one.
Moose: Ouch!
Narrator: He bumped his tooth.
Moose: These big teeth of mine are always getting in the way.
Narrator: With his tongue, he felt around the inside of his mouth.
Moose: Ooh, I have a loose tooth. I can wiggle it back and forth with my
tongue.
Narrator: Moose had never had a loose tooth before.
Bird: Do you have a loose tooth Moose?
Moose: Yes and I’m afraid it’s going to fall out.
Bird: That’s what baby teeth do.
Moose: Baby teeth? But I’m not a baby!


Narrator: Baby teeth are the first teeth in your mouth. As you grow up, they
start to fall out.
Moose: But if I lose all my teeth, how will I eat tree bark?
Bird: When a baby tooth falls out, a permanent tooth comes in. That new
tooth will stay in your mouth forever.
Moose: Oh, that makes me feel better. So how do I get this wibbly wobbly
tooth out?
Bird: I could use my beak to pull it out.
Narrator: Bird pulled with all his might, but that tooth just held on tight.
Tiger: Did I hear something about a loose tooth?

Moose: Yes. I have a wibbly wobbly loose tooth.
Tiger: Let me help then.
Narrator: Bird used her beak and Tiger pulled Bird. They pulled with all their
might, but that tooth just held on tight.
Tiger: That is one stubborn tooth you have Moose.

Moose: Oh this tooth will never fall out.
Zebra: Did I hear something about a loose tooth?
Moose: Yes. I have a wibbly wobbly loose tooth.


Zebra: Let me help then. I’ll pull on Tiger and Tiger can pull on Bird and Bird
can use her beak to yank it out.
Narrator: Once again they pulled with all their might, but that tooth just held
on tight.
Zebra: That is one stubborn tooth you have Moose.
Moose: Maybe I will never lose this baby tooth.
Elephant: Did I hear something about a loose tooth?

Bird: Yes you did.
Tiger: Moose has a very loose but very stubborn tooth.
Zebra: Do you want to help?

Elephant: Sure. I can help you all pull.
Moose: WAIT! I don’t think we should pull anymore because what am I going
to do with the tooth when it comes out anyway? My tooth has the
perfect spot right now in my mouth.
Bird: But Moose you have to put your tooth under your pillow.
Moose: What? Why?
Zebra: Haven’t you heard of the Tooth Fairy?
Tiger: If you put your tooth under your pillow, she will come in the middle of
the night to take your tooth and leave you a present in its place.
Elephant: I bet she’s never seen a moose’s tooth before!

Moose: Well why didn’t you say that earlier ? Heave, ho everybody!
Narrator: So one final time they all pulled with all their might but that wibbly
wobbly tooth still held tight.
Moose: I give up!
Elephant: You can have one of my tusks Moose.

Moose: No thank you Elephant. WAIT, Elephant you are coming with me!
Narrator: Moose took Elephant home to his house and put him under his
pillow.
Moose: Nighty night Elephant…and NO snoring!
Narrator: The next morning, after a bumpy night’s sleep, Moose woke up and
found Elephant still asleep.
Moose: Wake up Elephant! I want to see if the Tooth Fairy came.

Narrator: Under his pillow were five shiny quarters. One for Bird, Tiger, Zebra
and Elephant to thank them for helping Moose.
Moose: The note says, “Your tooth will soon fall out Moose. Sometimes teeth
can be very stubborn. When your tooth does fall out, just place it
under your pillow and I’ll be back.”
Elephant: So that’s how the Tooth Fairy works. Then I think I have a loose
tusk.
Bird/Zebra/Tiger: Us too!
Moose: The End.
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T …..
Many
Pumpkins
a trio play
based on the book by Linda White
by
Jaime
L .. cke
Name _____________________ Character: ______________________
Too Many Pumpkins

Narrator Estelle Esmerelda (the cat)
Narrator: What is big, round, orange and full of seeds?

Esmerelda: A pumpkin?
Narrator: Yes, a pumpkin. I think pumpkins are great!
Estelle: Well I hate pumpkins!
Narrator: Why do you hate pumpkins?

Esmerelda: It’s a long story, don’t ask.
Estelle: When I was little and my family didn’t have very much money, all we had
to eat for a while was pumpkin.
Narrator: You ate pumpkin pie all the time? That would be awesome!
Estelle: No. There are many things you can cook and bake using a pumpkin.
Esmerelda: Pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin soup…

Estelle: Pumpkin stew, pumpkin mash, pumpkin muffins…
Esmerelda: And don’t forget the seeds.
Narrator: I never knew there were so many things you could make from pumpkin.
Estelle: We had pumpkin for breakfast, pumpkin for lunch and pumpkin for dinner.
Narrator: Okay, maybe that’s a bit much.


Estelle: Now you see. Excuse me, but I need to get back to watering my garden.
Esmerelda: And I need to get back to my nap.
Narrator: Estelle watered her garden and Esmerelda took a nap in the sun. When
all of a sudden…
Estelle: What is that noise?
Esmerelda: Uh oh. I know what that is. We hear that noise every year.
Narrator: A big truck came sputtering down the road and passed by Estelle’s
house. In the back of the old truck there were…
Estelle: Pumpkins! Ew, yuck, gross! Get those things out of here!
Narrator: As she was yelling at the truck, it hit a bump in the road and a gigantic
pumpkin fell off the back of the truck and went SPLAT in her yard.
Esmerelda: Double uh oh.
Estelle: No! Get back here you old truck and clean up this disgusting mess!
Narrator: But the truck drove away and didn’t even know it had lost a pumpkin.
Estelle: What am I going to do?
Esmerelda: Don’t look at me. I’m a cat and I don’t think there is any way I can
help.
Estelle: That’s it! I’m not going to do anything with this dumb old splattered
pumpkin. I’m going to cover it up with some dirt and then I won’t see it
anymore.
Narrator: You’re putting dirt on those seeds? I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Estelle: Well I think it’s a good idea to ignore that pumpkin. Come on Esmerelda,
let’s go inside.
Narrator: A few weeks later, Estelle went outside to water her garden and saw…
Estelle: Pumpkin vines! What? How? When? Why?
Esmerelda: Remember the truck and the big pumpkin that went SPLAT?
Estelle: Yes I remember that, but I thought that by ignoring it and not taking care
of it, it would go away.
Narrator: I guess you were wrong. Now what are you going to do?
Estelle: I’m not going to do anything . I won’t water them, I won’t pull weeds, I
won’t keep bugs away or anything. I’m going to ignore those vines.
Narrator: And that is exactly what Estelle did. In fact, she did such a good job
ignoring the pumpkin vines that, after a few months, she forgot that they
were even there anymore.
Esmerelda: We only used the back door and only went in the back yard. We
completely forgot about the vines in the front yard.
Narrator: Until one day…
Estelle: Come on Esmerelda, let’s go outside. The leaves are starting to fall and I
need to rake them up. Let’s start in the front yard.
Esmerelda: I’ll help by jumping in the piles she rakes up.
Estelle: It’s been a long time since we’ve been in the front yard Esmerelda. I
wonder why?
Narrator: When she got to the front yard, and saw what she saw, she
remembered.

Estelle: Ahhhhhh, pumpkins! And they’re everywhere !
Esmerelda: You can say that again.
Estelle: They’re everywhere ! What am I going to do?

Narrator: Estelle sat down on one of the many huge pumpkins and thought.
Estelle: Well I guess I can’t ignore these things any longer.
Esmerelda: We could give them away, since you hate pumpkins.
Estelle: Great idea! But how am I going to lift, carry and deliver all of these
pumpkins?
Esmerelda: Oh, I didn’t think about that.
Narrator: You could make me a pumpkin pie.
Estelle: That’s it!

Narrator: You’re going to make me a pumpkin pie?
Estelle: Not just you . I will make pumpkin treats for everyone !
Narrator: Estelle spent all day rolling pumpkins into her kitchen and then scooping
out all the seeds and scraping out all the meat. There were so many
seeds piled up in the corner that it looked like a mountain.
Estelle: Now where is my cookbook?
Esmerelda: What are you going to make?

Estelle: Pumpkin pie of course. Then I’ll whip up some pumpkin cookies, pumpkin
bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin soup and pumpkin cake.
Narrator: Just don’t forget the pumpkin pie! 
Estelle: Then we have to figure out a way to get people to come here for the
treats.
Narrator: Estelle sat down on a hollow pumpkin to think.
Estelle: That’s it! I’ll use all of these empty pumpkins to get people to come here.
Esmerelda: Huh? I don’t get it.

Estelle: You’ll see Esmerelda, you’ll see.
Narrator: Estelle carved all the empty pumpkins, rolled them outside and lined
them up. Then she put a small candle inside each one.
Estelle: Look Esmerelda, it’s working!
Narrator: The glowing pumpkins caught the eyes of many people in town. They
all came to Estelle’s house.
Estelle: Please take some pumpkin treats and a pumpkin before you leave.
Narrator: She also made sure that everyone went home with pumpkin seeds.
Esmerelda: I can’t believe all the pumpkin treats and seeds are gone.
Estelle: Not all the seeds are gone Esmerelda.
Narrator: Estelle made sure to keep a handful of pumpkin seeds for herself.
Esmerelda: You’re going to plant them next spring?

Estelle: I guess pumpkins really aren’t that bad.
Narrator: THE END.
print clearly
Pigs
a hilarious Readers’ Theater play
based on the book by Robert Munsch
by Jaime Locke
Name _____________________ Character: ______________________
PIGS
Narrator Megan Dad/Mom Pig #1 Pig #2 Principal Teacher
Narrator: Did you know that pigs are pretty smart animals?
Pig #1: Why yes I did, but then again I’m a pig.
Pig #2: We are actually the smartest of all domestic animals.
Megan: What’s a domestic animal?
Dad/Mom: It’s an animal that can be kept as a pet.

Pig #1: It is easier to train a pig than it is to train a dog.
Narrator: Wow, that’s incredible!
Megan: Well I don’t believe it. Pigs just sit there like lumps on a bump. I think
they are the dumbest looking animals I’ve ever seen.
Dad/Mom: Speaking of pigs, it’s time to feed them. Megan since you are heading
off to school, please go feed the pigs on your way.
Megan: Do I have to?

Dad/Mom: Do pigs like to roll in the mud?
Narrator: Actually pigs have to roll in the mud to stay cool because they cannot
sweat like humans.
Pig #2: Oh, so that’s why we roll in the mud?
Pig #1: Yes but it’s also pretty fun.

"
Megan: Fine. I’ll go feed the pigs.
Dad/Mom: But don’t open the gate. I repeat, don’t
Megan: open the gate. I know, I know.
Dad/Mom: Pigs are smarter than you think.

Megan: If you say so.
Narrator: Megan walked down to the pigpen before going out to wait for the bus.
Megan: Smart? I don’t buy it. They sit here like lumps on a bump.
Pig #1: That’s what she thinks.
Megan: They wouldn’t even go out the door if the house was on fire.
Pig #2: Not true little girl, not true. If we didn’t we would become bacon.
Pig #1: Don’t say the b word!
Megan: Here’s your food piggies!

Narrator: As Megan turned to run and catch the school bus, she left the gate open
on purpose.
Megan: That’s because those dumb pigs won’t move a muscle. HEY YOU DUMB
PIGS!
Pig #1: Oh no she didn’t!
Pig #2: Oh yes she did.
Narrator: The pigs jumped up and ran right over Megan and out the gate.
#
Megan: What is the world just happened?
Narrator: Megan ran back to the house to tell her dad/mom what happened.
Megan: Wait! Do you hear that?
Pig #1: Oink, oink, oink.

Megan: That’s not my dad/mom.

Megan: That sounds like pigs.
Narrator: Megan peered through the window and saw
Dad/Mom: A pig drinking my coffee!

Pig #1: A pig eating his/her newspaper. That would be me.
Pig #2: And a pig peeing on his/her shoe. Sorry but I’m not potty trained.
Dad/Mom: Megan Elizabeth Smith, get these pigs out of here RIGHT NOW!
Narrator: Megan opened the front door and yelled
Megan: HEY YOU DUMB PIGS!
Pig #1: Not again!

Pig #2: Doesn’t she remember what happened 3 minutes ago?
Narrator: The pigs jumped up, ran over Megan and disappeared out the front door.
Megan: Phew! Now I have to catch the bus!

$
Narrator: Megan missed the bus and had to run all the way to school. When she
got there she saw muddy hoof prints and heard
Megan: That doesn’t sound like my principal.

Megan: That doesn’t sound like my teacher either. That sounds like pigs!
Principal: Right you are Megan. There is a pig drinking my coffee.

Pig #1: This mocha with no foam is delicious!
Principal: There is another pig eating my newspaper.
Pig #2: The sports section is my favorite. Yummy in my tummy!

Principal: And…oh gross…there’s a pig peeing on my shoe! Megan get these pigs
out of here RIGHT NOW!
Megan: Don’t worry, I know what to do.

Narrator: She opened the door of the principal’s office a little bit and yelled
Megan: HEY YOU DUMB PIGS!
Narrator: The pigs jumped up, ran over Megan and disappeared into the hall.
Principal: That’s better. But now I need a new coffee and newspaper.
Megan: I am so late! My teacher is going to mark me tardy.

%
Teacher: And that is what we will be doing today. Oh, hello Megan, nice of you to
join us.
Megan: Sorry! I have pig problems.
Teacher: Pig problems? Speaking of problems, take out your math books so we
can solve some addition problems.
Narrator: As Megan reached into her desk she heard
Pig #1: Oink, oink, meow.
Narrator: Meow? Pigs don’t meow.

Pig #1: I’m just seeing if you’re paying attention.
Megan: That sounds like pigs!
Narrator: One little baby pig to be exact.

Teacher: Megan, get that dumb pig out of here NOW!
Megan: Dumb? Dumb? Oh no, no, no, pigs are very smart.
Pig #2: I think she’s got it!

Megan: Let’s go home little piggy, you can be my pet.
Narrator: Megan waited for the bus and when she got on she heard
Megan: Again?
Narrator: There were pigs everywhere ! But the pig bus driver drove them all
back to the farm.
&
Megan: Wheeeeee, this is fun!
Pig #1: Pigs are smart and fun!
Narrator: The bus drove all the way back to the farm and crashed into the pigpen.
Dad/Mom: What in the world is that noise?

Megan: Oh it’s just the pigs. They are all back in the pigpen, safe and sound. Pigs
really are smarter than you think.
Narrator: So Megan learned her lesson… That is until she visited the zoo one
day…
All: THE END.

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I Love You
Stinky Face
a Readers’ Theater partner play
based on the book by Lisa McCourt
by Jaime Locke
Name _____________________ Character: ______________________
I Love You Stinky Face

Narrator Kid
Narrator: How do you spell love?

Kid: That’s easy. M-O-M.
Narrator: Oh that’s sweet. I bet your mom loves you very much.
Kid: Yep she does. But…
Narrator: But what?
Kid: Well what if I was a big hairy monkey that jumped all over the place. Would
she still love me?
Narrator: Yes, I’m sure she would.

Kid: But what if I also ate tons of bananas and left the peels all over the floor?
Would she still love me?
Narrator: I bet your mom would comb all your hair very gently and make you a
banana birthday cake. She would probably say, “I love you, my big hairy
monkey.”.
Kid: Yeah but what if I was a mean alligator with lots of big sharp teeth. Would
she still love me?
Narrator: Yes, I’m sure she would.
Kid: Well what if I never brushed all those sharp teeth and my breath was really
awful. Would she still love me?
!
Narrator: I bet your mom would offer you a piece of gum and help you brush your
teeth everyday. She would probably say, “I love you, my ferocious
alligator.”.
Kid: But what if I were a grumpy old badger that never ever smiled. Would she
still love me?
Narrator: Of course she would still love you.
Kid: Well what if I never said, “Please” or “Thank you” or had any manners at all.
Narrator: I bet your mom would tickle you to make you laugh and then say, “I love
you, my cranky little badger.”
Kid: Well what if I was a smelly skunk that smelled so bad you would not want to
be in the same room as me. Would she still love me?
Narrator: I would hope so.

Kid: But what if I also burped really loud all the time and never said, “Excuse me.”.
Narrator: You have quite the imagination kid. But I’m sure your mom would still
love you. She would love you no matter what.
Kid: I bet she would call me Stinky Face though.

Narrator: Yeah, I think you’re right on that one.
Kid: The End.

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Reader’s
Theater
The Three Billy Goats
Gruff
Name _____________________ Character: ______________________
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Narrator Little Billy Goat Medium Billy Goat Big Billy Goat Troll
N: Once upon a time there lived three goats by the name of Gruff.
BBG: I am the biggest of my brothers, so my name is Big Billy.
MBG: I am the next biggest of my brothers, so my name is Medium Billy.
LBG: I am, of course, the smallest of my brothers, so my name is Little Billy.

N: One day the brothers were hungry and saw a beautifully green field off
in the distance.
BBG: Why don’t we cross the bridge and go eat delicious grass over there?
MBG: That sounds like a great idea.
LBG: I’m starving, let’s go!

N: Trip, trap, trip, trap went Little Billy first across the bridge. Out jumped
a big ugly troll with huge eyes and a long nose.
T: Who goes there? This is my bridge and I live under it!
LBG: My name is Little Billy and I’m just going to the other side to eat some
delicious grass.
T: Well I’m hungry and I’m going to gobble you up!


LBG: Oh please don’t eat me Mr. Troll. I’m a very small billy goat and won’t
make much of a meal for you. You should wait for my brother, he’s
much bigger.
T: Hmmmm, I guess you’re right. I am very hungry so you may pass.
LBG: Thank you.

N: Trip, trap, trip, trap went Medium Billy next across the bridge. The big ugly
troll was waiting for him in the middle of the bridge.
T: Who goes there?
MBG: My name is Little Billy and I’m just going to the other side to eat some
delicious grass.
MBG: Oh please don’t eat me Mr. Troll. I’m only a medium billy goat and won’t
make much of a meal for you. You should wait for my brother, he’s
much bigger.
T: Hmmmm, I guess you’re right. I am very hungry so you may pass.
MBG: Thank you.

N: Trip, trap, trip, trap went Big Billy last across the bridge. The big ugly
troll was waiting for him in the middle of the bridge.
T: Who goes there?
BBG: My name is Big Billy and I’m just going to the other side to eat some
delicious grass.

BBG: I’d like to see you try. I’ve got two big horns that can knock you off
your bridge.
N: The troll came at Big Billy but Big Billy used his two big horns to knock him
off his bridge.
BBG: Now where is that delicious green grass?
N: All three billy goats wandered up the hillside and ate grass until they were
full and fat. And that was that.
The
Stinky
Cheese
M n
by Jaime Locke
firstgradebloom@blogspot.com
Name _______________ Character: _______________
The Stinky Cheese Man
Narrator Old Woman Cow Boy
Old Man Stinky Cheese Man Girl Fox
Narrator: Raise your hand if you know the story of the Gingerbread Man.
Well this story is a stinky twist on that classic tale.
Stinky: Yeah, who needs gingerbread when you can have Roquefort [roke for].
Narrator: What?
Stinky: You know, one of the stinkiest cheeses in the world. It’s made from
raw sheep’s milk and kept in caves in Southern France.
Narrator: Are you kidding me?
Stinky: No. The French love their cheese, the stinkier the better!
Narrator: Anyways, can we get back to our story?

Stinky: Oh, excuse-moi [mwah].
Narrator: Once upon a time…
Woman: I lived with my husband, a little old man.

Man: We didn’t have any children, so we were very lonely.
Narrator: One day they decided to make a man out of the stinky cheese.
Woman: Don’t ask me why we decided to use stinky cheese.

Man: Well I’ll tell you why. I LOVE cheese, the stinkier the better. So why not
make a little man out of it?

Woman: Let’s see now, what do I have in the fridge that I can use for the
eyes and nose?
Man: How about olives for the eyes and a nice piece of bacon for the mouth?
Woman: Okay. I guess it can’t get any stinkier than it already is!
Narrator: 5 minutes later…
Man: I think you should check on our stinky little man my dear.
Narrator: When she opened the oven to see if he was done, the smell knocked
her back.
Woman: Pew! What is that terrible smell?

Man: I think he’s done!
Narrator: The Stinky Cheese Man hopped out of the oven and ran out the door
calling
Stinky: Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Stinky Cheese
Man!
Narrator: The little old lady and the little old man sniffed the air.
Man: I’m not really very hungry.

Woman: I’m not really all that lonely.
Narrator: So they didn’t chase the Stinky Cheese Man. But he kept running
until he met a cow eating grass a field.
Cow: Holy cow, what’s that awful smell?

Stinky: It’s me! I’ve run away from a little old lady and a little old man and I
can run away from you too.

Cow: I bet you could.
Man!
Cow: I bet you could give someone two or three stomachaches. No thank you.
I think I’ll just eat weeds.
Narrator: So the cow didn’t chase the Stinky Cheese Man either.
Cow: (sniffing) Smells like that guy is made of Munster.

Narrator: What?
Cow: You know, one of the stinkiest cheeses in the world. It’s French.
The French love their cheese, the stinkier the better!
Narrator: Yeah, I’ve heard that before. So he kept running until he met some
kids playing outside a school.
Girl: Gross! What’s that nasty smell?
Boy: It’s coming from over there.
Stinky: It’s me! I’ve run away from a little old lady, a little old man and a cow
and I can run away from you too.
Girl: I’m sure you could.

Boy: If we catch him, our teacher will probably make us eat him. Let’s get
out of here!
Man!
Narrator: So the kids didn’t chase the Stinky Cheese Man either.
Girl: (sniffing) Smells like that guy is made of Camembert [cah mom bear].

Boy: (sniffing) No. I think he’s made of Epoisses [ay pwah ss].
Narrator: Let me guess. You’re talking about French cheeses?

Girl: Yep. The French love their cheese, the stinkier the better!
Boy: Yeah, Epoisses [ay pwah ss] is so stinky that it’s against the law to
eat it on busses and the subway in France.
Narrator: I’m getting quite the cheese lesson today. So the Stinky Cheese Man
kept running until he came to a river with no bridge.
Stinky: How will I ever cross this river? It’s too big to jump, and if I try to
swim across I’ll probably fall apart.
Narrator: Just then the sly fox (who shows up in a lot of stories like these)
poked his head out of the bushes.
Fox: Well hello little guy.
Stinky: It’s me!

Fox: What?
Stinky: Oh, I thought you were going to ask what stinks so bad.
Fox: Well you are pretty pungent. If you want to get across this river, then
just hop on my back and I’ll carry you across.
Stinky: Wait a minute. How do I know you won’t eat me?
Fox: Trust me. Look at this face. Don’t I look like a cute, harmless fox?
Stinky: Hmmmm. Okay.

Narrator: So the Stinky Cheese Man hopped on the fox’s back. The fox swam
to the middle of the river and caught a whiff of something.

Fox: Oh man, what is that funky smell?
Stinky: You were supposed to ask me that about two minutes ago.
Narrator: The fox coughed.

Fox: (coughing)
Narrator: He gagged.
Fox: (gagging)
Narrator: He sneezed.
Fox: (sneezing)
Narrator: And the Stinky Cheese Man flew off the fox’s back and into the river.
Stinky: Ahhhhhhhh!
Narrator: Where he fell apart.
Man, Woman, Cow, Boy, Girl: Good riddance!
Cow: I wonder if stinky cheese is still stinky when it’s wet?
Boy: Who cares?
Woman: Next time I think I’ll just use gingerbread.

Narrator: THE Stinky END.
A Shout Out To:
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Readers’
Theater:
Partner Plays
by Jaime Locke
{ partners }
Narrator: There once was a lazy fox.

Fox: I’m so hungry but I don’t feel like finding any food to eat.
Narrator: So he tried to find an easier way of getting some
food.
Fox: Look over there, it’s a crow. And she has a piece of cheese
in her beak.
Narrator: This fox really liked cheese. But the crow was sitting
on the branch of a tree.
Fox: I can’t climb that tree but I really want that cheese.
Narrator: He decided to trick the crow into letting go of his
cheese.
Fox: All I have to do is get that crow to open her mouth so the
cheese falls down to me.
Narrator: The fox walked over to the tree where the crow was
sitting.
Fox: Hello Miss Crow.
Narrator: The crow said nothing.
Fox: How are you today?
Narrator: Still the crow said nothing.
Fox: Crows are my favorite birds. They are so smart. Their
eyes see so well. Their feathers are so soft. They fly so
gracefully.
Narrator: The crow started to smile.
Fox: It’s working!
Narrator: The fox kept saying nice things to the crow.
Fox: I’m not sure but I bet crows sing better than any other
birds. If only you could sing me a song so I would know
for sure.
Narrator: And sure enough, the crow opened her mouth to sing
and the cheese fell down to the fox.
Fox: Ha, ha, I got what I wanted. Thank you Miss Crow, I just
wanted your cheese. Goodbye!
Narrator: The moral of this story is to never trust anyone who
gives you too many compliments.
{ trio }
Narrator: There once was a lazy fox.

Fox: I’m so hungry but don’t feel like finding any food to eat.
Narrator: So he tried to think of an easier way of getting some
food.
Fox: Look over there, it’s a crow. And she has a piece of cheese
in her beak.
Crow (thinking): I am so hungry. I can’t wait to eat this cheese!
Narrator: The fox also wanted to eat the crow’s cheese. But
the crow was sitting on the branch of a tree.
Fox: I can’t climb trees, but I really want that cheese.
Crow (thinking): I can’t swallow this cheese so where am I
going to put it?
Fox: I know how I can trick that crow into giving me the cheese!
Narrator: The fox walked over to the tree to try to get the bird
to open her beak.
Fox: Hello Miss Crow.
Narrator: The crow said nothing. But she was thinking:
Crow: Is that a fox? Good thing I’m up here on this branch
because if I was down there he would eat me!
Fox: How are you today?
Narrator: Still the crow said nothing. But she was thinking:
Crow: Is that fox talking to me? He doesn’t look like a mean
fox.
Fox: Crows are my favorite birds. They are so smart. Their
eyes see so well. Their feathers are so soft. They fly so
gracefully.
Narrator: The crow started to smile. She was now thinking:
Crow: Wow, what a nice fox. I always thought foxes were
mean and bad.
Fox: I’m not sure but I bet crows sing better than any other
birds. If only you could sing me a song so I would know
for sure.
Crow (thinking): Crows are great singers! Here I go…
Narrator: And sure enough, the crow opened her mouth to sing
and the cheese fell down to the fox.
Fox: Ha, ha, I got what I wanted. Thank you Miss Crow, I just
wanted your cheese. Goodbye!
Narrator: The moral of this story is to never trust anyone who
gives you too many compliments.
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kids reading together
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“Beach Party”
Font
If You Give a
Mouse a Cookie
!
a partner & trio play
by Jaime Locke
firstgradebloom.blogspot.com
{ partners }
Narrator 1: If you give a mouse a cookie…
Narrator 2: Yum, I love cookies! What kind?
Narrator 1: It doesn’t really matter because he will want a glass of milk.
Narrator 2: Oh of course. Cookies always make me thirsty. So does ice

cream. So does popcorn. So does a sandwich.
Narrator 1: When you give him the glass of milk, he will ask you for a straw.
Narrator 2: That makes sense because he can’t reach the glass to drink
out of it.
Narrator 1: Then he will want to look in a mirror…

Narrator 2: To see how handsome he is?
Narrator 1: No, to make sure he doesn’t have a milk mustache.
Narrator 2: Oh, that happens to me too. I just lick it off.
Narrator 1: But when he looks in the mirror, he will notice his fur is a bit too
long and so he will want to get a haircut.
Narrator 2: I don’t think they have beauty salons for mice though.
Narrator 1: That’s why he will ask for a pair of tiny scissors. He will go crazy
cutting his hair.
Narrator 2: All that hair on the floor will be such a mess!

Narrator 1: That’s why he will ask for a broom and go crazy sweeping it up.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he swept the whole house!
Narrator 2: A little mouse sweeping the whole house? If that’s even

possible he will be exhausted!
Narrator 1: That’s why he will ask you to make him a little bed.
Narrator 2: Hmmmmm, I guess I could find a little box and put a

handkerchief in it.
Narrator 1: That would be perfect. Then he will want you to read him a
bedtime story.
Narrator 2: I love having a bedtime story too! I know which book I would
read to him.
Narrator 1: Well he probably wouldn’t listen to the whole book because the
pictures would make him want to draw his own pictures.
Narrator 2: He will need some paper and crayons for that.

Narrator 1: Exactly. And when his picture is finished, he will want to hang it
on your refrigerator.
Narrator 2: We use magnets to hang things on our refrigerator.
Narrator 1: As he’s hanging up his drawing on the refrigerator, he will

suddenly want some milk.
Narrator 2: That sounds good to me too.
Narrator 1: And if you give him some milk, he will probably ask you for
Narrator 2: A cookie!
{ trio }
Narrator 1: If you give a mouse a cookie…
Narrator 2: Yum, I love cookies! What kind?
Narrator 1: It doesn’t really matter because
Mouse: I would like a glass of milk please.
Narrator 2: Oh of course. Cookies always make me thirsty. So does ice

cream. So does popcorn. So does a sandwich.
Narrator 1: When you give him the glass of milk he will ask
Mouse: May I have a straw for my milk?
Narrator 2: That makes sense because he can’t reach the glass to drink
out of it. What a polite little fellow.
Narrator 1: Then he will want to look in a mirror…
Narrator 2: To see how handsome he is?
Mouse: To make sure I don’t have a milk mustache.
Narrator 2: Oh, that happens to me too. I just lick it off.
Mouse: Hmmmm, I never thought of that. Great idea!

Narrator 1: But when he looks in the mirror, he will notice his fur is a bit too
long and so he will want to get a haircut.

Mouse: Just a trim actually.
Narrator 2: I don’t think they have beauty salons for mice though.
Narrator 1: That’s why he will ask for a pair of tiny scissors. He will go crazy
cutting his hair.
Mouse: It has to be perfect!
Narrator 2: All that hair on the floor will be such a mess!
Narrator 1: That’s why he will ask
Mouse: Do you have a broom I could borrow?

Narrator 1: He will go crazy sweeping up the mess. I wouldn’t be surprised
if he swept the whole house!
Narrator 2: A little mouse sweeping the whole house? If that’s even
possible he will be tired!
Mouse: I think exhausted is a better word.
Narrator 1: That’s why he will ask
Mouse: Can you make me a little bed please?
Narrator 2: Hmmmmm, I guess I could find a little box and put a

handkerchief in it.
Narrator 1: That would be perfect. Then he will want you to
Mouse: Read me a story please.


Narrator 2: I love having a bedtime story too! I know which book I would
read to him.
Narrator 1: Well he probably wouldn’t listen to the whole book because the
pictures would
Mouse: I want to draw my own pictures!
Narrator 2: He will need some paper and crayons for that.
Narrator 1: Exactly. And when his picture is finished, he will want to
Mouse: I would like to hang my masterpiece on the refrigerator.
Narrator 2: We use magnets to hang things on our refrigerator.
Narrator 1: As he’s hanging up his drawing on the refrigerator he will

suddenly think
Mouse: I’m reeeeeeally thirsty. Can I have some milk please?

Narrator 2: That sounds good to me too.
Narrator 1: And if you give him some milk, he will probably ask you for
Narrator 2: A cookie!
Mouse: Chocolate chip please.

Shout Outs:
Digital Scrap Paper
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-and-
partner and trio plays
by Jaime Locke
{ partners }
Narrator 1: Dogs don’t wear sneakers.
Narrator 2: And pigs don’t wear hats.
Narrator 1: And dresses look silly on black and white cats.
Narrator 2: Sheep don’t take showers.
Narrator 1: And goats never shave.
Narrator 2: And bears don’t take baths inside their caves.
Narrator 1: Moose don’t go bowling.
Narrator 2: And hens never swim.
Narrator 1: And you’ll never see camels working out at a gym.
Narrator 2: Skunks don’t ride scooters.
Narrator 1: And beavers don’t skate.
Narrator 2: And frogs don’t take taxis. It’s something they hate.
Narrator 1: Cows don’t go dancing.
Narrator 2: And yaks never ski.
Narrator 1: And you won’t find an apple pie, baked by a bee.

Narrator 2: Fish don’t eat bagels.
Narrator 1: And penguins don’t teach.
Narrator 2: And rabbits don’t go very often to the beach.
Narrator 1: But sometimes your dreams are crazy indeed.
Narrator 2: And funny things like these are something you need.
Narrator 1: Like parrots in tutus.
Narrator 2: And lambs stacking boxes.
Narrator 1: And very big houses all built by big foxes.
Narrator 2: Or ponies painting pictures and ducks riding bikes.
Narrator 1: And raccoons with backpacks, going on hikes.
Narrator 2: Or bulls flying airplanes and snails saving twine.
Narrator 1: So all of these crazy things are really quite fine.

{ trio }
Narrator 1: Dogs don’t wear sneakers.
Narrator 2: And pigs don’t wear hats.
Animal (pig): And dresses look silly on black and white cats.
Narrator 1: Sheep don’t take showers.
Narrator 2: And goats never shave.
Animal (bear): And bears don’t take baths inside of their caves.
Narrator 1: Moose don’t go bowling.
Narrator 2: And hens never swim.
Animal (camel): And you’ll never see camels working out at a gym.
Narrator 1: Skunks don’t ride scooters.
Narrator 2: And beavers don’t skate.
Animal (frog): And frogs don’t take taxis. It’s something we hate.
Narrator 1: Cows don’t go dancing.
Narrator 2: And yaks never ski.
Animal (bee): And you won’t find an apple pie, baked by a bee.
Narrator 1: Fish don’t eat bagels.
Narrator 2: And penguins don’t teach.
Animal (rabbits): And rabbits don’t go very often to the beach.
Narrator 1: Like parrots in tutus.
Narrator 2: And lambs stacking boxes.
Animal (fox): And very big houses all built by big foxes.
Narrator 1: Or ponies painting pictures and ducks riding bikes.
Narrator 2: And raccoons with backpacks, going on hikes.
Animal (bull): Or bulls flying airplanes and snails saving twine.
All: So all of these crazy things are really quite fine.

{ partners }
Narrator 1: Chimps don’t wear glasses.
Narrator 2: And zebras don’t cook.
Narrator 1: And you won’t see kangaroos reading a book.
Narrator 2: Horses don’t hang glide.
Narrator 1: And giraffes don’t drive cars.
Narrator 2: And you won’t see spiders saving pennies in jars.
Narrator 1: Mice don’t join Boy Scouts.
Narrator 2: And pandas don’t shop.
Narrator 1: And hamsters don’t clean with a broom or a mop.
Narrator 2: Reindeer don’t square dance.
Narrator 1: And seals don’t fly kites.
Narrator 2: And snakes don’t travel to see all the sights.
Narrator 1: Cheetahs don’t pole vault.
Narrator 2: And camels don’t sing.
Narrator 1: And roosters could never, ever be king.

Narrator 2: Tigers don’t ice-skate and wolves don’t use mugs.
Narrator 1: And you won’t see a puppet show put on by bugs.
Narrator 1: Like yaks in tuxedos and hippos on boats.
Narrator 2: And otters who drink yummy rootbeer floats.
Narrator 1: Or lions who juggle and squirrels on stilts.
Narrator 2: And lizards who know how to sew comfy quilts.
Narrator 1: Or ferrets who garden and turtles who dine.

{ trio }
Narrator 1: Chimps don’t wear glasses.
Narrator 2: And zebras don’t cook.
Animal (kangaroo): And you won’t see kangaroos reading a book.
Narrator 1: Horses don’t hang glide.
Narrator 2: And giraffes don’t drive cars.
Animal (spider): And you won’t see spiders saving pennies in jars.
Narrator 1: Mice don’t join Boy Scouts.
Narrator 2: And pandas don’t shop.
Animal (hamster): And hamsters don’t clean with a broom or a mop.
Narrator 1: Reindeer don’t square dance.
Narrator 2: And seals don’t fly kites.
Animal (snakes): And snakes don’t travel to see all the sights.
Narrator 1: Cheetahs don’t pole vault.
Narrator 2: And camels don’t sing.
Animal (rooster): And roosters could never, ever be king.

Narrator 1: Tigers don’t ice-skate and wolves don’t use mugs.
Narrator 2: And you won’t see a puppet show put on by bugs.
Narrator 1: Like yaks in tuxedos and hippos on boats.
Narrator 2: And otters who drink yummy rootbeer floats.
Narrator 1: Or lions who juggle and squirrels on stilts.
Narrator 2: And lizards who know how to sew comfy quilts.
Narrator 1: Or ferrets who garden and turtles who dine.

{ partners }
Narrator 1: Snakes don’t wear pants.
Narrator 2: And penguins can’t fly.
Narrator 1: And you’ll never see ladybugs with shoes to tie.
Narrator 2: Crocodiles don’t dance.
Narrator 1: And cheetahs can’t skip.
Narrator 2: And you’ll never see sea urchins taking a trip.
Narrator 1: Whales don’t brush their teeth.
Narrator 2: And frogs can’t write.
Narrator 1: And you’ll never see polar bears painting at night.
Narrator 2: Swans don’t swim free style.
Narrator 1: And ravens can’t read.
Narrator 2: And you’ll never see snails far in the lead.
Narrator 1: Hedgehogs don’t cuddle.
Narrator 2: And sheep can’t roll.
Narrator 1: And you’ll never see a billy goat afraid of a troll.

Narrator 2: Monkeys don’t play Scrabble.
Narrator 1: And eels can’t walk.
Narrator 2: And you’ll never see mouse carrying a clock.
Narrator 1: Like turtles on rollerblades and pigs who can paint.
Narrator 2: Or llamas named Lola or Lenny or Lane.
Narrator 1: Like falcons riding bikes or moose planting flowers.
Narrator 2: Or goldfish who jump for hours and hours.
Narrator 1: Like crabs wearing make-up or dolphins that whine.

{ trios }
Narrator 1: Snakes don’t wear pants.
Narrator 2: And penguins can’t fly.
Animal (ladybug): And you’ll never see ladybugs with shoes to tie.
Narrator 1: Crocodiles don’t dance.
Narrator 2: And cheetahs can’t skip.
Animal (sea urchin): And you’ll never see sea urchins taking a trip.
Narrator 1: Whales don’t brush their teeth.
Narrator 2: And frogs can’t write.
Animal (polar bear): And you’ll never see polar bears painting at night.
Narrator 1: Swans don’t swim free style.
Narrator 2: And ravens can’t read.
Animal (snail): And you’ll never see snails far in the lead.
Narrator 1: Hedgehogs don’t cuddle.
Narrator 2: And sheep can’t roll.
Animal (goat): And you’ll never see a billy goat afraid of a troll.
Narrator 1: Monkeys don’t play Scrabble.
Narrator 2: And eels can’t walk.
Animal (mouse): And you’ll never see mouse carrying a clock.
Animal (turtle): Like turtles on rollerblades and pigs who can paint.
Narrator 1: Or llamas named Lola or Lenny or Lane.
Narrator 2: Like falcons riding bikes or moose planting flowers.
Animal (goldfish): Or goldfish who jump for hours and hours.
Narrator 1: Like crabs wearing make-up or dolphins that whine.

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Bringing the Rain
to Kapiti Plain
a partner play
based on the book of the same name
by Jaime Locke
Name _____________________ Character: ______________________
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Storyteller 1: Far from here, in Africa, in a place called Kapiti [kah-pee-tee] .
Storyteller 2: There lived many wild animals that all roamed free.
Storyteller 1: The land was green from the African rains.
Storyteller 2: And the Massai [Muh-sie] people herded animals on the plains.
Storyteller 1: But one year it stayed very hot and dry.
Storyteller 2: Because the rain would not come by.

Storyteller 1: But a boy named Ki-pat [kie-pat] helped end the lack of rain.
Storyteller 2: And it all happened on the Kapiti Plain.
Storyteller 1: There was a cloud, all heavy with rain.

It covered the ground of Kapiti Plain.
Storyteller 2: The grass was not good, all brown and dead.
It needed much rain from overhead.
Storyteller 1: From the big, gray cloud, all heavy with rain.
The one that covered Kapiti Plain.
Storyteller 2: It was thanks to Ki-pat, who watched his herd

as he stood on one leg like the big stork bird.
Storyteller 1: His herd was cows, all hungry and dry.

They mooed for rain to fall from the sky.
Storyteller 1: Along came an eagle, who dropped a feather.

Which helped to change the very bad weather.
Storyteller 1: You know, the big, gray cloud, all heavy with rain.
Storyteller 2: Ki-pat then made an arrow, which was put together,

With a long skinny stick and the eagle feather.
Storyteller 1: He then made a bow from the wood of a tree.

And strung it with a string which was tied tightly.
Storyteller 1: And what, do you suppose, was he going to try?

To make the rain fall down from the sky?
Storyteller 1: He aimed his bow and let the arrow fly.
Storyteller 2: It sailed straight up and into the sky.

Storyteller 1: It pierced the gray cloud, all heavy with rain.
Storyteller 2: The rain then came down and showered the land.
Storyteller 1: It greened up the grass and really was grand.
Storyteller 2: The animals were refreshed from the much-needed rain.

Storyteller 1: And Ki-pat still keeps watch over Kapiti Plain.
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The
Sneaky
Leprechaun
a partner play
by Jaime Locke
The Sneaky Leprechaun
Narrator: Everybody knows that leprechauns hide pots of gold.
Leprechaun: Shhh, that’s a secret!
Narrator: No it’s not. And everybody also knows that they hide their pot of gold
at the end of a rainbow.
Leprechaun: Hey, stop giving our secret away!
Narrator: But, lucky for you little leprechaun, people have a very hard time
finding the end of the rainbow.
Leprechaun: Oh, that makes me feel better. How did you know my name?
Narrator: Your name is rainbow?
Leprechaun: No. My name is Lucky. Lucky the Leprechaun.
Narrator: Top ‘o the morning to you Lucky.
Leprechaun: Top ‘o the morning to you too.
Narrator: What are you doing out here in the forest?

Leprechaun: Like you said, I am finding a good hiding spot for my pot of gold.
Narrator: Well don’t mind me, keep looking.
Leprechaun: There are so many trees in this forest! I think I’ll dig a hole and
hide my pot right under this tree.
Narrator: Since leprechauns are magical, Lucky took out a shovel and began
digging.
Leprechaun: No one will ever find my gold here.
Narrator: Little did Lucky know, but a man who was walking through the woods
came upon Lucky and saw what he was doing.
Leprechaun: Just a bit more dirt to cover the top.
Narrator: The man had a big smile on his face because he knew exactly what
the leprechaun was doing. He hid quietly in the bushes until Lucky
left.
Leprechaun: I think I’ll go pick some clovers. Hey, wait! My hat! I must have
left it back where I hid my gold. I have to go back and get it.
Narrator: When Lucky got back to the spot where he hid his gold, he saw the
man and heard him say, “This is my lucky day! I don’t have a shovel
to dig up the gold so I will go home and come back with a shovel. “
Leprechaun: He will never find this spot again because there are soooo many
trees in the forest.
Narrator: The man decided to take the red handkerchief he had in his pocket
and tie it around the tree, under which, the pot of gold was buried.
Leprechaun: Hmmmm, that’s a pretty smart idea. But leprechauns are

smarter!
Narrator: Lucky waited until the man was gone.
Leprechaun: I’ll tie 100 red handkerchiefs on the trees around here and then
he really will never find my pot of gold.
Narrator: Lucky, that’s a very sneaky idea.

Leprechaun: We leprechauns are magical and sneaky!
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Fireworks!
a non-fiction Readers’ Theater partner play
created by
Jaime Locke
Name _____________________
Fireworks
Kid Scientist
Scientist: Hey kid, what’s your favorite holiday?
Kid: That’s easy. It’s Christmas.

Scientist: Let me guess. Your favorite holiday is Christmas because you get
presents?
Kid: Of course! But making special cookies and playing games with my family
are also why I love Christmas. What is your favorite holiday?
Scientist: I’ll give you a hint. Colors exploding in the sky with loud BOOMS!
Kid: It must be the Fourth of July and I think you’re talking about fireworks?
Scientist: Yes I am! I love this holiday because it happens in the summer and I
also spend time with my family, except we don’t make cookies. We grill
hotdogs and hamburgers and spend time at the lake.
Kid: You like the fireworks too, right?
Scientist: Oh yes, how could I forget! Even though the explosions are loud, I love
to watch them go up into the sky and burst into beautiful colors.
Kid: Yeah me too. My friend told me that little birds fly high into the sky and drop
glow sticks to make fireworks.
Scientist: You’re kidding, right?
Kid: No. It makes sense to me.

"
Scientist: Well your friend is wrong and you’re lucky I’m here because I know all
about fireworks. First, and most importantly, they do not happen
when little birds carry glow sticks high into the sky.
Kid: I didn’t really believe him.
Scientist: Okay. Before I tell you anything about fireworks, I must tell you this:
fireworks, although cool, are dangerous and in some places illegal.
Kid: I’m guessing illegal means you’re not supposed to have them?
Scientist: Right. Fireworks are dangerous and should only be handled by adults
who know what they’re doing.
Kid: That makes sense.
Scientist: There are different kinds of fireworks but the kind we’re talking about
are aerial fireworks.
Kid: I’m guessing aerial means the ones that go way up into the sky and
explode?
Scientist: Right again. So an aerial firework is actually pretty simple because it

has five parts. It has a container, a fuse, black powder, a bursting
charge and stars.
Kid: I’m guessing a container is just something you put all of the other stuff in?
Scientist: Very good. Some containers are shaped like long tubes and others are
shaped like balls.
Kid: I’m not sure what a fuse is.
Scientist: It’s the string that hangs off of the firework.

#
Kid: Oh, the thing you light on fire?
Scientist: You got it.
Kid: I’m guessing black powder is just that, black powder? But fireworks aren’t
black or we would never see them.
Scientist: It is black powder but it’s a special powder that is very explosive. It
is one of the things that helps the firework blow up in the sky.
Kid: There’s something else that helps it blow up?
Scientist: Yes there is. It’s called a bursting charge . This is simply a long
tube-shaped explosive mixture. When you light the fuse, the fire burns
up the fuse until it reaches the end of the fuse. The end of the fuse is
tucked inside the bursting charge.
Kid: So when the fire reaches the bursting charge everything goes KA-BOOM?
Scientist: Exactly. And the last thing a firework must have is stars . But I’m not
talking about the kind of stars you see in the night sky. These stars are
like little balls that get poured into the firework container, with the black
powder. These little balls contain the beautiful colors you see exploding
in the night sky on the Fourth of July.
Kid: You know what? I don’t think the Fourth of July is the only time when you
can see fireworks.
Scientist: That’s true. I’ve seen fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Kid: Me too! I also saw fireworks at Disneyland once.
Scientist: I’ve heard that there are lots of fireworks in China for Chinese New Year.
And did you know that fireworks were invented in China?
$
Kid: I had no idea. Hey, I just thought of something. It seems like fireworks are
used to celebrate good and happy things.
Scientist: Yeah, you’re right kid.
Kid: Then what exactly are we celebrating on the Fourth of July?

Scientist: Way back in 1776, the United States became the United States.
It’s a long story, but England was in charge for a long time until people
didn’t like it anymore and changed things. A very important
document was written and signed on July 4th that said that England
wasn’t in charge anymore and that the United States was its own free
country.
Kid: That sounds like something to celebrate all right. So why are the colors red,
white and blue so important on the Fourth of July?
Scientist: Good question! The flag of the United States is red, white and blue and
July 4th is the holiday to celebrate the start of the United States. But
not many people know that our flag wasn’t created until about a year
after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Kid: Is that the important document you were talking about?
Scientist: Yes it is kid.
Kid: Okay, maybe I’ve changed my mind.
Scientist: About what?

Kid: About my favorite holiday. I think it’s now the Fourth of July.
Scientist: Join the club!
Kid: THE END.

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How Crayons
Are Made
A Non-Fiction Readers’ Theater play
created by
Jaime Locke
Name _____________________

Kid #1 Kid #2
Kid #1: I have a riddle for you.

Kid #2: Okay, what is it?
Kid #1: What is something that everyone has used, some have tried to eat and
comes in boxes?
Kid #2: I have no idea. Kleenex?
Kid #1: No, it’s crayons.
Kid #2: Oh I get it. Yeah, my little brother tried to eat a crayon once.
Kid #1: Have you ever wondered how crayons are made?
Kid #2: Not really.
Kid #1: Well I have and I found out.
Kid #2: And I bet you’re going to tell me all about it.
Kid #1: If you insist. It all starts with wax.
Kid #2: Wax? Like candles?

Kid #1: Yes, both candles and crayons are made of wax.
Kid #2: But you can’t color with candles.
Kid #1: That’s because there are other ingredients that are added to the wax. The
wax that is used is usually paraffin because it’s easy to melt.
"
Kid #2: What other ingredients are added to the melted wax?
Kid #1: Powders and chemicals.
Kid #2: What kind of powders and chemicals?
Kid #1: That’s a secret. Each company adds their own special things and doesn’t
tell anyone. But I do know that the powder is to make the wax stronger.
Kid #2: They must add some kind of color to the wax mixture.
Kid #1: Yes, a powdered dye is added to the hot liquid mixture.
Kid #2: What is a dye?
Kid #1: It is something that turns things different colors.
Kid #2: So all of the ingredients are mixed together, heated up and then what
happens?
Kid #1: The liquid is squirted into molds. Molds are shape holders and in this case
they are shaped like crayons.
Kid #2: I bet the liquid gets cooled so it turns from a liquid to a solid.
Kid #1: Wow, you were paying attention during that science lesson!
The crayons are popped out of the molds and then get wrapped.
Kid #2: So are there people mixing, squirting and wrapping all these crayons?
Kid #1: Not really. People add the ingredients and machines do the squirting and
wrapping. The Crayola crayon company double wraps each crayon to make
them stronger and less likely to break.
Kid #2: I bet machines do most of the work because they are faster than people.
#
Kid #1: You’re probably right. I also bet machines can make more crayons than
people.
Kid #2: Everybody in my class has a box of crayons in their desk. That’s
probably more than one hundred crayons. I bet everybody in my school
has a box of crayons. I think I need a calculator.
Kid #1: I learned that the Crayola company, with their machines, can make
8,500 crayons in a minute.
Kid #2: Woah! That’s a lot of crayons!

Kid #1: You got that right. Do you remember that crayons are made of wax?
Kid #2: Yes, why?
Kid #1: My mom recycles my old broken crayons.

Kid #2: What do you mean?
Kid #1: She peels off the wrappers and puts all the bits and pieces into cans and
then either puts them in the oven or into a pot of hot water.
Kid #2: Then what does she do?

Kid #1: She pours the melted crayons into molds and lets them cool.
Kid #2: And then you have new crayons! How cool! I want to try that!
Kid #1: Well let’s go ask my mom.
Kid #2: You’ve got it!
Kids: THE END.

Name _____________________

Narrator Kid #1 Kid #2
Narrator: I have a riddle for you.

Kid #1: Okay, what is it?
Narrator: What is something that everyone has used, some have tried to eat and
comes in boxes?
Kid #2: I have no idea. Kleenex?
Narrator: No, it’s crayons.
Kid #1: Oh I get it. Yeah, my little brother tried to eat a crayon once.
Narrator: Have you ever wondered how crayons are made?
Kid #2: No, not really.
Narrator: Well I have and I found out.
Kid #1: Tell us all about it!
Narrator: Gladly! It all starts with wax.
Kid #2: Wax? Like candles?

Narrator: Yes, both candles and crayons are made of wax.
Kid #1: But you can’t color with candles.
Narrator: That’s because there are other ingredients that are added to the wax.
The wax that is used is usually paraffin because it’s easy to melt.
"
Kid #2: What other ingredients are added to the melted wax?
Narrator: Powders and chemicals.
Kid #1: What kind of powders and chemicals?
Narrator: That’s a secret. Each company adds their own special things and
doesn’t tell anyone. But I do know that the powder is to make the wax
stronger.
Kid #2: They must add some kind of color to the wax mixture.
Narrator: Yes, a powdered dye is added to the hot liquid mixture.
Kid #1: What is a dye?
Narrator: It is something that turns things different colors.

Kid #2: So all of the ingredients are mixed together, heated up and then what
happens?
Narrator: The liquid is squirted into molds. Molds are shape holders and in this
case they are shaped like crayons.
Kid #1: I bet the liquid gets cooled so it turns from a liquid to a solid.
Narrator: Wow, you were paying attention during that science lesson!
The crayons are popped out of the molds and then get wrapped.
Kid #2: So are there people mixing, squirting and wrapping all these crayons?
Narrator: Not really. People add the ingredients and machines do the squirting and
wrapping. The Crayola crayon company double wraps each crayon to
make them stronger and less likely to break.
#
Kid #1: I bet machines do most of the work because they are faster than people.
Narrator: You’re probably right. I also bet machines can make more crayons than
people.
Kid #2: Everybody in my class has a box of crayons in their desk. That’s
probably more than one hundred crayons. I bet everybody in my school
has a box of crayons. I think I need a calculator.
Narrator: I learned that the Crayola company, with their machines, can make
8,500 crayons in a minute.
Kid #1: Woah! That’s a lot of crayons!

Narrator: You got that right. Do you remember that crayons are made of wax?
Kid #2: Yes, why?
Narrator: A friend of mine recycles old broken crayons.

Kid #1: What do you mean?
Narrator: She peels off the wrappers and puts all the bits and pieces into cans
and then either puts them in the oven or into a pot of hot water.
Kid #2: Then what does she do?
Narrator: She pours the melted crayons into molds and lets them cool.
Kid #1: And then you have new crayons! How cool! I want to try that!
Narrator: Well let’s go see my friend.
Kid #2: Yeah, let’s go!
Narrator: THE END.

Name _____________________
Comprehension Check
1. What is the most important ingredient in crayons?
$ powder
$ wax
$ chemicals
2. How do crayons get their shape?

$ They are rolled by hand.
$ They are put into molds.
3. How does the Crayola company make their crayons

so strong? _______________________________________
_________________________________________________
4. What is your favorite crayon color? ______________
5. If you could create a new crayon name, what would it

be?_____________________
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A
N
a Readers’ Theater
T
partner play sample
created by
Jaime Locke
S
Name _____________________
Ants
Ant Kid
Kid: It’s such a nice day outside. I think I’ll go for a walk.
Ant: It’s such a nice day outside. It’s time to go find and gather food.
Kid: I’m going outside, see you later mom.
Ant: I’m going outside the nest. I will be back soon my Queen.
Kid: Hey, what’s that tiny little black thing?
Ant: Oh no, what’s that gigantic thing?
Kid: Oh, it’s just a little bug.
Ant: Just a little bug? Hey, giganto, come here.
Kid: Is that bug talking to me?
Ant: Yes I am! And I’m not just a bug, I’m an ant thank you very much.
Kid: Okay fine, you’re a little ant.
Ant: I may be little but I’m strong for my size.
Kid: How strong?

Ant: I can lift things that are twenty times my weight. That would be like you
trying to lift a baby elephant.
Kid: Wow, that is strong!
"
Ant: The reason I’m so strong is because of my body.
Kid: Yeah, it looks weird.
Ant: It’s not weird, it’s different. I have three body parts: a head, a thorax and
an abdomen. I also have six legs and an exoskeleton.
Kid: An exo what ?

Ant: An exoskeleton. That means I do not have bones like you do. The outside of
my body is hard to protect the inside of my body which is soft.
Kid: Woah, that’s pretty cool too. What else is cool about ants?
Ant: Well, we can’t chew and swallow food.

Kid: That’s not really cool.
Ant: Instead of chewing, we suck all the juice out of our food by squeezing it.
Then we just throw the rest of it away.
Kid: Hmmmm, that’s gross but cool. So are ants harmful or helpful to humans?
Ant: That’s a very good question. For the most part we are helpful. We
dig tunnels underground for our nests which helps mix up and aerate the soil.
That means we help put air into the soil. We also eat other bugs that are
bothersome to humans.
Kid: Do all ants look the same?
Ant: Not necessarily. Some ants are black and some are red. Some ants have
wings but most do not.
Kid: No, I mean what do baby ants and teenager ants and old ants look like?
Ant: Oh, you are curious about the lifecycle of the ant.
Kid: Yeah I guess. #
Ant: The human lifecycle includes: baby, child, teenager, adult. The ant lifecycle
includes: egg, larva [lar-vuh], pupa [pew-puh] and adult.
Kid: I know what egg and adult are but what were those other two?
Ant: When an ant hatches from an egg, a small little worm-like creature called a
larva [lar-vuh] is what comes out. A larva has no eyes and all it does is
eat so it can change into a pupa [pew-puh].
Kid: Yeah, that’s the other word I didn’t understand.
Ant: When the larva is done eating, it makes a cocoon
Kid: Just like a butterfly?
Ant: Yes! The creature inside the cocoon is the pupa. When it comes out, it is an
ant. Most new ants are yellow but their color gets darker as their exoskeleton
hardens.
Kid: That’s interesting. So I heard that some people eat ants. Is that true?
Ant: Yes it is. There is even an ant that tastes like a lemon drop. But it’s not me,
so don’t eat me!
Kid: Don’t worry, I don’t plan to.
Ant: Unfortunately there are many animals who do want to eat us: frogs, spiders,
and snakes are just a few of our predators.
Kid: Oh, I see. Thanks for changing my mind about ants. They are pretty cool. I
want to learn more though.
Ant: You can learn more by reading about ants and even by watching ants. You
can even go to college and become a myrmecologist [mur-meck-all-uh-gist].
That’s someone who studies ants.
Kid: Cool, thanks little buddy. THE END.
Name _____________________
Partner/Trio Discussion: Ants
1. Why do you think ants are so strong?
2. What do you know about an ant’s body?
3. What do you know about how ants eat?
4. Why do you think many animals and even humans eat

ants?
5. What is the coolest thing you learned about ants?
6. What else do you want to know about ants?

Name _____________________
Comprehension Check: Ants
1. Ants are not very strong. True False
2. Ants have 3 body parts. Which one is NOT one of them?

$ tail
$ head
$ abdomen
3. Which body part is missing from question 2?
the _______________
4. Ants eat only liquid food. True False
5. What are the different parts of the ant lifecycle?
First is _______________
Next comes the _______________
Then comes the _______________
Finally an _______________ emerges.
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Print Clearly
More Reaching across the curriculum to incorporate
Readers’ science and social and studies allows students

more opportunities and access to
Theater informational reading, which helps students
“build a foundation of knowledge in these fields
Plays that will also give them the background
knowledge to be better readers in all content
areas” (CCSS).
non-FICTION
! Chinese New Year
! Christmas Customs
! Diary of a Worm
“The fluent reader sounds good, is ! Eggstravaganza
easy to listen to, and reads with ! Fingerprints
enough expression to help the ! Fireworks –free-
! Groundhog’s Day
listener understand and enjoy.”
! Salmon Come From Eggs –free-
~Charles Clark, 1999 ! Martin’s Message (MLK)
! The Life Cycle of the Apple
! The Life Cycle of the Butterfly
! The Life Cycle of the Frog
! The Life Cycle of the Pumpkin
! The Life Cycle of the Snowman
! The Water Cycle
! Volcanoes
FICTION
! Ant MEGA Pack
! The Great Turkey Race
! Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain –free-
! The Gruffalo
! Caps for Sale
! The Mitten
! Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type
! The Sneaky Leprechaun -free-
! Dogs Don’t Wear Sneakers –free-
! The Stinky Cheese Man -free-
! Don’t Let the Pigeon. . .
! The Three Billy Goats Gruff -free-
! Dooby Dooby Moo
! The Three Little Turkeys
! Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
! Tikki Tikki Tembo
! Giggle Giggle Quack
! Two Bad Ants
! Gingerbread Dude
! The Ugly Snowsuit
! Hey Little Ant!
! The Very Cranky Bear –free-
! How I Spent My Summer Vacation
! Thump, Quack, Moo!
! I Love You Stinky Face
! Tikki Tikki Tembo
! If You Give a Mouse a Cookie –free-
! Too Many Pumpkins –free-
! Moose’s Loose Tooth -free-
! Tooth Fairy PACK
! Partner Plays PACK #1, #2 & #3
! Pigs –free-
! Pigsty
! Pirate PACK www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Locke
! Pirate Pete
! Room on the Broom
! Sadie & the Snowman
! Sneezy the Snowman
! Splat the Cat
! Snow PACK
! Stone Soup
! The Ant Bully
! The Enormous Potato
Close Reading in Acti o n
" Read for the main idea.
“Can you tell/show me what the five parts of the apple lifecycle are
and what order they go in?”
# Read to extract details.

“Let’s talk about the apple seed . Think about what? when?
where? why? how? and who?”
$ Read to expand.
“Why did the author create a play about the apple lifecycle?”
“What are the most important things somebody needs to know if
they are going to plant apple seeds and have not read this play?”
“Does this play make you think of anything (connections)? Does
that connection help you better understand the play. . .why?”
Cl o se Reading & Readers’ Theater
Close reading in grades K-2, in my opinion, is
a careful and purposeful rereading of a more complex text in
order to understand and interact with it on a deeper level.
!
Any type of text can be used and the reading

can happen in a whole or small group.
!
Each time students read a text they are focused on something different:
" Come away with the main idea.

Students should be able to verbally retell the gist and/or map it out.
# Extract details through discussion.

Take the main idea that students stated and break it down,.
$ Expand upon the text

Evaluate the text and talk about connections, inferences,
implications, and importance.
Any type of text can be used, including Readers’ Theater

scripts! Rereading is the inherent feature of Readers’ Theater
so each time the script is read, not only does student fluency
improve, but close reading can happen because the brain is
not focusing on decoding and can instead work on active
comprehension.
Close Reading with Highlighters
When your students answer the ‘comprehension check’ questions,
they can show you their proof by highlighting the answer(s) in the
script itself. Each question can have its own color
(highlight the question number and the answer so you can see which
ones are supposed to match up).

Thank you for your interest in this teaching resource!
Learn more about my resources @ The First Grade Bloom.
My Blog
http://firstgradebloom.blogspot.com
Pinterest
www.pinterest.com/firstgradebloom
Instagram
Google+
My classroom website
www.asdk12.org/staff/locke_jaime/pages/1stgradeMrsLocke
E-mail
firstgradebloom@gmail.com

Readers' Theater: Greatest Hits

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Readers' Theater: Greatest Hits

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Readers’ Theater

Greatest FREE Hits

created by Jaime Locke

My name is Jaime Locke and I ! Readers’ Theater! I love to

write scripts and put on plays with my students. The growth in

fluency (pace, smoothness, expression) is amazing!

Guided Reading either as part of my group or for Read with

I’ve used Readers’ Theater in both my 2nd and 1st grade

classrooms, in both French and English, for the past 17 years of my

I decided to put all my free plays into one download because. . .

Readers’ Theater in your classroom!

Narrator 1 Narrator 2 Bear Sheep Lion Zebra Moose

Narrator 1: In a big, green jungle on a cold and rainy day.

Narrator 2: Four furry friends found the perfect place to play.

Narrator 1: Moose had antlers and Lion had a mane

Moose: Let’s play cards in this nice warm cave.

Lion: Can we play Go Fish?

Narrator 1: None of them noticed that someone else was there.

Narrator 2: Sleeping in that cave was a very cranky

Bear: Roar, ROAR, ROAR!

Narrator 1: He showed his teeth and roared again.

Sheep: He looked pretty tired to me.

Sheep: I think he needs a nap.

Zebra: Sheep what are you babbling about?

Sheep: They have no idea what they’re getting into.

Moose: Yoo hoo, grumpy old bear!

Zebra: Hellooooooooo Mr. Crankypants!

Lion: Bonjour Mr. Grumpybottom!

Sheep: Maybe they’ve been eaten?

Narrator 2: But then, from the cave, came a very cranky

Bear: Look at me! I look ridiculous! I’m a bear, not a moozebrion!

Sheep: I think he just made that word up.

Bear: Yes I did! All I really want is a quiet place to sleep!

Sheep: That’s what I thought.

Bear: You knew? Why didn’t you tell your friends?

Narrator 1: She tip-toed back inside the cave.

Moose: That sheep is really very brave.

Zebra: Oh now I know what she was babbling about!

Moose: Why didn’t she just tell us that?

Narrator 2: So Moose, Zebra, Lion and Sheep

Narrator 1: Read the bear a bedtime story so he could fall asleep.

Moose, Zebra, Lion, Sheep: The End.

Bear: (snoring) Zzzzzzzzzzz.

Narrator Moose Bird Tiger Zebra Elephant

Moose: I’m hungry and tree bark looks good to me.

Narrator: Moose had never had a loose tooth before.

Bird: Do you have a loose tooth Moose?

Moose: Yes and I’m afraid it’s going to fall out.

Bird: That’s what baby teeth do.

Moose: Baby teeth? But I’m not a baby!

Tiger: Did I hear something about a loose tooth?

Tiger: Let me help then.

Tiger: That is one stubborn tooth you have Moose.

Zebra: Did I hear something about a loose tooth?

Moose: Yes. I have a wibbly wobbly loose tooth.

Moose: Maybe I will never lose this baby tooth.

Elephant: Did I hear something about a loose tooth?

Tiger: Moose has a very loose but very stubborn tooth.

Zebra: Do you want to help?

Moose: What? Why?

Zebra: Haven’t you heard of the Tooth Fairy?

Moose: I give up!

Elephant: You can have one of my tusks Moose.