I-53. MAGELLAN (1480-1521)
CIRCUMNAVIGATOR OF THE WORLD - Grades 6-10
After a perilous and disastrous journey, the dregs of Magellan's fleet sail into Spain. The King of Spain welcomes three of the survivors: Del Cano (second in command), Antonio Pigafetta (a writer who went along to record the journey), and one of Magellan's sailors. As they talk, the dramatic details of an ill-fated journey become clear. A fleet of five ships and over 250 men has dwindled to one ship and 18 men! Lack of wind, ice, starvation, native attacks, murder, and mutiny colour the tale. Magellan has not survived the journey, but has named the Pacific ocean and his fleet has circumnavigated the world! (5 Readers)

I-54. LEWIS AND CLARK (1774-1809; 1770-1838)
EXPLORERS OF THE AMERICAN WEST - Grades 6-10
Inspired by Voyages from Montreal by Canadian Alexander Mackenzie, Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, sends a team of explorers into America's wild west. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark have returned to Washington with their guest, Chief Big White of the Mandans. All meet at the White House as the president requests a brief summary of the trip. He quickly learns of the careful studies and preparations needed to prepare for the trip, of 180 new types of plants identified in the field, of animals like coyote, and of jackrabbits seen for the first time by eastern explorers. He hears the story of Sacagawea and her role in helping the explorers survive! Lewis and Clark are rewarded, and this voyage ends happily. (4 Readers)

I-55. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE (1764-1820)
CROSSING CANADA BY LAND - Grades 6-10
Loyalist Alexander Mackenzie mounts two long and difficult explorations in his search for a water route to the West. "Why?" asks his cousin Roderick. "Furs, man, furs!" replies Mackenzie. In this scene Mackenzie, fellow explorer McKay, two voyageurs, and Roderick remember the excitement, hardships, and challenges of two famous Canadian explorations. By 20 he had become a partner in the fur trading business and was sent to Fort Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca, where he met McKay. Both men dreamed of finding a water route to the West. Their first attempt took them down "the River of Disappointment" ending at the Arctic Ocean. Their second journey, however, took them to "the Stinking Lake," better known as the Pacific Ocean! (5 Readers)

I-56. JACQUES CARTIER (1491-1557)
SEARCHING FOR A WATER ROUTE TO CHINA - Grades 6-10
Back in France, Jacques Cartier meets a friend on the street who asks Jacques where he has been for the last three years. "I've been in Canada, in the new world, exploring for the king!" he answers. A fisherman joins the pair and talk turns to fishing, marriage, and then to exploration. Suddenly a messenger interrupts him and he is led away to meet with the king. The king is not happy. Cartier's stash of gold, diamonds, and rubies from the new world is worthless. "Your gold is fools gold!" shouts the king. "The diamonds and rubies are just quartz crystals and mica!" There will be no more money spent on Cartier expeditions. Cartier sadly rejoins his friends on the street. "Maybe," he says, "I'll return to my boyhood home and - go fishing!" (5 Readers)

I-57. LEIF ERICSSON (Approx. 960-1020)
VIKING DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA - Grades 6-10
Two Scandinavian children, Lars and Anna, have waited patiently for the skalds (storytellers) to begin. They tell how, long ago, Eric the Red had a fiery temper to go with the fiery color of his hair. In fact, Eric's temper caused him to be banished from both Norway and Iceland, so he and his wife settled in Greenland to raise their children. Leif, Eric's son, (Leif Ericsson) grew to manhood, visited Norway, and became a favorite of the Norwegian king. On the return trip to Greenland, Leif rescued the survivors of a shipwreck and gained the nickname, Leif the Lucky! And he WAS lucky. Later he sailed off to discover three lands: Helluland, Markland, and Vinland. Many believe the new land was North America! (6 Readers)

I-58. CAPTAIN JAMES COOK (1728-1779)
EXPLORING FROM CANADA TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC - Grades 6-10
Three sailors, a clerk, and a mate watch from the ship as Captain James Cook is killed by natives in the Hawaiian Islands. As a funeral pyre flares, the men recall their voyages with Captain Cook. As a young man, Cook helped chart the St. Lawrence River in North America. Later he returned to search for the elusive Northwest Passage. But the men especially remember the voyages to the South Pacific, first to watch Venus pass between the earth and sun from a particular location, then to explore Easter Island where they discovered the giant stone heads! "Our captain is gone," says the clerk, "but his achievements will last forever!" (5 Readers)

I-59. LA SALLE (1634-1687)
TAMING THE MISSISSIPPI - Grades 6-10
This scene opens as a French hunter, settler, and carpenter complain about the miserable time they are having as would-be settlers in La Salle's expedition. LaSalle and a trapper friend enter and try to make the men feel better by comparing present hardships to those suffered on other journeys. They talk about earlier Mississippi river explorations: the hunger, the alligators, the Indians, the discouragement, and travelling back to New France against the river's current. But they also remember, with pride, the placing of a cross on the riverbank as they claimed the land in the name of Louis XIV, King of France and of Navarree. The three settlers are not impressed; they make plans to kill LaSalle, take his supplies, and continue on their own. (5 Readers)

I-60. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (1451-1506)
DISCOVERER OF A NEW WORLD - Grades 6-10
Christopher Columbus, back in Spain after his long and famous voyage, visits a monastery to thank the monk for his prayers. Two brothers, Bartholomew and Diego, join them and are eager to discuss the voyage from beginning to end. Each of Christopher's three ships had a surgeon and supplies to last a year. Cooking was done in a cook-box set on a bed of sand. Christopher's mission had always been to discover a new route to India and to spread Christianity, "the true religion!" On this voyage he believed he had found the islands off India, and felt the natives there would be easily converted to Christianity. And, even though the sailors were close to mutiny just before land was sighted the voyage had been a success! (4 Readers)

I-61. MARCO POLO (1254-1324)
CHINA ADVENTURER AND AUTHOR EXTRAORDINAIRE - Grades 6-10
Venice and Genoa are at war. Marco Polo has been captured and thrown into jail. He sits in his cell with writer, Rustichello, telling of his incredible experiences in China. Rustichello writes the stories down. Polo tells of a desert crossing which took thirty days, of visions of water and trees where there was only sand, and of lost lives. When Khan sends an escort, the Polos are finally welcomed to his world. It has taken three and a half years to get there. Polo describes Khan's systems for money (paper!), messages (these could be received 300 miles away within 24 hours!), and bathing (daily!). Soon Rustichello's book on Polo's adventures will be ready. All the world wants to know about the wealth and wonder of the East. (4 Readers)

I-62. CHAMPLAIN (1567-1635)
THE FATHER OF NEW FRANCE - Grades 6-10
Champlain is on his way to prison. Accompanied by a Frenchman, an Englishman, an Indian, and a guard. Champlain has crossed the ocean over twenty times, and his travelling companions are eager to hear his stories. In the early days of Champlain's explorations, he spent cold winters in Nova Scotia on the Bay of Fundy setting up a trading post for furs. Later, he named "Kebec" (Quebec) from an Indian word and built a fort there. Eventually, he explored the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing, the Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior. He charted the land, hoping settlers would flock to Canada. But the war between England and France is landing him in jail. All agree they have been honoured to share his company. (5 Readers)

READERS THEATRE WORKSHOP FOR YOUR NEXT PROFFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY  AVAILABLE AS A HALF OR FULL DAY PROGRAM SOME RECENT SPONSORS: BEREA (USA): Calgary, AB and Vancouver, BC; Association of BC Drama Educators: Courtenay, BC; Wellington Exempted Schools: Wellington, OH, (USA); Edmonton Catholic Teachers Association: Edmonton, AB; International Reading Association, NY, (USA); BCTLA: Vernon, BC.

 

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