P-11. THANKSGIVING - A THANKSGIVING SURPRISE
A holiday story told in verse. Verses are read, as simple shapes are drawn on blackboard or display pad. The story begins: A poor hungry man, his wife, and a mouse, all live together in a round sod house. (Circle shape is drawn to indicate the round house). The reading continues: Here is the house, round as can be. But there's more to this story than the EYE CAN SEE! Indeed there is. The story ends with the drawing of a turkey who is just in time for Thanksgiving! (Teacher narrates, special lines for 9 other readers and/or whole class.)

P-16. CHRISTMAS - ARDITH MAGEE AND THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE
Ardith Magee has four pets: an alligator, an armadillo, an anteater, an antelope, and an antosaurus. She decides to take each on a Christmas shopping spree to the local mall. Ardith's pets buy advent calendars, acoustic guitars, antbrittle, ankle bracelets, candied applies, and airline tickets to Australia. On Christmas morning Ardith's mother receives a box of Aunt Anna's All-American Apricot Jellies and Jams. Her father receives a pair of hot pink angora socks. By now, of course, you've noticed that Ardith's Christmas is filled with "A" words! The best gift, however is an L word - LOVE, and that gift is given when the antosaurus dries his tears and wishes everyone a "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" (Teacher narrates, whole class participates.)

P-17. VALENTINE'S DAY - OWL'S PERFECT VALENTINE
Here's another holiday "draw and read" story for primary readers. Teacher narrates this tale about Oliver the wise old owl who is searching for a perfect valentine. Eager listeners make owl sounds, repeat each line of the repetitive readers chorus (echo fashion), and clap their hands in rhythm to the chorus beat. Narrator stops after each verse to draw a simple shape on the blackboard or display pad. The story ends with the drawing of a perfect valentine complete with heart shape, cupid's arrow, and lacy edges. Oliver ruffles his "wiggle wiggle wings", taps his "tickle tickle toes", and has a very happy valentine's day! (Teacher narrates, whole class participates.)

P-18. ST. PATRICK'S DAY - A HOLIDAY FOR PADDY O'SHAY
A shoe mending leprechaun, Paddy O'Shay, decides to celebrate St. Patrick's Day by taking the day off! He puts away his needle and thread, grabs his shillelagh, and marches off through the shamrocks singing his own special song. Readers and listeners alike repeat that song throughout the story, as our leprechaun embarks on a journey to find "The Leprechaun Who Mends Shamrocks!" All participate (through sounds and actions) as Paddy marches, runs, swims, and climbs in his quest to find the leprechaun he seeks. Paddy finds her, of course, and returns home to "dance a jig and sing his song one last time." A festive way to learn about St. Patrick's Day! (Teacher narrates, whole class participates.)

P-19. HALLOWE'EN - THE "THING" THAT GLOWS IN THE DARK!
On Hallowe'en night Pam and Ron, Jan and Pete, dress themselves for "Trick or Treat!" They call the dog (the dog named Rags, the dog with the tail that always wags) and the cat (the cat named Scat, the cat who always smells a rat) and all head off to meet THE THING THAT GLOWS IN THE DARK!!! Teacher narrates and assigned readers recite the many simple lines which are repeated again and again throughout the tale. Readers and listeners alike join in on the "Trick or Treat" chorus. Simple shapes are drawn on blackboard or display pad as the story unfolds. Scat the cat solves the mystery and the finished drawing shows our dreaded "THING!" It's a jack-o-lantern, of course! (17 Readers, but whole class can participate, if desired.)
 

I-17. EASTER - EASTER DRAW AND READ
Readers and artists join forces to read this wonderful story told in verse. Readers read thirteen verses, but stop after each verse to draw a simple shape on the blackboard or display pad. The circus has come to town and has hung a banner inside the main tent announcing "Special Guest Star! Easter Thrills and More!" No one, including the clowns, knows the identity of the Special Guest Star. As one drawn shape is added to another, the mystery is solved. It's the Easter Bunny, of course, fluffy tail and all! A great tale for intermediate readers to practice and then perform for the primary grades. (4 Readers)

I-18. THANKSGIVING - A THANKSGIVING SURPRISE
Another holiday story told in verse. Again readers read, but stop after each verse to draw a simple shape on the blackboard or display pad. The story begins: A poor hungry man, his wife, and a mouse, all lived together in a round sod house. (Circle shape is drawn to indicate the round house). The reading continues: Here is the house, round as can be. But there's more to this story than the EYE CAN SEE! Indeed there is! The story ends with the drawing of a turkey who is just in time for Thanksgiving! (4 Readers)

I-29. CHRISTMAS - ARDITH MAGEE AND THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE
Same wonderful plot as in the primary version of this tale, but parts are divided amongst narrators, Ardith, Mother, and Father who describe the Christmas shopping sprees of their pet alligator, armadillo, anteater, antelope, and antosaurus. The animals shop for the perfect Christmas gift, buying advent calendars, acoustic guitars, antbrittle, ankle bracelets, candied applies, and airline tickets to Australia. On Christmas morning, however, the most treasured gift is the gift of LOVE and it is given by Ardith who dries the antosaurus's tears and wishes the whole family a "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" (4 Readers)

I-30. VALENTINE'S DAY - OWL'S PERFECT VALENTINE
Same basic plot as the popular primary version of this story, but a more sophisticated version. Four readers relate the tale of Oliver the owl who wastes his time searching for the "perfect valentine". Reader #4 reads Oliver's lines and gets in trouble with other cast members by practising "Whoooooo!" in all the wrong places! As the story progresses, simple shapes are drawn on blackboard or display pad. Finally, Reader #4 "sees the light" and gives Oliver the credit he deserves. Readers #1, #2, and #3 have to agree. The makings of a perfect valentine have been in front of them all along! (4 Readers)

I-31. ST. PATRICK'S DAY - A HOLIDAY FOR PADDY O'SHAY
It is the "tip top of a St. Patrick's Day morning" when a shoe mending leprechaun named Paddy O'Shay decides to take the day off! Paddy grabs his "sprig of shillelagh" and strolls off to find a green sewing needle threaded with shamrock green thread. The needle tells him to find "The Leprechaun Who Mends Shamrocks". An old leprechaun, dressed all in orange, invites Paddy to help play a jig on the fiddle, reed pipe, and harp, but Paddy follows the needle's advice and finally meets an ancient leprechaun who turns shamrocks into four leaf clovers - for the "luck o' the Irish!" Many St. Patrick's Day vocabulary words and phrases find meaning in this exciting script. (7 Readers)

I-32. HALLOWE'EN - THE "THING" THAT GLOWS IN THE DARK!
Four readers tell the spooky tale of Jamie and Matt who decide to spend Hallowe'en night camping out on the grounds of an old haunted estate. The boys collect their tent, backpacks, and supplies, then meet in front of the estate gate. Both notice the "strange eerie light" which seems to follow them everywhere. Around the corner a hounddog's bark warns of the Thing that glows in the dark, but the boys ignore the warning, scout out the property, and set up camp. When the boys become separated, a black cloud covers the moon, and Matt alone confronts the dreaded Thing. To this day, only a few people know the true identity of that Thing - a jack-o-lantern, of course! (4 Readers) 

...if there were a plentiful source of ready-to-use scripts, perhaps READERS THEATRE would become a 'do it today' activity instead of a 'someday' activity."  Dr. Caroline Feller Bauer,  PRESENTING READERS THEATRE,  H.W. Wilson, New York, 1986

"The possibilities are endless ... I can see whole language skills such as listening, speaking, and reading improving with Take Part Read-Aloud Story Scripts. Highly recommended." CM, Canadian Materials, review publication of the Canadian Library Association

Back to  Mini-Collection	Complete Catalogue  INDEX	Grades 4-10