I have recently written some harvest poems and songs for key stage 1 and 2 to use during harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations/ assemblies.
One is based around nursery rhymes for the verse(with appropriate tweaking of the words to be relevant to harvest-time), and uses the tune of oranges and lemons to accompany the choruses.
Another is a thanksgiving song which is written to the tune of 'If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands', and is very simple and repetitive, but goes through all of the different types of foods, ie, dairy, cereal, fruit, veg, meat etc.
My favourite is the one that I have downloaded here which would work great with key stage 2 children and uses anagrams of the word HARVEST within the poem whilst the children hold the appropriate letters aloft. I have included 'stage direction', and have deliberately ordered the words in the poem to require as few changes around of the letters as possible. The anagram concept could potentially be extended in class.
The other 2 harvest poems that I have mentioned can be reached and downloaded via my free educational poetry website link opposite.
<p>I have written a selection of Mothers Day performance poems and songs for ks1&2 and downloaded my favourite here. The poem reads like a rhyming recipe and instructions to make a Homebaked Mum with 22 ingredients (laughter, love, comfort, mischief etc). Basic baking props reqd. Included is a picture sheet of each ingredient which can be used as a visual. See my free website www.angelaspoems.co.uk, for more, including You’re My Mum for younger children é Someone Special, not exclusive to Mums! (could be sung to tune of Puff the Magic Dragon.</p>
I have a great variety of instantly downloadable, easily adapted primary aged nativity scripts, all written in rhyme and rhythm with small speaking parts (adaptable to suit)to make everyone feel special. There are no hidden extras NO LICENCE FEE, and they cost £9.95 or £11.95, some including sheet music and backing tracks. Parts are simple to remember (rhyming helps), and use familiar children’s tunes for the songs to minimise time spent learning them (music mp3 files included). Word document available to edit and personalise. All of my scripts tell the traditional nativity in a fun way (Grandpa’s includes Santa in the cast if you choose to use as written). I have included script previews of a couple of favourites, plus a video of The Grandpa's Nativity Story in use in a school. More are available at www.bestchildrensnativity.com. "The Full Christmas Story" poem is included free with the Children's Nativity Story script, and a similar purpose written poem is included with all of my scripts, specific to the individual message of that script
<p>The Simplest Nativity Play Ever has up to 19 short speaking parts of a couple of rhyming lines which make everyone feel special and are very simple to remember. It doesn’t need reducing if you don’t fill all of the parts and will work for all ages, including mixed age groups and special needs. Great for getting away with stage fright moments. Extremely adaptable.</p>
<p>Every person’s part has a ‘script prompt card’ ready for you to print off and distribute. The play can be performed at short notice with little or even NO REHEARSAL if necessary.</p>
<p>The narrator tells the story in rhyme and rhythm and every actor’s lines are preceded with obvious prompts like : The innkeeper listened, while Joseph said…</p>
<p>“Do you have a room and a lovely warm bed?”</p>
<p>The direction is simple and built into the rhyming play<br />
eg…So Mary and Joseph will you start to walk?<br />
And if you don’t mind we’ll (I’ll) continue to talk.</p>
<p>Choice of 2 endings: biblical or more general Christmas message.</p>
<p>No music is included but appropriate carols are suggested , or just omit songs or use past familiar favourites.</p>
<p>A rhyme and rhythm Nativity Roll Call Poem is included at the end of the play giving an opportunity for each individual to stand and take a bow.</p>
<p>The Unending Christmas Story is a story poem included as a summary of the message of the play (Provided as a free download)</p>
<p>I have used the script myself and am available by email for suggestions to help with tackling any specific difficulties.</p>
<p>The large script preview gives a better idea of the script and how to use it.<br />
The full play is provided as an instantly downloadable, editable word document for £9.95 WITH NO EXTRAS, AND NO LICENCE FEE from my website <a href="http://www.bestchildrensnativity.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.bestchildrensnativity.com</a>, including all of the preprepared scripts prompts which are ready to simply print and distribute.<br />
Lots of other free poems (purpose written to compliment the national curriculum) are available from my free educational poetry website for teachers and children <a href="http://www.angelaspoems.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.angelaspoems.com</a>.</p>
<p>This rhyming, rhythmic poem is filled with facts about the life cycle of a butterfly, and is displayed in 12 verses laid out like a clock with images to support it. I have deliberately used lots of alliteration too so that the poem can be cross curricular, to cover figurative language, poetry and science. I have also supplied links to photographs and information that I found whilst researching my facts.
A simple rhyming mothers day song for infant children with sheet music provided. Includes alternative words for an adaptation called 'You're Special' which therefore makes it not exclusive to Mums.
Your can hear the tune and download the midi file as a backing track directly from my website link (it's a free educational poetry website)
I have other brand new mothers day poems and songs on tes, but you'll find them all together on my website
This script is perfect for VISUAL LEARNERS as it is narrated in rhyme as an alphabet poem 26 key words represented by an illustrated letter which is displayed when the keyword is mentioned. Perfect for SPECIAL NEEDS, especially HEARING IMPAIRED as actions are included for the children to do together to represent the word. The story can be ‘walked through’ by actors without speaking parts, although the script also includes 9 simple optional songs too, some of which offer opportunities for character solos if you choose to use them in that way. The songs that are included are particularly well suited for young children, using familiar children's tunes with very simple repetitive lyrics. The lack of necessary stage movement would make it ideal for GROUPS WITH DISABILITIES. Doing the actions as a group would be well suited to any individuals who don’t like the personal pressure or attention of a ‘performance’. The script is easier for THOSE WITH MEMORY PROBLEMS, as the illustrated letters act as a visual prompt and the option of including the 'Action Superstar' can act as a demonstration for the group to copy. There is also an option (which is great fun and I highly recommend) of including an ‘Instructor’ who interacts with the audience in a pantomime style and the already mentioned ‘Action Superstar’ who demonstrates each of the actions to the 26 keywords mentioned during the story. This would make it perfect to PERFORM TO OR AS A WHOLE SCHOOL with the instructor getting the rest of the children to join in, assuming you have someone confident enough to take the instructor role. The Instructor, a sort of pantomime style character, holds signs up for the audience at the appropriate moments (or for the rest of the children/choir etc) to say (‘NO’, ‘AH!’ ‘SH’ etc). In true pantomime style, the response isn’t good enough and the Instructor, also using rhyme and rhythm, tells them so (eg, “That really isn’t good enough…let’s have another ‘ah!’ Remember, he’s the cutest baby that you’ve seen by far!”) <br />
I have included a large portion of the script as a preview below to give you a feel of how it will work, together with a copy of the free alphabet poem which is included with the script. The script itself can be obtained from my website www.bestchildrensnativity.com for £9.95 and includes the instantly downloadable script, 9 simple songs using familiar childrens tunes and easily remembered words, sheet music plus mp3 backing tracks, the free Christmas Story Alphabet Poem, and my trademark Alphabet Nativity Roll Call Poem, which gives everyone the opportunity to stand and take a bow and respond in 'register' style. This is a great opportunity to include several aspects and forms of poetry in your curriculum (eg. alphabet poem, story poem, a play in rhyme and rhythm, using nursery rhyme tunes for the songs) and can be used for INCLUSION OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
<p>Social distanced, Covid-safe nativity to film or use live. This licence free, adaptable, rhyming nativity play is downloadable with background images, and video footage to include in your play, or just to view to help your actors and director to see the potential end result.<br />
Script prompts are provided as colour-coded autocues on Powerpoint (see the preview) minimising your prep and rehearsal time.<br />
The package has been put together specifically as an inexpensive support to busy teachers who are looking for a special solution for Christmas, whilst also being a fund-raiser for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice and being suitable for churches or families to use.<br />
The nativity script is extremely adaptable, with the main element consisting of 16 speaking parts (which could be combined or split further), each one (with the exception of the main presenters) consisting of 4 to 9 lines. There are opportunities too for extras such as dancing angels, musicians, singers, as well as using the ‘Ad Break’ and ‘musical interlude’ for your own ideas<br />
A large script preview is provided here, as well as the YouTube video to help you to decide if it would be appropriate to you, plus the bonus poem that is provided with the script to sum up the message of Christmas. In addition, I have included a free performance poem called “Adverts For Sale” which demonstrates how figurative language is used for effect, and would be ideal as an advert during the break.</p>
<p>Read on for more details of the script, but I would recommend watching the video for a better idea!<br />
Set in a fictional news programme called “Bethlehem Daily” the shepherds, kings etc are interviewed at the scene by your reporters (with over 30 authentic background images included for use with a green screen if you choose)<br />
Each small scene is purpose written to be filmed separately and safely, then edited together into one ‘programme’.<br />
As a bonus help, my son and I have pre-recorded all of the ‘Studio Sofa Scenes’ to give you the option to use them for ease or authenticity, and the package even includes professionally composed music as a theme tune to make the ‘Bethlehem Daily’ feel more realistic for the children.<br />
Use the package, personalise it, adapt it, fundraise with it, without restriction. There are options to include your own made up adverts (or maybe advertise some news or an event), include a musical interlude (maybe have your musicians perform instrumentals or sing a song), do your own credits with the authentic theme tune playing etc.<br />
I have included an optional recording of a ‘Greeting from the Author’ poem to start the play , plus My trademark Roll Call poem is included, again all in rhyme and rhythm, so that the children can each take a bow (or wave to the camera), at the end.</p>
<p>If you need to know anything more, full details are on my website <a href="http://www.bestchildrensnativity.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.bestchildrensnativity.com</a> I answer all emails in person and can even help with rhyming couplets for specific circumstances that you may have.</p>
<p>This simple rhyming Easter play script with songs blends the Easter story in a child-friendly way with the folktale of three trees, dreaming of their future and what they hope to become. All parts are short and simple and can be performed individually with social distancing, or filmed.<br />
If you choose to film your play, the instantly downloadable package includes 60 images to edit alongside the film of your actor/reader, each one specially produced / collated to compliment the story as it is narrated (no green screen required).<br />
The package includes:<br />
A pdf and an editable word document of the script plus 5 purpose written songs, with backing tracks (with and without vocals), and sheet music. As an extra help printable script prompts are provided for the cast, or you may prefer to use the PowerPoint of colour-coded autocues. Beginner friendly guidance sheets and links to helpful YouTube tutorials are included for Openshot (a free video editor that is compatible with windows , macs or linux)<br />
As an extra bonus the poem “God’s Upside-Down Ways” sums up the message of the play, whilst my trademark Roll Call poem acknowledges all participants and offers the chance to wave or take a bow.<br />
The play is perfect for key stage 1 and 2 children and includes relevant Easter bible readings throughout (taken from the New International Bible), making this ideal for an Easter assembly to support the RE curriculum, or a church service.<br />
The download provided is of the free Easter poem written to compliment the message of the play, plus a large preview of the script to give an idea of how the script could work for you in church or school.<br />
The entire package, with all of the preparation work done for you and everything you need for a live or virtual performance, can be downloaded straight from my website <a href="http://www.bestchildrensnativity.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.bestchildrensnativity.com</a> for £14.95. If you need to know anything more just check the Easter play page <a href="http://www.bestchildrensnativity.com/covid-safe-three-trees-easter-play/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.bestchildrensnativity.com/covid-safe-three-trees-easter-play/</a> or contact me direct at <a href="mailto:angela@bestchildrensnativity.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">angela@bestchildrensnativity.com</a> and I shall reply in person. I am a published children’s poet and a lifelong volunteer school and church children’s worker and I use my plays in our own church productions, so I will be happy to help with specific questions and advice should you need any.</p>
