I have just started adding my plays to TES (over 400)!but this will take time! All my assemblies/class plays and guided reading scripts are on www.plays-r-ussell.com and I am happy to write on request. I have converted the entire History Key Stage II curriculum into play format - and much of the other subjects such as Science, Geography, PSHE etc. I cover events such as the Olympics and have received great feedback from teachers around the world! Writing is my passion - hope you enjoy my work!
I have just started adding my plays to TES (over 400)!but this will take time! All my assemblies/class plays and guided reading scripts are on www.plays-r-ussell.com and I am happy to write on request. I have converted the entire History Key Stage II curriculum into play format - and much of the other subjects such as Science, Geography, PSHE etc. I cover events such as the Olympics and have received great feedback from teachers around the world! Writing is my passion - hope you enjoy my work!
World Cup 2018 Quiz
100 questions (and answers!) on this year's World Cup and those that have gone before. Enjoy!
Also available: World Cup Assembly, World Cup Leavers Assembly, World Cup Guided Readers plus resources on participating countries.
Sample Text:
I Quirky Facts
1. Who used to practice with a slipper on his right foot and why?
2. Where was the original world cup trophy kept during the Second World War?
II 2018 World Cup
1. How often is the World Cup held?
2. Where is the 2018 World Cup being held?
III History
1. When was the first World Cup held?
2. Where was it held?
IV Records
1. What country has made the most appearances – the only country to have appeared in every World Cup?
2. How many appearances has this country made?
V Quotations
1. Who said “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” – said to be the greatest football saying in 2006?
Fairer And More Sustainable World Assembly or Class Play
Cast of 30 - easily adjustable up or down (Narrator plus 29 Protestors)
Duration - around 20 minutes not including music suggestions
This script covers two major themes – Fairness in terms of social equality; and Sustainability re: protection of the environment.
The two themes are available as separate assemblies:
· Fairer World Assembly
· The Environment Assembly
The price of this script reflects the fact that this is 'The Environment Assembly' plus a segment from the Fairer World Assembly i.e. a combined script. For full coverage of social issues/justice, I would suggest making Fairer World as a separate purchase.
Sample Text:
Protestor 1: (Holding up ‘F’) F is for Fairer World
Protestor 2: (Holding up ‘A’) A is for All living things being loved and cared for
Protestor 3: (Holding up ‘I’) I is for International Cooperation
Protestor 4: (Holding up ‘R’) R is for Reduction of all things harmful to the environment
Protestor 5: (Holding up ‘E’) E is for Education for everyone
Protestor 6: (Holding up ‘R’) R is for Respect for everyone
Protestor 7: (Holding up ‘W’) W is for Water that is clean and available to all
Protestor 8: (Holding up ‘O’) O is for Ozone layer survival
Protestor 9: (Holding up ‘R’) R is for Rainforests saved
Protestor 10: (Holding up ‘L’) L is for Love throughout the world
Protestor 11: (Holding up ‘D’) and D is for Diversity respected and encouraged everywhere
Narrator: Wow! That’s a pretty awesome list!
Protestor 12: All the more awesome if we could make it happen!
Narrator: But that’s why we’re here today! To make it happen!
Other scripts available on the two subjects of social fairness and protecting our planet are as follows:
Assemblies/Class Plays on:
• Bullying and how to deal with it
• British Values
• Children’s Rights
• Mutual Respect
• numerous other PSHE scripts – in both assembly/class play and guided reading format
• Our Planet
• Environment
Fairer World Assembly or Class Play
Cast of 30 (easily adaptable up or down)
Narrator plus Protestors 1 - 29
Duration
Around 20 minutes including music and/or poetry suggestions.
This script deals exclusively with fairness as a social and economic issue. Mention is made in the script of Children’s Rights. For a full ‘account’ of these see Children’s Rights Assembly.
Sample Text
Protestor 17: Those suffragettes might have got women the vote but there is still a long way to go before women have equal rights with men.
Protestor 18: And what about the disabled? They are also still treated differently from the rest of us. A closer study should be made of their rights!
Protestor 19: And what about the elderly? Do they always have as much say as they should?
Protestor 20: (Stamping foot) And us children! We have rights too!
Narrator: (Hurriedly) Oh I don’t think anyone would argue with that!
Protestor 21: Is it really so much to ask? That all people be given the same chance in life?
Protestor 22: That everybody has the same opportunities?
Narrator: Aha! And that is where education is so important!
Protestor 23: Good education for all so we can all achieve our full potential.
Protestor 24: And it’s just as important that we keep ourselves informed, via the news and media, about the rest of the world.
Protestor 25: Some countries do not have the wealth and resources that we have.
Protestor 26: Developing countries or countries of the Third World need our help – now!
Protestor 27: We have more than enough for ourselves – so we should be prepared to share our good fortune with others less fortunate than ourselves.
Another script entitled Fairer and More Sustainable World Assembly combines fairness and protecting the environment. It is 'The Environment Assembly' plus a segment from the Fairer World Assembly i.e. a combined script. For full coverage of social issues/justice, I would suggest making Fairer World a separate purchase.
Other scripts available are as follows:
Assemblies/Class Plays on:
• Bullying and how to deal with it
• British Values
• Children’s Rights (as mentioned above)
• Mutual Respect
• numerous other PSHE scripts – in both assembly/class play and guided reading format
plus
• Our Planet (available as class play and as a set of guided reading scripts)
• Environment Assembly
Anti-Bullying Assembly or Class Play
Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone is used as its title and final song.
Its Children’s Mental Health Week 3 - 9 February. So I am reducing a number of my ‘mental health related’ scripts to mark the occasion
Some useful tips on looking out for others - and yourself.
This class play identifies different types of bullying and suggests strategies for both prevention and dealing with the problem when it arises. It looks at the problem of bullying from 2 perspectives - that of the ‘bully’ and the ‘bullied’, examining why bullies behave as they do and what it feels like to be on the receiving end. The most important message is that we are all special, that we should like ourselves the way we are, and that if we ever find ourselves being bullied, we should get help/talk to someone - never bottle it up inside and ‘put up’ with it.
I wrote this at a time when my own daughter (then 9) was being bullied. I learnt many lessons from the experience which I would like to pass onto others.
This script comes in two versions - First one being longer at around 15 minutes (not including music suggestions); second one shorter at just under 10 minutes. I have identified the text that has been left in and taken out from versions I and II respectively. This gives you as a teacher the choice of what length play you wish to use.
Another resource for use within the classroom is a script in the Bible Stories section of the website on David and Goliath - cast of 10 and with discussion pointers on bullying at the end.
Sample Text:
Child 19: You have to believe in yourself. And be your own best friend!
(Child 21: Lollipop lady walks to centre of stage - lifts STOP sign each time it’s spoken)
Narrator: What are you doing here? I can’t see any traffic?
Lollipop Lady: No, but there are lots of things that need to stop, apart from cars. We’re here to tell you about the things we should stop doing!
Child 1:
STOP feeling everything that goes wrong is your fault! It isn’t!
Child 2:
STOP thinking you have to be perfect at everything! It’s not possible - you’re not superman!
Child 3:
STOP letting what you can’t do get in the way of what you can do!
Child 4:
STOP trying to be everybody’s friend. You can be liked by some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time!
Child 5:
STOP jumping to conclusions. If someone doesn’t say Hi to you, don’t think ‘Hey! They’re ignoring me. They don’t like me anymore!’ They might not have seen you. Don’t assume the worst!
Child 6:
Stop labelling yourself. Feeling sad one day doesn’t make you a wimp!
Child 7:
Getting your sums wrong another day doesn’t make you a loser!
Child 8:
Having a spot on your nose one day doesn’t make you ugly!
Child 9:
Having an extra chocolate bar doesn’t make you wicked!
Child 10:
Stop telling yourself you should be this, and you shouldn’t be that.
Winter Olympics Quiz 1924 - 2022
Another Winter Olympics resource - to add to my class play and set of guided reading scripts - all updated to 2022 with over 100 questions - with answers provided! Here’s a sample:
Winter Olympics Quiz
I. 2018 Winter Olympics – PyeongChang, South Korea
II. Previous Winter Olympics – Russia 2014
III. A History of the Winter Olympics 1924 – 2014
IV. Memorable Moments from Past Olympics
V. Winners and Record Breakers
Sample Text:
I. 2018 Winter Olympics – PyeongChang, South Korea
1. What animal is the 2018 mascot, Soohorang, based on?
2. What is the connection between the length of the torch and PyeongChang?
3. How many events will there be?
4. How many sports?
5. Can you name four of these?
II. 22nd Winter Olympics – Russia 2014
1. Around how many countries are taking part?
2. How many sports/disciplines are being played?
3. How many events are there?
4. How many more is this than for the last, 2010, Winter Olympics?
5. What are the three animal mascots for 2014?
III. A History of the Winter Olympics 1924 – 2010
1. How often are the Winter Olympics held?
2. When was the first one held?
3. What Games took place before the Winter Olympics?
4. Where were they first held and when?
5. In what country were the first Winter Olympics held?
IV. Memorable Moments from Past Olympics
1. What is the Olympic motto?
2. Who won six perfect sixes in 1984?
3. What music accompanied them?
4. Who came last in both his ski jumping events in 1988 but still managed to steal the hearts of the British public?
5. Who held up the awards ceremony in 1998 for the 10km Cross Country?
V. Winners and Record Breakers
1. Which country won the most medals at the first Winter Olympics?
2. Which country is the top medal scorer to date?
3. How many have they won?
4. Which country is the next highest medal winner to date?
5. How many medals have they won?
Also available:
Winter Olympics Class Play or Assembly
and
Winter Olympics Guided Reading Plays
Set of *5:
1. 22nd Winter Olympics, Russia, 2014
2. A History of the Winter Olympics 1924 – 2014
3. Memorable Moments from Past Olympics
4. Winners and Record Breakers
5. What it takes to be a winner – this is a collection of 5 plays based on P.R.I.D.E. which stands for: POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE, RESPECT, INTELLIGENT CHOICES, DREAMS AND GOALS and EFFORT AND EDUCATION
Winter Olympics Class Play or Assembly 2022 – A History of the Winter Olympics from 1924 to 2022
This is one of a collection of Winter Olympic resources which include a set of Guided Reading Scripts, again on the history of the Games; an Ode or Performance Poem, and a quiz – all updated to 2022.
This Winter Olympics 2022 Class Play takes us all the way from the very first Winter Olympics in 1924 to Beijing 2022.
Cast of 30 (plus – a lot of doubling up for this one plus plenty of props!) Duration around 20 minutes not including music suggestions. Packed with fun and information!
Sample Text
Child 25: 1992, France! Germany won most medals this time!
Child 26: 1994, Norway! The first Winter Olympics to be held in a different year from the Summer Olympics, setting the future pattern – the two Games taking place two years apart. Russia won most medals this year.
Child 27: 1998, Japan! First time snowboarding takes place!
(Enter snowboarder, nearly knocking Narrator over with board he’s carrying)
Narrator: Ouch! (Furiously)What is it with you winter athletes? Can’t you watch where you’re going? First time for snowboarding, eh? If I had anything to do with it, I’d make it the last! Now, go!
(Exit snowboarder)
(Sighing) I think I’m just about done! What with being run over by crazy speed skaters and lugers; knocked around by men with big boards…Now if I had my way, we’d just stick to that lovely peaceful figure skating ….
(Enter two figure skating couples, shouting at each other and pushing each other around)
Narrator: Hold it! Hold it! What’s going on here? These cannot be figure skaters, surely?
Awesome Animal World Record Breakers Assembly
This script was written for KS II but can be simplified for KSI. A separate script for KSI will shortly be available
Cast of 30
Cast size can be easily adjusted up or down by the adding on or taking off the suggested list of animals.
Duration
Around 20 minutes not including music suggestions
As with cast size, this can be altered according to the number of animals and amount of information given on each.
This script covers the biggest, the smallest, the fiercest, the fastest, the smartest, the longest-living ..... a truly awesome cast!
KS I script shortly available
Sample Text:
Narrator: (Jumping back in alarm) Wow! I didn’t see you fly in!
Komodo Dragon: (Patiently) That’s because I didn’t! I’m a Komodo dragon from South East Asia. And, just for the record, I neither fly nor breathe fire!
Narrator: But you look pretty fearsome, for all that!
Komodo Dragon: Well, I am the world’s largest lizard and I do have some pretty unpleasant poison and bacteria in my saliva!
Narrator: Ugh! Not a nice way to die! I think we’ll have you just sitting nice and quietly back here, where you came from!
(Narrator leads dragon back to his place)
Music 4 Chariots of Fire
(Enter Ostrich, running gracefully in time to the music)
(Narrator holds up hand for ostrich to stop)
Narrator: Er excuse me! I hate to interrupt your morning exercise
Ostrich: Oh, I can go way faster than that! I’m just warming up! Apart from being the world’s biggest bird, I am also the fastest runner – for a bird, that is! Seventy km an hour!
Narrator: Wow! That’s fast (pauses) considering your size!
Ostrich: I also lay the largest eggs and have the biggest eyes to watch over them!
(Enter Goliath bird-eater spider – whole cast shrieks and cowers in fright)
Goliath Bird-Eater Spider: Just as well you don’t live anywhere near me!
Ostrich: (Haughtily) South America is a long way from my African home (pauses) but seriously? One stamp from me and you’re history!
The Emperor's New Clothes Guided Reading Script
This is one of a collection of Hans Christian Andersen stories and includes Teaching Input, Discussion and Suggestions for Further Activities - i.e. ample content for a lesson. It can equally be used as a literary or PSHE resource.
It could also be used as a small play, for performance, with a few ‘tweaks’ and the addition of the music suggestions below.
Music
1. Fashion - David Bowie
2. You’re so Vain – Carly Simon
Cast of 6:
• Narrator
• Emperor
• Weaver 1 & 2
• Royal Adviser
• Street Child
Duration: Around 10 minutes reading time
Sample Text:
Narrator: (To Street Child) Apart from you, you all went along with this charade – just so as to save face? Well, really!
Royal Adviser: Yes, I know it looks bad
Narrator: It most certainly does
Emperor: But I wonder what you’d have done, especially as everyone else seemed to be going along with it?
Narrator: But couldn’t you see you were being taken for a song and a dance?
Weaver 1: It was quite funny!
Weaver 2: Especially when the emperor here actually turned up to try on his new clothes
Weaver 1: After having given us all that money and gold thread and
Emperor: (Interrupting) Yes, yes. Must you rub it in? Haven’t I been humiliated enough?
Royal Adviser: (Groaning) Oh, if only I had had the strength to admit to what I could see – as in, nothing! No cloth on the loom, no clothes, just air!
Emperor: And what a lot of hot air you were! Coming back telling me how wonderfully the work was progressing. How delighted I was going to be with my new clothes!
Royal Adviser: But I didn’t want to appear either unfit for my job or stupid.
Narrator: And so, you ended up being both!
Street Child: I’ll never understand grown-ups!
Other Hans Christian Anderson stories available are:
• The Ugly Duckling
(with more to come)
The Ugly Duckling Guided Reading Script or Readers Theater for Group of six speakers
This is one of a collection of Hans Christian Andersen stories and includes teaching input, discussion and suggestions for further activities - i.e. ample content for a lesson. It can equally be used as a literary or PSHE resource.
It could also be used as a small play, for performance, with a few ‘tweaks’ and the addition of the music suggestions below.
Music
1. ‘There once was an ugly duckling’ song
2. Swan Lake – Tchaikovsky
3. You’re so Vain – Carly Simon
Cast of 6:
Narrator
The Ugly Duckling
Farmyard Turkey
Swan 1, 2 & 3
Duration: Around 10 minutes reading time
Sample Text 1
Ugly Duckling: ‘Oh dear!’
Narrator: (Puzzled) Pardon?
Ugly Duckling: ‘Oh dear!’ I mean, that was the first thing I heard when I emerged into this world.
Swan 1: Oh, you poor, dear sweetheart!
Farmyard Turkey: (Mimicking Swan 1) Ah bless! You little darling!
Swan 2: (To Turkey) What is your problem? Did nobody ever show you any love?
Farmyard Turkey: Well, now you come to mention it, no!
Swan 3: Oh dear! That would explain a lot!
Farmyard Turkey: (Angrily) I beg your pardon? Heh, I’ve survived, haven’t I? And not, may I add, done so very badly for myself! Think farmyard status again!
Narrator: Oh, you and your farmyard status! I wonder how you’d have fared outside that yard, in the bigger world?
Farmyard Turkey: (Anxiously) Ooh, you wouldn’t get me going beyond the farmyard gate!
Ugly Duckling: And that’s exactly to and beyond where I was chased!
Narrator: But, hold on a minute. What about those other ducklings?
Swan 1: Yeah. Those first brothers and sisters of yours?
Swan 2: Didn’t they stand by you?
Swan 3: Didn’t they stick up for you?
Ugly Duckling: You are joking? From the minute they saw me they made fun of me!
Sample Text 2 (Demonstrating PHSE link)
Narrator: Nah! Ever heard the expression, beauty is in the eye of the beholder?
Swan 2: Meaning?
Narrator: That what is ugly and unattractive to one person, is totally beautiful to another!
Ugly Duckling: A shame my brothers and sisters didn’t see that!
Narrator: Because you were different from them. And sometimes being different is quite scary to others. They feel threatened.
Ugly Duckling: They feel threatened? They want to feel what it’s like to be on the receiving end!
Narrator: Which is why we should always treat others as we’d like to be treated ourselves.
Time Travelling in Ancient Egypt Guided Reading Scripts or Readers Theater
This is the first of a series of ‘Time Travels’ – based on guided reading scripts which were written as supplementary classroom resources to Class Plays or Assemblies.
Please note: This Time Travel Series only currently consists of the one product - on Ancient Egypt. I am really waiting to see if there is sufficient interest in this product in order to follow with the rest of the series.
A group of Time Travelers has been added along with a few 'tweaks' to the original script (still available along with accompanying quizzes under Guided Reading - Ancient Egyptians Guided Reading Play Scripts.)
Written in play format with 6 speakers to each of 5 ‘plays’ (Total number of speakers – 30)
Each play is around 5 minutes reading time and comes with a quiz at the end
Total time: around 35 – 40 minutes
Unit 10The Ancient Egyptians
Introduction to Ancient Egypt
Guide plus five other Time Travelers – Adam, Mary, Peter, Susan and Phillip
Guide: Well, what do you know? Here we are!
Adam: But where is here?
Guide: (Looking around) Why, here in Ancient Egypt of course!
Play 2 Farmer's Year Speakers: Farmer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 &6
Farmer 3: Though we did leave a lot behind for those archaeologists! Always digging things up and learning about how we lived.
Farmer 4: Pots and pans, jewelry, weapons, (pause) .. and loo seats! Yes, the first known toilet seat in the world was dug up in the ancient Egyptian city of Akhenaten in 1350 B.C. I don't suppose anyone was still sitting on it!
Play 3 Daily Life Speakers: Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Teacher, Priest
Son: Yes, they weren't just amazing buildings, for us living persons to stand and admire.
Priest: No indeed. Far more importantly they were designed to send our pharaohs to join the gods in heaven.
Daughter: Wasn't that called the after-life?
Priest: Yes. A world free of low life.
Son: Are you talking about those tomb robbers again?
Priest: Yes. We tried to make things harder for them. And then someone thought of hidden tombs!
Play 4 The After-life Speakers: Chief Priest, Embalmer, Mummy, Anubis, Osiris, Ammut
Chief Priest: Ready to stuff?
Embalmer: Yup! With straw, linen and sweet smelling herbs! Add a little salt
Mummy (muttering): This one obviously thinks he's a celebrity chef!
Chief Priest: No! A little more than just a pinch of salt! This natron needs to cover the body if it's going to dry out over the next 40 days!
Play 5 The Gods Speakers: Amun, Nut, Thoth, Human, Hapi, Seth
Hapi (snorting) Hmph! Hapi by name but not always by nature!
Royal Wedding Assembly Harry and Meghan
Duration: around 10 minutes (not including music suggestions)
A cast of 30. The content of this production focuses on Harry's ancestors and leaves one wondering if Meghan has been fully 'prepped' on the royal family - with all its highs (Alfred the Great?) and lows (toss-up between King John and Richard III maybe!). Maybe it’s just as well she isn't fully acquainted with her predecessors - or she might think twice about that walk down the aisle!
Script comes with a complete listing of the English Monarchy
Duration: around 10 minutes (not including music suggestions)
Narrator: Good morning and welcome to our assembly on The Royal Wedding. Now, we all know what a busy time this is for the royal couple – especially for Meghan. With all that looking for the right dress, booking the hairdresser, finding the best flower lady …. My, has she got her work cut out! So, we thought - there’s no way this royal bride will find time to read up about the family she is marrying into. That’s why we took it on ourselves to do the hard work for her! Don’t you think she’ll be pleased? I mean, who knows what Harry might not have said about his ancestors? And don’t we all agree, a girl does have the right to know - certainly before she takes that long walk down the aisle? So, for those of you, along with Meghan, interested in the royal family, start listening now! You’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn!
This morning we’ll kick off with the present day royal family - the House of Windsor. Starting with
Child 1: (Holding up picture of Harry) Harry!
Narrator: Ah! The bridegroom himself! Let’s hear it!
Child 2: Harry is the second son of (holds up picture) Charles, the Prince of Wales – now married to Camilla.
Child 3: (Holding up picture) Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was tragically killed in a road accident in 1997.
Child 4: (Holding up picture) Harry has an older brother, William. It was only a few years ago that Harry was best man at William’s wedding. William married Catherine Middleton 29th April 2011 at Westminster Abbey; whereas Harry and Meghan will be ‘tying the knot’ at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in May 2018.
Child 5: Harry and William have a rather important grandma – the Queen!
Child 6: Queen Elizabeth the second is married to the Duke of Edinburgh and has four children
Child 7: Prince Charles, Harry’s dad
Child 8: Prince Andrew, the Duke of York
Child 9: Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex
Child 10: And a daughter, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal.
Narrator: All fine representatives of the monarchy – but was it always thus? We looked at some examples of good and bad monarchs and drew our own conclusions! Starting with
Child 11: Alfred the Great!
Fairy Tale Pantomime
This script can either be used for performance purposes - as a pantomime, a Christmas play or an assembly - or as a set of guided reading scripts (Readers Theater) to be used within the classroom.
35 pages of fun – and extremely bad jokes!
Cast of 30 (five groups of six)
Play I SLEEPING BEAUTY
Speaker 1 Narrator
Speaker 2 Sleeping Beauty
Speaker 3 Prince (girl)
Speaker 4 Good Fairy (boy)
Speaker 5 Bad Fairy (boy)
Speaker 6 Sleeping Beauty’s Mother – the Dame
Play II CINDERELLA
Speaker 7: Cinderella
Speaker 8: Bad Sister 1
Speaker 9: Bad Sister 2
Speaker 10: Fairy Godmother
Speaker 11: Prince
Speaker 12: Cinderella’s Step-Mum alias ‘Dame’
Play III SNOW WHITE
Speaker 13: Mirror
Speaker 14: Wicked Queen/Step-Mother
Speaker 15: Snow White
Speaker 16: Huntsman/Prince
Speaker 17: Dwarf 1 Dopey/Dame
Speaker 18: Dwarf 2 Jolly
Play IV Little Red Riding Hood
Speaker 19: Little Red Riding Hood
Speaker 20: Little Red Riding Hood’s Mother
Speaker 21 Big Bad Wolf
Speaker 22: Grannie/Dame
Speaker 23: Huntsman
Speaker 24: Censor
Play V RUMPELSTILTSKIN
Narrator: Narrator
Speaker 25: Rumpelstiltskin
Speaker 26: Daughter
Speaker 27: King
Speaker 28: Miller
Speaker 29: Queen/Dame
Duration: Around 30 minutes not including music suggestions (around 5 minutes for each of 5 plays)
Sample Text:
Music 1 – A medley of Christmas songs
(Children file in, seating themselves along 2 rows of 15, facing the audience; in 5 groups of 6)
Narrator: Good morning and welcome to our pantomime
(Whole Cast stands)
Whole Cast: (In disbelief) Our what?
Narrator: You heard! I have decided that this year
Child 1: (Interrupting) No way!
Child 2: We’re always happy to come to your drama group, sir, but
Child 3: Absolutely no way are we doing panto!
Narrator: Oh yes you are!
Whole Cast: Oh no we’re not!
Narrator: There you are! I knew you wouldn’t take much persuading!
Child 4: Er, I think you just misheard. We said
Whole Cast: Oh no we’re not!
Aesop Fables Guided Reading Scripts
SPECIAL HALF TERM OFFER:
Set of 5 Guided Reading Scripts, from Aesop Fables - available individually @ £5.00 Special Offer - all 5 for £15
These scripts, 6 speakers each, can be used within the classroom, in English or PSHE, or for *performance. They each come with lesson plan, original story synopsis, discussion points and suggestions for further activities.
*as separate plays (6 speakers), or one combined play(cast of 30)
Five Aesop Fables:
· The Lion and the Mouse
· The Fox and the Stork
· The Tortoise and the Hare
· The Jay and the Peacocks
· The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs
The Five PSHE Themes are:
· Friendship
· Mutual Respect
· Taking Time
· Being Happy with Who and What we are
· Being Satisfied with What We've Got
Duration: Each script is between 5 and 10 minutes reading time. As each comes with additional activities, this resource is potentially five 20-30 minute lessons – so could be done over the course of a week or spread out over a longer period.
Happy Customer: "I am so excited to use these! I was beginning to forget who I am as a teacher especially during guided reading because I was trying so hard to fit into my schools strict guided reading expectations and I think this will really help me discover me again. Thank you so much!"
Rating: 4.0
So lovely to receive comments like this - within 24 hours of releasing these scripts! Thank you so much to this teacher - made my day! Currently working on a 5 scene/5 guided reading script adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. Hope it gets the same reception!
Winter Assembly for Key Stage One
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down
Duration: Around 10 - 15 minutes. This length can be extended by the addition of suggested poems.
Brrrr! .... surely there's a bit more to be said about winter than this?! Well, if left to our cast it would just be the sound of snoring - any excuse to follow the lead of that hibernating hedgehog. Fortunately, you can always rely on a bit of Disney to revive flagging spirits - plus some snowball fights and a few words from our rockin robin!
This is one of a set of plays on The Seasons - all available as separate purchases.
Sample Text
(Enter group of children all dressed in winter clothes)
Child 23 – 27: (Together) We’re all warm!
Narrator: And how is that?
Child 23: I have a warm woolly hat!
Child 24: I have a warm woolly scarf!
Child 25: I have warm woolly gloves!
Child 26: I have warm woolly socks and welly boots!
Child 27: And we all have
Child 23 – 27: Warm woolly coats to keep us warm!
(Exit group of children)
Narrator: Hmm! Warm and woolly seems to work!
Music 5 Rockin Robin – Michael Jackson
(Enter Robin/Child 28 dancing to song that is sung by rest of the cast)
Narrator: (Applauding) Well, that was very upbeat!
(To robin) You don’t seem to have any problems with the cold weather!
Robin: Well, it’s not always easy, you know! And I am always grateful to those kind people that leave me food out in their gardens!
Narrator: Well, you are our favourite national bird
Robin: And those Christmas cards just wouldn’t be the same without me, right?
Narrator: Right!
(Exit Robin)
(Sound of loud snoring, from the cast)
Narrator: Hey! What’s going on?
Music 6 All I have to do is dream – Everly Brothers
(Optional excerpt – first couple of bars)
(Enter very sleepy hedgehog/Child 29)
Hedgehog: (Rubbing eyes) Oh! Where’s my bed? I must have sleepwalked off, by mistake!
Autumn Assembly for Key Stage I
One of a set of assemblies on the Seasons.
Cast of 30 - easily adjustable up or down. It is suggested that the class teacher takes the role of narrator.
Duration - around 10 minutes but can be extended with inclusion of list of suggested poems
Swallows, squirrels, deer, bats, .... children! Our narrator certainly has his work cut out keeping this assembly under control! Ever tried keeping a hibernating hedgehog or two sleepy dormice awake? Or silencing a flock of Brent Geese? Just two of the tasks facing our, as always, seriously challenged narrator!
Sample Text:
(Dormice curl up together and drop off to sleep)
Narrator: Hey you two! Not yet! Wake up!
(Both dormice yawn and stretch sleepily)
Dormouse 1: Is it April yet?
Dormouse 2: I think I’ll leave it to May this year!
Dormice: (Together) Yeah! Let’s have a lie in!
Narrator: You most certainly will not! Do I look like a Dormouse babysitter? Be off with you!
(Exit Bats and Dormice)
(Enter Hedgehog, making loud snuffling noises; he collects up some of the leaves left behind by the children, makes a nest of them and lies down in the middle)
Narrator: Aha! And who do we have here? Our first hibernating hedgehog!
Hedgehog: (Huffily getting out ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and placing it next to his nest) Can’t you read?
Narrator: You’re a bit early! It’s not November yet!
Hedgehog: So? (Putting on night cap)
(Rubbing tummy) I’ve done enough eating! I’m ready for sleep!
Spring Assembly
This is the first of a series of Seasons Assemblies written for Key Stage I. This first one covers 20 plus 'first signs of spring' and includes a reference to the first chapter of Wind in the Willows, with Mole and Rat extolling the joys of the riverbank!
Cast of 30 (easily adaptable up or down) It is suggested that the class teacher takes the role of narrator.
Duration: Around 10 – 15 minutes including poems and music suggestions
Sample Text:
(Young animals ‘run rings around’ Narrator who gets increasingly exasperated)
Narrator: (Sighing) Huh! I was forgetting those young animals!
(Narrator jumping out of their way)
Narrator: Oh dear! Is it just me or does it suddenly seem a bit crowded around here?
Mother Rabbit: But didn’t you say, you loved Spring?
Narrator: Oh yes! But ..
(Bunnies and lambs keep jumping up at Narrator)
Narrator: (To Mother Rabbit and Mother Sheep) Could you not keep your offspring under slightly better control?
(Mother Rabbit and Mother Sheep ‘round up’ their offspring and return to their seats, scowling)
Narrator: Oh dear! And there I was saying how much I loved Spring! But it’s not just about baby animals, you know!
(Enter Child 6 dressed as Mole and Child 7 as Rat)
Narrator: Ah! Two of my favourite characters from The Wind in the Willows!
Mole: (Bowing) I’m Mole! Very pleased to meet you!
Rat: And I’m Rat! Known as Ratty to my friends
Robin Hood Assembly or Class Play
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down.
Duration - around 15 minutes reading time. This does not include *music suggestions/dance routines which could potentially double the length of the performance.
So, are those Merry Men about to have their smiles turned upside down?
Never!
Not even in the face of those brutish Guards?
Double never! Not when you've got some neat tricks/moves up the sleeves of your tunic!
See how good triumphs over evil without any blood being shed - it is a family show!
*Sample Playlist
• Bad – Michael Jackson
• I Need a Hero – Bonnie Tyler
• Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
• Happy – Pharrell Williams
Sample Text
Narrator: Hey! You might think you’re a hero!
Peasant 1: But you haven’t done anything yet!
Narrator: Right! All that dancing and prancing!
Peasant 2: You need to demonstrate to us that you’re a hero!
Narrator: No more theatrics!
Peasant 3: Prove yourself!
Narrator: Stop all this lovey dovey stuff – that can wait til later!
Peasant 4: It’s our futures you need to change!
Peasant 5: Show us you’re the man you say you are!
Peasant 6: Take on those baddies!
Peasant 7: Be our hero!
Robin Hood: Hey! Steady on! I may be pretty good with this bow and arrow
Maid Marion: (Sighing) The best, or so I’ve heard!
Robin Hood: But taking on the whole of Prince John’s crowd? Whoa! That’s a tall order!
(Enter Little John, squaring up to his great height)
Little John: Well, I, Little John, am more than up to the challenge!
(Enter rest of Merry Men)
Friar Tuck: And you can count me, Friar Tuck, in!
Alan-a-Dale: And me, Alan-a-Dale!
Will Scarlet: And me, Will Scarlet!
Much the Miller’s Son: And me, Much the Miller’s Son!
Narrator: (Clutching head) Oh wow! That’s some fighting force you have there, Robin! An overweight man of the church, a minstrel, an ex-soldier and a miller’s son!
Peasant 1: (Sarcastically) Wonderful!
Peasant 2: More than enough to take on Prince John’s men!
Peasant 3: They won’t know what’s hit them!
Peasant 4: The friar’s belly
Peasant 5: The minstrel’s lute
Peasant 6: The ex-soldier’s rusting sword
Peasant 7: Or the miller’s son’s bag of flour!
Peasant 1: Some army! Come on, folks. Let’s leave this lot to their fantasies!
(Exit Peasants, muttering sadly)
(Enter Prince John, Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisborne plus Guards)
Sir Guy of Gisborne: (To Robin Hood) Aha! The villain himself! Seize him, guards!
(Guards seize Robin Hood)
Maid Marion: Why you cowards! Seven against one! I’d hardly say that was fair!
Sheriff of Nottingham: (Laughing) But hadn’t you heard, sweet lady? Nothing is fair around here!
The Gorgons Head Lesson Plan and Guided Reading Script and Quiz
Each 'package' consists of lesson plan plus guided reading script (6 speakers) plus quiz/reading comprehension.
Lesson Plan (Around 20 – 30 minutes)
The lesson time can be reduced to 20 minutes by e.g. omission of quiz/discussion.
The script takes around 5 minutes reading time.
The quiz takes around 5 – 10 minutes.
These resources accommodate both small group and all class engagement. As explained in the lesson plan, whilst a group of six speakers read the script, the rest of the class (divided into teams) follows in order to answer questions that follow. There are also some ideas for follow up discussion, time permitting.
Time allowance is flexible - from 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how much of the package is used.
This script, along with four others (Theseus and the Minotaur, Odysseus and the Cyclops, Pandora's Box and The Tale of Two Spinners) is available as one product - The Ancient Greek Myths Guided Reading Scripts
Sample Text
Polydectus: Women! Nothing but trouble!
Perseus: I’d be careful what you say, if I were you! I think we’re a bit out-
numbered here today!
Medusa: Correct! I, Medusa, am here today representing my two immortal Gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryate. Shame I wasn’t!
Athene: Well, don’t go expecting any sympathy from me! Messing around in my temple, with that Poseidon! You deserved what you got!
Beauty is only for those who deserve it! You certainly didn’t!
Medusa: And you made sure no one would look twice in our direction!
Danae: What! With all those snakes for hair! I’d say not!
Athene: Plus that other one small detail – that once someone did look in their direction, they didn’t make the same mistake again! They couldn’t!
Quiz Sample
1. Who wanted to marry Danae?
2. Who was the son of Danae?
3. Why was Polydectes apparently so annoyed at his wedding?
4. What did Polydectes trick Perseus into saying?
5. What did he ask for?
6. Why did he want Perseus out of the way?
Odysseus and the Cyclops lesson plan, guided reading script & quiz
Each 'package' consists of lesson plan plus guided reading script (6 speakers) plus quiz/reading comprehension.
Lesson Plan (Around 20 - 30 minutes)
The lesson time can be reduced to 20 minutes by e.g. omission of quiz/discussion.
The script takes around 10 minutes reading time.
The quiz takes around 5 – 10 minutes.
These resources accommodate both small group and all class engagement. As explained in the lesson plan, whilst a group of six speakers read the script, the rest of the class (divided into teams) follows in order to answer questions that follow. There are also some ideas for follow up discussion, time permitting.
Time allowance is flexible - from 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how much of the package is used.
This script, along with four others (Theseus and the Minotaur, The Gorgon's Head, Pandora's Box and The Tale of Two Spinners) is available as one product - The Ancient Greek Myths Guided Reading Scripts
Sample text:
Greek warrior 2
(laughing): Yes, we’ve heard how being a blacksmith was just a little bit too taxing for you! Did being born with only one eye mean you were only born with half a brain?
Cyclops 2: How rude! Though I guess it was a shame we forgot our old blacksmith skills.
Polyphemus: Even though I would never have driven a red-hot stake into the eye of any creature.
Greek warrior 1: Not even one that was holding you captive, and eating 2 men for breakfast and supper, every day?
Odysseus: Real convenience food, we were!
Polyphemus: Well, you did make a welcome change from lamb stew!
Poseidon: Enough! Here I am, trying to defend you, Polyphemus, and all you can do is confirm their story! What are you? Stupid, or something?
Sample Quiz/Reading Comprehension Questions
• What animals did Cyclops look after?
• What trade had Zeus originally trained the Cyclops for?
• How did Polyphemus prevent Odysseus and his men from escaping from his cave?
• Why did the Cyclops not help Polyphemus?
• What did Odysseus use to dull Polyphemus’s senses ..even more?
Rumpelstiltskin play
This is an alternative version of the original Brothers Grimm version.
Cast of 6, reading time approximately 20 minutes
Includes: Synopsis of original fairy tale, play script, teaching input, discussion and suggested follow up activities.
This script can be used for performance - as an assembly/class play; or as a guided reading script with built in lesson plan (as described above).
This is the first of a series of 'alternative' fairy tales written by Sue Russell - coming up: Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty - these last three already available as assemblies/class plays, cast size 30 (easily adaptable up or down). Snow White also available as a pantomime.
Rumpelstiltskin Sample Text:
Narrator: Good morning. And welcome to one of our favourite fairy tales
(Enter Rumpelstiltskin)
Rumpelstiltskin: Rumpelstiltskin! That’s me!
Narrator: A veritable fiend! Villain! Crook!
Rumpelstiltskin: (Interrupting) Er, wait a minute! Are we talking about the same fairy tale?
(Narrator consults his notes)
Narrator: Well, I think so. Weren’t you the horrible little
Rumpelstiltskin: (Interrupting) Could you be just a tiny bit less offensive? I mean, ‘horrible’, ‘little’. Aren’t there any rules on political correctness here?
Narrator: (Apologetically) Oh I’m sorry. You're right (Putting script to one side) I’ll try not to follow this quite so much
(Rumpelstiltskin walks over and takes a look at the script)
Rumpelstiltskin: (Snorting) Pah! As I thought! Those Brothers Grimm! The way they described their characters! They’d never get away with it today! ‘Little man’ indeed! How would they like to be vertically challenged?
Narrator: You know, I do sympathise with you. I think you have a right to feel the way you do!
Rumpelstiltskin: Well, thank you
Narrator: But that doesn’t completely excuse your behaviour.
Rumpelstiltskin: (Exploding) My behaviour? What about that of the king and the girl’s own father?