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!
Superheroes Assembly for Key Stage II
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down
Duration: 15 - 20 minutes (without inclusion of music suggestions)
Our Narrator has faced some 'mission impossibles' in his time but a Superheroes Assembly without ... Superheroes? Thank goodness there is always an Ancient Greek superhero around when you need him. But bringing out the 'super' in these particular heroes may prove too much of a challenge even for Hercules!
Sample Text:
Music 1 – Holding out for a hero – Bonnie Tyler
(Whole cast file in, in order of speaking, seating themselves along two rows of fifteen seats, facing the audience)
Narrator: Good morning and welcome to
(Silence as Narrator waits for cast to respond - nothing but a couple of feeble coughs)
(Narrator turns round to face cast, speaking sideways on so that audience can hear)
Narrator: What’s going on? Where are all my Superheroes?
Superhero 1: Do you mean, us?
Superhero 2: If you want a show of superpowers here today, you’re out of luck!
Narrator: But why? What’s going on?
Superhero 3: More a case of what’s not going on!
Superhero 4: ‘Fraid we’re all recovering from colds
Superhero 5: And not feeling in the least bit ‘superhero-ish’!
Narrator: (Gasping) Oh no! So what am I supposed to tell this audience?
Superhero 6: Come back another day?
Narrator: No, I can’t do that! As you can see, they’re all here!
Superhero 7: Well, sorry, but even superheroes have their off days.
Narrator: (Desperately) But not, please, on the day of my assembly!
Superhero 8: ‘Fraid so!
Narrator: (Clasping head and groaning) Oh no! This cannot be! What a disaster!
Music 2 Greased Lightnin’ – Grease
(Enter Hercules, performing John Travolta moves)
Narrator: Well, good morning! (Looking through notes in confusion) This is … er … a bit of a surprise!
(Hercules snatches notes)
Hercules: Oh you don’t want to bother with those! Let’s go for a bit of good old fashioned spontaneity this morning!
Narrator: Old fashioned?
Hercules: Well, maybe a bit more than old. Make that, Ancient. (Pauses) Oh, and Greek!
Narrator: You mean, Ancient Greek?
Hercules: Exactly! And who better to represent that magnificent race – than myself, the great Hercules?
Narrator: Wow! You certainly were a superhero in your time!
Good and Bad Assembly or Class Play
Ever wondered why some people are happy and others not? Could it perhaps have anything to do with their outlook on life?
The two gangs in this assembly certainly see life very differently - well, they would, wouldn't they - given that one are a group of peace-loving hippies and the other, a group of street-wise warriors?
But no differences are irreconcilable. Read on!
Cast of 30 - easily adjustable up or down
Duration - around 10 minutes without inclusion of music suggestions (which will double the length of performance)
Sample Text
(BG stands for Bad Gang; GG stands for Good Gang)
BG Leader: (To GG Leader) There you have it, Sunshine! That’s my gang! Where’s yours?
Music 3 Joybringer – Manfred Mann’s Earthband
(BG 15 – 28 perform song, singing and dancing, joyously)
GG Leader: (Applauding) Ah now that’s more like it! Thank you so much!
GG 1: Oh! Our pleasure! Thank you for listening!
BG 1: (Mimicking) Oh! Our pleasure! Thank you for listening
(Bad Gang all fall about laughing)
(BG 2 goes over to GG 2, in threatening manner)
BG 2: So what are you going to say, little ‘joybringer’?
(Bad Gang all fall about laughing)
GG 2: Oh you needn’t think I’m afraid of you!
BG 2: Well, you should be! I don’t reckon much of your chances in a stand up fight with us lot
(Turns to Bad Gang) Am I right, guys?
Bad Gang: (Aggressively) Right!
(BG 2 swaggers back to seat)
GG 3: Oh I can’t tell you how much we’re (pointing to Good Gang) all looking forward to that!
(Collective Gasp from Bad Gang)
BG 3: Are you mad? Or just plain stupid?
GG 3: (Laughing) Maybe a little mad! But (pointing to Good Gang) we’re all good with that, right?
Good Gang: (Joyfully) Right!
BG 4: (Contemptuously) Pah! Just look at them! Thinking themselves so great!
GG 4: Oh I can assure you we’re far from being just thinkers!
BG 4: (Laughing, sarcastically) Right! You still up for some action?
(BG 4 struts up and down, bracing his muscles; Bad Gang all do the same)
GG 4: Very impressive – as a display! Shame it doesn’t have much substance!
BG 5: Pah! Just jealous, that’s what you are! Making fun of us – how low can you stoop!
GG 5: (Anxiously) Oh we didn’t want to make you feel bad about yourselves
Music 4 Bad – Michael Jackson
(Bad Gang all jump to their feet and perform again, as before)
Respect Assembly
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down.
Duration - around 10 minutes not including music suggestions.
This PSHE class play was written for Key Stage I - the part of the narrator taken by the Class Teacher.
Other Character Assemblies, Key Stage I & II, are available from writer, Sue Russell.
Sample Text
Goldilocks: Help! Help! Save me from these vicious bears!
Mummy Bear: (Retorting angrily) Vicious bears?
Daddy Bear: (Laughing) Who? Us?
Baby Bear: We’re the victims here, not her!
Narrator: Aha! Goldilocks and the Three Bears! Now that’s an interesting tale!
Mummy: One of burglary
Daddy Bear: Break in
Baby Bear: And vandalism!
Goldilocks: Oops! That bad?
All three bears: (Together, nodding) That bad!
Narrator: Oh dear! So not only have we a total lack of respect for people
Goldilocks: Bears!
Narrator: No difference! Don’t go making things worse for yourself, young lady!
Mummy Bear: Quite! Who ever heard such cheek?
Narrator: I repeat. Not only have we a total lack of respect for people (pauses) .. and bears! But a lack of respect for other’s property as well!
(Whole cast gasps in shock)
Goldilocks: (To Bears) I’m so sorry! I should never have walked into your home
Mummy Bear: Or eaten our food
Baby Bear: Or sat on our furniture
Daddy Bear: Or slept on our beds.
Goldilocks: I am so sorry. I’ll never do it again!
(Exit Goldilocks and the Three Bears, smiling at each other)
Narrator: Well, there’s a happy ending!
Child 1: But it’s very easy to go wrong! To forget that respect thing. We do need reminding of some important facts.
Child 2: Everyone is different.
Child 3: We all look different
Child 4: We all like different things
Child 5: I like running!
Child 6: I like football!
Child 7: I like reading a book!
Narrator: And that’s fine. Nothing wrong with having these differences!
Child 8: Our world would be so boring if everyone was the same!
Child 9: It doesn’t matter
Child 10: If you support Chelsea!
Child 11: Or Arsenal!
Awe and Wonder Assembly
Key Stage I (5 – 7 yrs)
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down.
Duration - around 10 minutes reading time (not including music suggestions and songs). Longer performance easy - with simple addition of more information.
Special guests to this class play: two superheroes - invited along to witness 'awesome' and 'wonderful' aka Nature and its superpowers - Who or what can beat a spider's artistry, a rainbow's beauty, the miracle of a butterfly and ... a great Milky Way!
Awe and Wonder Assembly/Class Play available for Key Stage II (7 – 11yrs) – on Seven Natural Wonders of the World (Grand Canyon, Great Coral Reef etc).
As a special offer, FREE with purchase of this script - a set of lovely photos taken at last year's Sensational Butterflies Exhibition at the Natural History Museum. Drop me a line at sue@plays-r-ussell.com
Sample Text:
(Enter 4 children in pyjamas)
Narrator: Looks like you lot are ready for bed!
Child 12: (Pointing up) Star gazing!
Child 13: That’s what we’re doing!
Child 14: (Sighing) They’re so beautiful!
Child 15: (To Narrator) Care to join us?
Narrator: Don’t mind if I do! What can you see?
(As Narrator is gazing upwards, children share out chocolates among themselves; Narrator suddenly realises he has been ‘duped’)
Narrator: Hey! Give me those chocolates!
Child 12: But we’re about to tell you about them!
Child 13: This one is the name of a group of stars – a galaxy!
Child 14: This one is the galaxy we live in – the Milky Way!
Narrator: (To Child 15) And this one?
Child 15: Well, this one isn’t really a star. It’s a planet – Mars!
Narrator: (Taking Mars bar) Well, I’d better have that one, then!
(To audience, aside) My favourite!
Twelve New Labours of Hercules Assembly
NB: This script is not about the original 12 Labours of Hercules! It is based around a completely different set of challenges – on the kind of ‘admirable qualities’ the cast feels Hercules should have – presenting him with a 12-part self-improvement plan!
This is a kind of spin off from the Superheroes script - almost a reversal in fact; as whilst in that script it was Hercules trying to make superheroes out of a pretty unpromising cast, this script is about the cast pulling the punches - Hercules struggling along in their wake!
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down
Duration around 15 - 20 minutes not including music suggestions.
This Key Stage II class play is PSHE ‘orientated’ as it focuses on 'character improvements' e.g. humility, courage, mutual respect, upholding what is right, keeping positive, patience, love .... and of course the hardest of all, being happy!
Sample Text:
Child 11: A start to your self-improvement plan.
Hercules: My what?
Child 12: Well, we all feel you are lacking
Hercules: Me? The great Hercules? Lacking?
Child 12: (Coughing) If you would allow me to finish? We all feel you are lacking – make that, greatly lacking in some of the qualities you should have as
Hercules: As a great superhero? I don’t think so!
Child 13: Actually, I was going to say, as a member of the human race! Your mother was a mortal, right?
Hercules: Yes
Child 14: So I’m sure she’d appreciate us trying to improve you!
Hercules: Huh! How can you improve on perfection?
Music 3 Chariots of Fire theme music
(Hercules strides around ‘looking magnificent’)
(Child 15 walks over to the music and turns it off)
Hercules: (Indignantly) Hey! What’s the big idea?
Child 15: I think we all get it! You are Mr Universe!
Hercules: (Looking very pleased with himself) Well, thank you. I
Child 15: (Pointing to head) In your head, that is!
Hercules: (Furiously) Pardon?
Child 15: Oh do stop saying that! Anyone would think you had a hearing problem!
Hercules: (Spluttering) I most definitely do not! Everything about my physique is perfect!
Child 15: Like I said, maybe on the outside. But it’s what’s on the inside that is sadly lacking. But don’t worry, we are going to help fix that!
Hercules: (Sarcastically) And may I ask how?
Child 16: You may! All very simple. You just have to complete 12 simple tasks that we set you.
Hercules: (Laughing) Oh I get it! You are going to give me another 12 labours.
The Twelve Labours of Hercules Assembly
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down; Duration around 15 minutes not including music suggestions - this could double the length of the assembly or class play.
Every teacher's dream come true - an Ancient Greek superhero calling in to reignite the class's interest in a subject they have been doing all term! Hercules does so well ... until the arrival of that wicked king Eurystheus; but it doesn't take long before the latter realises his mistake in taking on this class - and it is truly heartening for all teachers everywhere to hear such respect from Hercules for their magnificent efforts!
Enjoy The Twelve Labours of Hercules in fun, entertaining style - if it works for this set of children, it will definitely work for yours!
Hercules features in two other scripts written by Sue Russell:
1. Superheroes Assembly for KSII – where Hercules has the dubious pleasure of converting a class of very un-super heroes … into super heroes!
2. Twelve New Labours of Hercules – in which the tables are turned on Hercules as he is the student on a self-improvement programme – this one with its focus on PSHE (i.e. ‘admirable’ character qualities!)
Sample Text:
Eurystheus: (To Narrator) Now. How many labours have we done?
Narrator: Just three!
(Loud groan from cast)
Child 20: What? Nine more to go?
Child 21: You have to be kidding?
Child 22: This had better be good!
Eurystheus: (Peevishly) What is it with these kids? A case of short attention span or what?
(Cast all cross arms angrily, in defiant posture)
Narrator: I’d be careful what you say, if I were you! This lot are easily upset and you might just find yourself in a bit of a spot!
Eurystheus: (Laughing) Are you suggesting I should be worried by a load of kids? Oh don’t make me laugh!
(To cast) Now. About this fourth labour.
(Whole cast yawns loudly)
Hercules’ task was to capture the Erymanthian Boar.
Child 23: Did someone say ‘bore’?
Child 24: As in, bore us to death’
Child 24: I think we can safely say, he already has!
(Whole cast nod)
Eurystheus: Now wait a minute!
(Eurystheus walks over to the props box and tries to find ‘Boar’)
Eurystheus: (Muttering) it must be in here somewhere!
(Child 25, who had, unseen by Eurystheus, crept over to the props box and taken the Boar, pounces out at him, making him leap in the air and scream with terror; Hercules falls about laughing, as does the rest of the cast)
Ancient Greek Myths Pandora's Box Assembly or Class Play
This class play can be used as an assembly (for performance) or as a class play, to be read within the classroom.
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down
Duration - around 15 - 20 minutes reading not including music suggestions.
The Seven Deadly Sins plus all those Vices? No wonder our Narrator is worried! But as with all good stories, this one has a happy ending - well, maybe not for all those baddies!
This is one of a collection of Ancient Greek Myth scripts – assemblies and guided reading scripts, sold as separate and combined products. This play could also be used as a PSHE resource – on resisting temptation, and the victory of good (hope) over evil (Seven Deadly Sins plus, in this case 19 Vices).
Sample Text:
Music 5 – You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
(Epimetheus sings love song to Pandora)
Narrator: (Indicating for music to stop) Yes, yes. We get it! Young love!
Epimetheus: Oh come on! Look at this perfect woman? How could I possibly resist?
Narrator: (To audience) Aha! Somebody else who couldn’t resist temptation!
(To Pandora) No offence to you, madam.
(To Epimetheus) But did you not look a little deeper? I mean, yes, she’s undoubtedly beautiful but
(Optional burst of The Price You Pay – Bruce Springsteen)
Pandora: (Angrily) Oh right! It’s the blond argument, right? The ‘well, if she looks that good, there can’t be much underneath’? No spirit, heh?
Music 6 Missionary Man – Eurythmics
(Pandora throws off her ‘pretty clothes’ displaying a much stronger image)
Narrator: (Holding up hand for music to stop) Whoa! That’s not the Perfect Pandora I was expecting!
Epimetheus: (Gasping) And that’s not a side of my wife I’ve ever seen before!
Pandora: Of course not! You only ever wanted me to be that perfect ‘domestic goddess’ – sitting around, looking pretty, staring vacantly out to space!
Epimetheus: Well, isn’t that what wives are supposed to do?
Narrator: Not this one, I suspect!
(Optional excerpt of Thorn in my Side – Eurythmics – Pandora strutting up and down)
Narrator: (Holding hand up) OK. Yes, we’ve got it! So underneath all that sweetness was a whole heap of frustration!
Pandora: More like mega boredom! I mean, what was I supposed to do all day?
Epimetheus: Stay out of mischief?
General Election Assembly - Who should be our next prime minister?
6 weeks to go … and bored with the General Election already? Then this assembly is your perfect tonic!
As for our narrator, who would envy their task of choosing a prime minister - from a class of 30?! The choice? Football stars, movie stars, rock stars ..... and a whole lotta girl/boy attitude between the Spice 'lot' and a certain Direction! Somebody needs to tell them about equality - and who better than .... S Club 7?!
This is a very light hearted look at the coming election. The ‘possible candidates’ are a selection of celebs – chosen purely for entertainment sake.
For a more serious ‘take’, the script could be adapted to include a far more serious list of people either now or in the past e.g. Gandhi, King, Mandela, Mother Theresa etc.
Likewise, whilst dealing with the current topic of the election, this script could be used for citizenship because of its PSHE component – this latter could be extended by adding a section on ‘What would you change if you were prime minister?’
Duration: 10 – 15 minutes reading time; around 20 – 30 minutes including music suggestions.
Cast of 30 - easily adapted up or down; and characters may be replaced by children’s own choices.
Sample Text
Child 1: I think David Beckham should be prime minister!
Child 2: Nah! It’s got to be Lionel Messi!
Child 3: No! Wayne Rooney has my vote!
Child 4: Rubbish! It’s got to be Cristiano Ronaldo!
Narrator: (Blowing whistle) Excuse me! Since when did any of these footballers know anything about politics? They might be pretty good at running up and down a pitch, but running a country? I don’t think so!
(Exit Child 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Narrator: Next!
(Enter ‘athlete’ – Child 5)
Child 5: I’m here representing the world of athletics! I’d vote for Jessica Ennis!
Narrator: (To audience, sighing) What is it with kids and sport?
(To Child 5) Yes, I can see why you might think Ms Ennis would set us all a fine example
Child 5: A prime role model! An inspiration to us all!
Narrator: Yes, yes. I totally agree! But there is a difference between running along those tracks
Child 5: In record times!
Narrator: And, …..let me finish…., running the country!
(To audience) Am I having a moment of déjà vu or didn’t I just say that a very short while ago?
(To Child 5) Anyway. Thank you … but no thank you!
(Exit Child 5)
Music 3 Theme music from Doctor Who
Pet Care Assembly for Key Stage I
This script is a totally moveable feast! The cast consists of Narrator (Class Teacher) plus 30 pets - the number and type of pets can, of course, be changed to match any class requirement.
Although it is full of humorous moments, the message behind it is a serious one - that of taking the business of pet care itself seriously.
The length of this performance is around 10 - 15 minutes *plus - allowing for ‘parade’ and ‘additions’ from children themselves i.e. information about their particular pets. It could potentially be double this length depending on how much additional information and suggested poetry is included.
Great fun. Would love to see this performed!
Sample Text:
Narrator: You see, pets do take a lot of looking after. They are a big responsibility! (Pauses) What do you think is the most important part of looking after a pet?
Child 4: Making it happy?
Narrator: Correct!
Child 5: And healthy!
Narrator: Well done! So, you have to do a lot of homework before you even choose a pet.
Child 6: Sounds like being at school!
Child 7: Having a pet is meant to be fun!
Narrator: But it’s no fun for your pet if it’s not looked after properly. Take that Great Dane, for example.
(‘Great Dane’ stands up)
Child 8: He’d take a lot of feeding!
Narrator: Correct! Big dogs like big meals! But that’s not all!
Child 9: He’ll need a lot of exercise!
Child 10: Long walks!
Narrator: Two or three times a day! He won’t want to be left inside by himself all day!
(Great Dane shakes his head in agreement and sits down)
Narrator: Animals have needs, just like us! And we need to respect their needs! Maybe someone could share with us, how they look after their pet?
Child 11: I have two guinea pigs called Bill and Ben!
Narrator: Two guinea pigs?
Child 11: Yes, they like company!
Narrator: And where do you keep them?
Child 11: In a hutch with a nice grassy run. They also have cardboard boxes and pipes to hide in if they get frightened.
The Good Samaritan Assembly or Class Play Cast of 30
NB: The other play, with a cast of 10, available as a separate purchase, is a re-telling of the parable with complementary discussion notes on the bystander effect.
This full-length assembly with a cast of 30 starts with this same cast of 10 but has an additional 20 speakers dealing with ‘the bystander effect’ with reference to today’s society, delivered via five different scenarios.
Duration - around 15 to 20 minutes
Sample Text
Scenario 1 - A young boy/teenager being beaten up by a group of other teenage boys
(Enter 5 boys and 5 bystanders)
(Bystanders in two groups, chatting amongst themselves; group of five boys chatting/messing around)
(Suddenly four boys ‘fall out’ with the fifth boy and set upon him, ‘beating him to the ground’)
(Bystanders look on bewildered before walking off hurriedly)
(Four boys do a ‘high five’ and walk off, leaving the fifth boy, sprawled on the ground, moaning)
(Enter Good Samaritan, who helps boy to his feet and helps him back to his seat)
Narrator: (Jumping out of his seat) Bravo! You’ve done it again! Good Samaritan to the rescue!
Good Samaritan: So, what about those other people who were there and witnessed what happened? Where did they go? Let’s call them back.
(Good Samaritan gestures to five bystanders to come and join him)
Good Samaritan: So. What was going on there? Explain yourselves, please.
Bystander 1: Oh, you know how it is.
Bystander 2: Boys will be boys!
Bystander 3: Just thought we’d let them get on with it.
Bystander 4: Nothing to do with us!
Bystander 5: We didn’t want to get involved
Good Samaritan: So. Let’s get this straight. You were happy to risk that young boy being severely injured. Perhaps worse.
Bystander 1: (Laughing nervously) Oh let’s not exaggerate!
(All bystanders nod in agreement)
Good Samaritan: But you didn’t know he’d be all right, did you?
(All bystanders shuffle their feet nervously and look to the ground)
Good Samaritan: No, you didn’t! Shame on you for walking away!
Bystander 2: But what could I have done?
Bystander 3: I’m no fighter!
Bystander 4: What if they’d turned on me?
Bystander 5: I didn’t want to get hurt!
Good Samaritan: So, it was OK to let someone else get hurt?
Bystander 1: Well,
Good Samaritan: (Exploding) No it wasn’t! And you all know it!
International Day of Happiness Assembly
A play to make you smile - I hope!
Cast of 26 - easily adaptable up or down
Duration - around 20 minutes depending on number of quotations, jokes and music suggestions included.
Sample Text:
Music 1 What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
(Enter 2 grumpy young girls, alias GYGs, and 2 grumpy young boys, alias GYBs, holding their hands over their heads)
GYG1: What a din!
GYB1: Somebody turn off that music!
GYG2: Yeah! I’ve got a headache!
GYB2: Me too! And it’s getting worse by the minute!
(Enter Narrator)
Narrator: (Coughing) Er excuse me! But hasn’t anybody told you what day it is today?
GYG1: Not Monday, I hope. Worst day of the week!
GYB1: Nah! Every day of the week’s bad … when you’re having to spend it at school!
Narrator: Enough! Where did you lot crawl from? The wrong side of bed perhaps?
(Falls about laughing)
GYG2: (Sarcastically) Oh! I see we have a joker in our midst!
GYB2: (Sarcastically) Oh! What fun!
Narrator: Now, come on, you miserable lot! This really won’t do!
(Pauses and looks towards rest of cast)
Looks like we’re gonna have to tell them what day it is. Let’s hear it …
Cast: (Shouting) International Day of Happiness!
(Everyone holds up a smiley face)
Narrator: And what do we do on International Day of Happiness? We
Cast: (Shouting) Smile!
Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Class Play or Assembly
Cast of 30.
Duration around 10 minutes.
This script starts with a look at the Code of Honour which those Knights of the Round Table were supposed to follow and demonstrate in their actions. But Knights, like the rest of us, are merely human as pointed out by our learned friend/wizard – Merlin. This script attempts to highlight that nobody - not even the great King Arthur - is perfect; but that that shouldn’t stop us from trying to be modern Knights – at least in as far as their aspirations!
The second half of the script has a brief resume of The Sword in the Stone plus a mention of some other key moments in the Arthurian legend.
Sample Text
Knight 10: (To King Arthur) You taught us that all men were born equal.
Knight 11: And that we should always respect ourselves and others, as equals.
King Arthur: That was the idea behind the Round Table. That no one should think himself superior to another.
Knight 12: Nobody should get airs above their station. Meekness and humility are two shining virtues we should all aspire to.
Knight 13: We should be kind
Knight 14: Gentle
Knight 15: And merciful
Mordred: Doesn’t sound very ‘knightly’ to me!
King Arthur: Which is why you should be listening and learning. It takes more than sheer brawn to be a true knight!
Knight 16: Yes, be prepared to fight for justice
King Arthur: But being brave is only good if it is done for the right reasons!
Knight 17: You have to know right from wrong
Knight 18: And fight for those who can’t defend themselves.
Mordred: (Muttering) Doesn’t sound very heroic to me!
King Arthur: But that’s just it! It’s not about playing the hero, looking all dashing and chivalrous!
Knight 19: That’s plain vanity! Nothing noble and courageous about that!
Mordred: (Spluttering) But
Knight 20: (Sighing) You have to be patient.
Knight 21: Courteous. Treat others as you would wish them to treat you.
Knight 22: Harbour no envy.
Knight 23: Commit no murder.
Mordred: Oh, here we go. I wondered when that was going to come up.
Knight 24: To have honour you have to fight on the side of truth.
Mordred: And who are you, any of you, to say what that is?
Merlin: (Sighing) Ah me! And this is where it all gets so complicated. None of us are perfect. We all get drawn into temptation – that’s life.
King Arthur: But we can at least try to abide by certain rules of conduct. Ones that are not going to harm others. And if we succeed at just a few of these, then we are on the right path.
An assembly on England in celebration of St. George's Day; plus a set of five Guided Reading Scripts (plus quizzes) with 6 speakers each; plus St. George's Day Poem. Whole package - 3 products for price of one!
Enjoy!
Feeling Sad Assembly or Class Play
This script was largely ‘prompted by’ Time to Talk Day Thursday February 4th - a joint initiative run by MIND and Rethink - addressing the taboo around mental health - people still tend to feel uncomfortable talking about it.
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
As this was written for primary schools, the language is of course simple as is the message - emphasizing that sadness is part of life, something we should all talk about and not feel embarrassed about.
I have followed this script up with one for secondary schools/adults - Good to Talk - a conversation between two people. (In 2 Speaker Scripts section of website)
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down
Duration - around 5 - 10 minutes
Sample Text:
Music 1 Everybody Hurts - REM
(Children file into assembly, taking seats in order of speaking, along two rows of 15 seats, facing audience)
Narrator: Good morning and welcome to our assembly on Feeling Sad.
(Enter Clown)
Clown: Hey! What’s up, people?
(Nobody smiling)
Hey! Time to turn those frowns, upside down!
Narrator: Actually, I’m going to ask you to take your seat again.
(Narrator leads Clown back to seat)
Narrator: Fooling around, making people laugh – there’s a time and place for that. But not now.
(Clown jumps up again)
Clown: But these are children! They need to be laughing and smiling!
(Narrator patiently leads Clown back to seat again)
Narrator: No, they don’t. You see, being happy and jolly is fine. But so too is being sad.
(Clown jumps up)
Clown: But nobody wants to be sad! (Spluttering) That’s …. That’s just wrong!
(Loud sigh from Child 1)
Child 1: Oh do please sit down and perhaps we can explain.
(Clown reluctantly returns to seat)
Child 1: We are all sad from time to time.
Child 2: It’s part of life.
Child 3: It’s part of the human condition.
Child 4: And you know what? It’s actually OK to feel sad.
Child 5: Sometimes, however, we feel we have to hide our emotions.
Child 6: Pretend we’re OK – when we’re not.
Child 7: It’s much better if you’re feeling sad to share it with someone.
LGBT Assembly
Cast of 30 – Easily adapted to smaller or larger class size.
Duration: Around 10 – 15 minutes.
This script, whilst giving two specific examples of victims of discrimination – Alan Turing and Harvey Milk – is a general celebration of diversity, stressing the importance of education in the fight against prejudice. It is suitable for primary school children and, as an ‘add-on’ gives a suggested list of discussion points to be gone through beforehand.
I fear I may have erred on the side of caution in writing this script – I have not given any ‘definitions of LGBT terms’ though I am happy to provide these as a supplement, if requested. But I hope I have delivered on the message that we should all work towards a ‘live and let live’ society - as prejudice and fear-free as possible.
Sample Text:
Child 13: Why cannot people be free to be who they are?
Child 14: Why cannot people be free to express themselves as they are?
Child 15: Fortunately, we live in increasingly enlightened times
Child 16: So that people need not be afraid of the kind of discrimination that leads to the loss of freedom and the loss of life.
Child 17: To live in fear is a terrible thing.
Child 18: We often hear of bullying. This can happen to adults just as much as to children.
Child 19: And the bullies are often the ones who are most frightened.
Narrator: How does that work?
Child 20: Prejudice is largely borne of ignorance. People feel threatened by things they don’t understand. They are afraid and lash out at whatever is beyond their comprehension.
Child 21: Nobody likes being taken out of their particular comfort zone. And that comfort zone is often based on familiarity. Understanding what is going on.
Narrator: So how do you think we should best tackle this problem?
Child 22: Through education. Through making differences acceptable and non-threatening.
Child 23: If we all accept it’s OK to be different then that’s half the battle.
Olympics PRIDE Guided Reading Scripts 2016
This set of 5 group readers is intended to promote the concepts behind PRIDE – standing for Positive Mental Attitude, Respect, Intelligent Choices, Dreams and Effort (Education). In short, the promotion of healthy, positive self-esteem among young people, highlighting the fact that ‘being the best’ takes time, effort and all round commitment.
Also available as an Assembly or Class Play.
Extract from PRIDE Group Readers
1.POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE
Coach: You're getting there! But don't forget. It's not just about looking big on the outside. You've got to feel big on the inside, too.
Player 2: That's where your strength comes from.
Player 1: Right. I can lift weights all day long but when I get out there on court, those muscles alone aren't going to help me one bit!
Player 3: Not if you don't believe in yourself.
Player 2: Not if you don't have fire in your belly!
Dancer 1: (Squirming) Ooh! Sounds painful!
Player 3: You have to want it so bad it really does hurt!
Player 2: That's what playing is all about. Having the passion to win
Player 3: And doing your best. And that is just as important off court as on.
Fan 1: You mean (sniggering) like in the classroom as well?
Player 3: Totally! Even more so! We are all of us learning all the time - it doesn't stop when we leave school. It's what makes us what we are
Coach: And what we can become! We can all be heroes
Fan 1: Like you
Dancer 1: And you!
All: (Shouting) You just have to believe in yourself!
Other scripts available from Sue Russell:
ASSEMBLIES
1. Brazil Host Country to 2016 Rio Olympics
2. Olympics PRIDE Assembly (PSHE 'team spirit' script)
3. Olympic Games 2016 Leavers Assembly
4. Rio 2016 Olympic Games Assembly - covering all 28 sports
5. History of the Olympics Assembly
6. Rio 2016 Olympic Games Assembly: history and events - combined script including Olympic Ode
7. Olympics Assembly for Key Stage 1 Rio 2016
8. Paralympics 2016 Assembly
GUIDED READING SCRIPTS
1. A Complete History of the Olympic Games Guided Reading Scripts plus quizzes - set of 8 scripts, plus quizzes
2. Olympics PRIDE Guided Reading
QUIZ
Rio 2016 Olympic Games Quiz - 100 questions and answers!
plus
OLYMPIC ODE
Nelson Mandela Guided Reading Play (or Readers Theater).
6 speakers plus quiz. An in-depth discussion amongst the key 'players' in Mandela's life, raising many issues for further discussion among students.
This is one of a collection of 5 plays - Unit 20 Famous People of the 20th Century:
1. Martin Luther King 2. Nelson Mandela 3. Mahatma Gandhi 4. John Lennon 5. Prominent Women (Helen Keller, Anne Frank, Marie Curie, Mother Theresa, Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana)
Speakers:
Nelson Mandela
Winnie (second wife)
Desmond Tutu
P.W. Botha (Nationalist Party - hardliner)
F.W. de Klerk (Nationalist Party - moderate)
Nobel Peace Committee
Sample Text:
Mandela:
1994! What a year in South African history!
Winnie:
The year you became South Africa's first black President!
Botha:
The year the African National Congress won the election.
De Klerk:
The year millions lined up to vote with Nelson Mandela for the first time.
Winnie:
The year my husband said "We are moving from an era of resistance, division, oppression, turmoil and conflict and starting a new era of hope, reconciliation and nation-building. I sincerely hope that the mere casting of a vote ... will give hope to all South Africans."
Tutu:
And it did that all right! After all those years of injustice and suffering. At last the battle was won!
Also written by Sue Russell:
Black History:
• The Slave Trade
• Heroes of the Underground Railroad
• Amazing Women in the American Civil Rights Movement
• Martin Luther King
• Nelson Mandela
And
American Heroes:
• Heroes of the American War of Independence
• Heroes of the Underground Railroad
• Native American Heroes
• Heroes in Science and Space Exploration
• Heroes from Different Walks of Life (incl. children)
And
Amazing Women:
• From across the world 15th – 20th century
• From across the world 20th century
• In the American Women’s Suffrage Movement
• In the American Civil Rights Movement
• And First Ladies 31-35 (taken from First Ladies collection)
Salem Witch Trials Guided Reading Scripts
5 plays (6 speakers each) and 5 quizzes
Boredom, over-active imaginations and a certain flair for amateur dramatics - all fatally combined to produce one of the cruellest travesties of justice in U.S. history. 19 hangings of complete innocents, labelled as witches ... by children. Who, or what, was to blame? Sift through some very suspect evidence and draw your own conclusions, from this set of guided reading play scripts, covering the course of those infamous events.
Play 1 First Accusations
Play 2 The First Hanging (June 10th)
Play 3 Second and Third Hanging (July 19 and August 19)
Play 4 Fourth Hanging (September 22nd)
Play 5 History's Verdict - Who was to blame?
Sample Text
Betty: That's right, papa! We would never lie to you!
Abigail: We were good girls!
Sarah Good: And I wasn't? Good by name and good by nature, that was me - until you and your friends blackened my reputation.
Rev. Parris: Not so hard, from what I can remember! Begging in the streets!
Betty: And muttering threats whenever she was turned away!
Sarah Good: According to you, a mere child! Whoever heard of taking a 9 year old's word against an adult's?
Sarah Osborne: And a bored 9 year old at that, with nothing better to do than spread trouble.
Tituba: What an imagination! Nearly as vivid as those tales from the Caribbean I told!
Abigail: We certainly were a ‘captive audience'.
Rev. Parris: My poor girls! In the power of those wicked witches! If you could have seen them ..
Sarah Good: Squirming and screaming!
Sarah Osborne: Barking and howling! Oh we saw them all right - along with everyone else in those crowded trial rooms!
Tituba: What a performance! A few centuries on and you'd have got yourselves an Oscar!
American Heroes Guided Reading Scripts
This set of 5 plays (6 speakers each) and 5 quizzes dips into the lives of 30 American heroes and heroines - from the American War of Independence, Underground Railway, world of science, different walks of life such as entertainment and including children, and great Native Americans - all of whom strove against massive odds, and came out on top - an inspiration to us all.
• Heroes of the American War of Independence
Speakers:
George Washington Samuel Adams John Adams
Thomas Paine Benjamin Franklin Paul Revere
• Heroes of the Underground Railroad
Speakers:
Ex-Slaves: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas and Josiah Henson
White Abolitionists: Laura Haviland, Levi Coffin and Thomas Garret
• Native American Heroes
Speakers:
Sitting Bull (Sioux leader) Geronimo (Apache warrior) Chief Joseph (Nez Perce leader)
Tecumseh (Shawnee leader) Pocahontas (daughter of Chief Powhatan)
Sacagawea (‘guide' on Lewis & Clark's trans-continent expedition)
• Heroes in Science
Speakers:
Neil Armstrong (astronaut: first man to walk on the moon)
Christa McAuliffe (teacher and astronaut)
Albert Einstein (one of the world's greatest ever geniuses)
Jonas Salk (developed Polio vaccine)
Mary Edwards Walker (first female surgeon in U.S. army)
Rachel Carson (great environmentalist)
• Heroes from Different Walks of Life: Adults from the World of Entertainment - Children - and a Folk Legend
Speakers
Jackie Robinson (Baseball)
Steven Spielberg (Movies)
Elvis Presley (Music)
Mattie Stepanek (Child poet)
Samantha Smith (Child peacemaker)
John Chapman (Folk legend)
Sample Text
Play 1 Heroes of the American War of Independence
Paine: But what always struck me about this learned gentleman - right from the very first time I met him in England - was his tremendous sense of humor!
Revere: Here! Here! I remember telling the missus, after she'd invited some friends to stay "Fish and visitors smell after three days"! And because these were Franklin's words, she threw them out the next day!
A Huge Thank You to Our National Health Service is just a short note of thanks for the tireless effort of our heroes in the NHS.
There can be any number of speakers as these are non-specific. There are 25 plus Narrator in this script but speakers can double up (to reduce number) or have additional text added with additional speakers. This is just a very brief ‘thank you’ and glimpse at when and why the NHS was set up i.e. its aspirations.
Sample text:
Narrator: Good morning. And welcome to our celebration of our great National Health Service.
(Whole cast cheers)
Speaker 1: We are all in awe of what the people within the NHS do for us.
Speaker 2: During the COVID-19 crisis they have and continue to stand out as our nation’s absolute heroes.
(Whole cast applauds)
Speaker 3: Yes, every Thursday night for the ten-week Lockdown period we all stepped outside our homes, at 8pm and put our hands together in recognition of the amazing work our NHS workers do.
Narrator: It was also to thank all our key workers who kept this country going. They played a crucial role and I repeat, a huge thank you to all of them too.
Speaker 4: It became a weekly ritual and we are hoping the whole nation will put their hands together again on July 5th to celebrate the NHS’s seventy second birthday!