5 Guided Reading Play Scripts, written by Sue Russell, based on Unit 6B Anglo-Saxons.

(This set of guided reading play scripts is one of a collection, based on Units 6 – 20 of the UK Key Stage II History Curriculum; also available – collection of class plays, again based on these units. For complete list including play scripts for USA curriculum visit www.plays-r-ussell.com )

Play 1 Introduction: When? Why? Where? Who?
Speakers:
King Arthur (Brit)
King Alfred (Anglo-Saxon)
Asser (Monk)
Guthrum (Viking)
King Athelstan (Anglo-Saxon)
King Cnut (Viking)

Play 2 Anglo-Saxon Life
Speakers:
Man
Woman
Child
Freya (Goddess of Love)
Woden (Father of the Gods)
Thor (God of Thunder)

Play 3 Sutton Hoo Discovery
Speakers:
Edith Pretty (Landowner)
Mr. Basil Brown (Archaeologist)
Archaeologist 1 (Arch. 1)
Archaeologist 2 (Arch. 2)
H.M. Chadwick (Anglo-Saxon Historian)
Raedwald (Anglo-Saxon King)

Play 4 Beowulf
Speakers
King Hroogar
Beowulf
Grendel
Grendel’s Mother
Dragon
Wiglaf

Play 5 Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Speakers:
Arthur
Merlin
Guinevere
Lancelot
Galahad
Mordred

This set of 5 guided reading play scripts on ‘The Anglo-Saxons’ employs 6 speakers each. Thus for a class of 30, there are 5 groups of 6 children. (For a smaller class size, a mini play may be dropped or the speakers re-allocated). Each 'mini play' comes with a quiz - an excellent assessment tool and means of focusing attention on actual learning content. I describe these plays as guided reading play scripts or readers' theater, as the scripts can be read as opposed to memorized, with no props.
I have written a set of guided reading play scripts to ‘compliment’ every ‘traditional’ class play I have written. Along with coverage of the UK History Key Stage II curriculum and most of the USA Social Studies curriculum at Elementary and Middle School level, I have also written guided reading play scripts and class plays for other subjects such as Citizenship Skills (PSHCE), Science and Geography.
The focus of these ‘mini plays’ is more on reading than performing, which is why I refer to them as ‘Readers Theater’ and I see them as a wonderful classroom resource, delivering the curriculum via role play. I have used this format with classes I have taught and know first-hand how well this innovative form of teaching works. For the complete collection of guided reading play scripts I have written (and traditional class plays), visit my website www.plays-r-ussell.com
Please note: 30 minutes teaching time is very approximate, depending on time spent on reading and answering quiz questions.
Anglo-Saxon Guided Reading Play Scripts by Sue Russell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.