5 Guided Reading Play Scripts (plus quizzes) based on Unit 7 Henry VIII – written by Sue Russell.
(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 Wives 1 and 2
(Marriage to Catherine – divorce – break with Rome – Wolsey’s career)
Speakers:
Henry VIII
Catherine of Aragon
Cardinal Wolsey
Pope
Courtier
Anne Boleyn

Play 2 Wives 2 and 3
(Anne Boleyn’s execution, birth of Edward and death of Jane Seymour)
Speakers
Henry
Anne
Jane
Courtier
Anne’s brother (George)
Executioner

Play 3 Wives 4 and 5
Speakers: Henry Anne of Cleves
Catherine Howard Courtier
Hans Holbein Priest
Play 4 Last wife
Speakers:
Henry
Catherine Parr
Thomas Seymour
Courtier 1
Courtier 2
Priest

Play 5 – All the Wives
Speakers
Catherine of Aragon
Anne Boleyn
Jane Seymour
Anne of Cleves
Catherine Howard
Catherine Parr

This set of 5 guided reading play scripts on ‘Henry VIII and his Six Wives 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
Henry VIII and his Six Wives Guided Reading Play Scripts by Sue Russell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.