The Mystery of Wool Island
By Kathy Applebee

The Page family returns for the first time to their summer cottage on Virginia Beach after the death of their father. A hurricane, the discovery of a chest with a possible treasure map inside and a romantic relationship provide plenty of action and suspense.

Download the preview to see the production notes and the first two scenes in the play.

The 55 minute play can be used for performance or for Reader’s Theater to improve fluency and comprehension while giving students an authentic reason to read, reread and analyze characters and plot.

Aligns with with VA SOL’s
History K-5 (geography, Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman)
Science 2-5 (weather, earth systems, moon, erosion)
Health 1-5, especially grade 2 (dealing with disappointment, grief and loss)

Be on the lookout for The Miss Numerica Pageant – Who says girls and math can’t have fun together. In this play 13 girls compete for the title of Miss Numerica while explaining prime numbers, square roots and more. Contains 3 musical numbers that are parodies of familiar songs.
Additional Mystery Activities/Games available from Kathy Applebee on teacherspayteachers:
The Will
When rich old Mrs. Wetherington dies the family and staff are shocked, not at her death (after all she was old and many people wanted her dead) but at her will. The bulk of the estate would go to the person who fingered her murderer. Skeletons in closets, blackmail and underhanded dealings all abound at the family estate as everyone points fingers and declares their innocence. Lesson plan and activities available

Send in the Clones
Professor Walter Patterson has a brilliant mind, short temper and limitless ambition to be the leader in stem cell and cloning research. He also has at least one deadly enemy. Less than 24 hours after his patent for a secret process is approved, Professor Walter is found dead in his laboratory next door to his former place of employment – American technological University. Walter had been fired days earlier which negated the university’s contract to share in the profits if his research panned out. Additional people can play minor roles and take part in discovering “whodunit?” Lesson plan and activities available.

Murder at the Manor
The Earl Henry is dead and without an heir on the eve of the annual tournament and feast. Who could have done such a dastardly deed at the castle? His 4th wife? The traveling minstrel? One of his sisters or a host of other relatives, servants and knights from the realm? Play a suspect and a detective as you investigate the crime set in Medieval Europe.

Fairy Tale Wedding
Bring literature to life while writing your own ending to a highly interactive event immerses students in literary terms and research first hand. After engaging in discussion and research into the fairy tale genre of literature, players take the roles of various fairy tale characters and function as both suspects and investigators to get to the bottom of this despicable crime. Following this event (perfect for kinesthetic learners, mixed ability groups and drama clubs or an end of school event that will make them ever so briefly wish they were in summer school) Lesson plan and activities available.

The Case of the Lifeless Lifeguard (Mature groups)
Sandy Beechnut is dead but who put the harpoon in her heart? Senator Bill Clanton (CLANTON)or his wife Hillary? Big Bob Texaco - A throw back to the days of Texas justice? , Al. G. Side - former Navy Seal and Beach Patrol Captain at Chix Beach, Georgia C. Gull, Cocoa Budder - lifeguard at Chix Beach - a real knock out in more ways than one. Stormy O. Shinn - ambitious, aggressive manager of Walfart’s boutique and Glamor Photography. Or several other shady characters.


More royalty free Christian Drama skits can be found at my
Fools for Christ website at
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4p7te/foolsforchrist