Presidents' Day Dream Reader's Theater

Presidents’ Day Dream looks at the Presidency from a different viewpoint. These days, it seems everybody wants to be president. When the play’s lead, Nicole, begins day dreaming about how great it would be, she’s met in her “dream” by various former presidents. Each speaks openly and honestly about the challenges and hardships of the job while pointing out the qualities it takes to be a good leader. In so doing they give Nicole—and the audience—a unique history lesson on being Commander-in-Chief. The embedded political cartoons add to the lesson, showing students that elections have always been contentious and presidents often criticized. Though obviously a work of fiction, the details were carefully researched and subsequently reviewed by professional editors at Scholastic. This play originally appeared in the book, Symbols of America (Scholastic, 2003). It was also part of the TpT product, Read Aloud Plays Presidents Pack. It comes with a comprehension activity, a paired text activity, and teacher notes. It's also a perfect pairing with the book, So, You Want to be President? Parts for 9 students in grades 3 through 7. Suitable for reader's theater, podcast, or full stage performance.