Theater Arts Readers Theater Folk Tales Around The World

SAVE 30% In this collection (275 pages) are 13 reader's theater scripts of folk takes from around the world adapted for the language arts, drama and social studies classroom. Learn about other cultures while strengthening your students' reading, speaking and listening skills. These scripts contain drama and humor, so you can focus on either or perform both! Bonus script included!

Remember: Good quality resources are worth the price!

--------BELOW IS A DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE LESSONS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SCOPE OF PRODUCTS INCLUDED------

The Brave Little Tailor

This German folk tale is suitable for an average size class, around twenty. It could be a one or three day study depending upon how much effort a teacher wants to expend. Based on the beloved Grimms' fairy tale by the same name, students will have an opportunity to:

• study humor
• focus on their reading, especially in a play format
• strengthen their skills in vocal variety and inflection
• perform for peers in a non-threatening manner

The product comes with:

• one or two warm ups--one physical and one verbal
• advice in directing reader's theater
• blocking plot for teacher's staging needs
• nine page script
• original song

Sedna, an Inuit Tale

This dramatic reader's theater script is perfect while studying culture of the Native Americans or Alaskan territory. This is a perfect script for the winter months. Based on the beloved Inuit folk tale by the same name, students will have an opportunity to:

• explore creation myths of the Inuit culture—specifically the origin of whales, walruses and seals and why the ocean is sometimes calm and other times raging
• dramatize a folk tale with chanting
• use their imaginations to express emotion through their voices
• learn a dance of the Inuit culture

Integrate with your vocal music teacher and present the play together! Your students can sing and accompany the song with drums and/or mallet instruments. (Optional)

This product comes with:

• warm up
• procedure or rehearsal schedule
• how to approach creative myths and their conflicts
• six page script
• sound effects list
• blocking plot for teacher's staging of piece
• advice about directing reader's theater
• original song reminiscent of the Inuit culture

It Could Always Be Worse

This comical reader's theater script (medium size cast) is suitable for students studying humor, the Jewish culture, Social Studies, Language Arts or Drama class. This piece could be a one or three-day study depending upon how much effort a teacher wants to expend. Based on the beloved folk tale by the same name, students will:

• study humor
• focus on their reading, especially in a play format
• strengthen their skills in vocal variety and inflection
• perform for peers in a non-threatening manner

This product comes with:

• A warm up
• advice in directing reader's theater
• blocking plot for teacher's staging needs
• information about the Yiddish language
• eleven page script

Abdullah's Gold

This comical reader's theater script based on the Hindi folk tale has roles for 15+ students is suitable for Social Studies, Language Arts or Drama class. This piece could be a one or three-day study depending upon how much effort a teacher wants to expand. Based on the beloved folk tale by the same name, students will

• study humor
• focus on their reading, especially in a play format
• strengthen their skills in vocal variety and inflection
• perform for peers in a non-threatening manner

This product comes with:

• A warm up
• advice in directing reader's theater
• blocking plot for teacher's staging needs
• information about the Hindi language
• eight page script with roles for 20+ students
• sound bytes of the optional three songs
• sheet music of the three songs
• post performance discussion questions to extend the learning

Li Chi the Serpent Slayer

This engaging and dramatic reader's theater script of a Chinese folk tale with roles for 15+ students is suitable for students studying Asia or used in a language arts, reading or drama class. Students strengthen their reading (fluency), speaking (diction) and listening skills (restating) while learning to work cooperatively.

Based on the Chinese folk tale by the same name, students will have an opportunity to:

• explore folk tales of the Chinese culture—in particular, a girl is the heroine!
• make masks for their characters
• use movement to convey the story and characters
• dramatize a folk tale with chanting and ORIGINAL songs created specifically for this piece

This product comes with:

• a warm up--very physical and boosts energy
• advice in directing reader's theater
• blocking plot for teacher's staging needs
• seven page script with roles for 15+ students
• original song and sheet music (optional for performance)
• sound bytes of music

Li Chi Slays the Serpent has themes of family, bravery and sacrifice. A serpent keeps a small Chinese in constant fear. Every time the serpent descends upon the village, it grabs a young girl and takes her back to his cave to consume. A young girl, Li Chi, volunteers to take on the serpent and save her village. Her parents flatly deny her this opportunity so Li Chi goes in the night. She tricks the serpent to come out of his cave and fights him until she wins and the serpent dies. This harrowing, dramatic folk tale is a wonderful plot with a girl as the hero! So important for our girls.

The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds

This reader's theater script adapted from a Bulgarian folk tale has roles for 25+ students is suitable for upper elementary gifted or middle school students studying fairy tales, language arts or drama class. This piece could be a one or three-day study depending upon how much effort a teacher wants to expend. Based on a Bulgarian folk tale by the same name, students will have an opportunity to:

• focus on their reading, especially in a play format
• strengthen their skills in vocal variety and inflection
• sing a song
• perform for peers in a non-threatening manner

This product comes with:

• letter to teacher
• warm up exercise
• advice in directing reader's theater
• blocking plot for teacher's staging needs
• fourteen page script with roles for 25+ students
• original song
• bonus: costume design templates!

The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds is a story about a brave young girl. She volunteers to journey to Father Frost's palace and ask him for help with the Winter Witch who is keeping spring from returning. On the way, she meets the Winter Whirlwinds and their sisters, the Blizzards who do their best to try to stop her. Finally, the Winter Witch intervenes by singing a magical lullaby to the little girl lulling her to sleep in the deep snow. Luckily, she is rescued at the last minute by the woodland animals and together they continue their adventure to see Father Frost. Does Father Frost help them and make spring return? Filled with drama, a bit of comedy, warmth and kindness The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds is a delightful story.

The Magic Lake

The Inca tale, The Magic Lake is a readers theater script with roles for 20+ students and suitable for studying Indigenous people, South America, or in a drama, language arts or reading classes. Students strengthen their reading (fluency), speaking (diction) and listening skills (restating) while learning to work cooperatively. This product was created specifically for the classroom.

Or this product can be used by a teacher with distance learning students. #DistanceLearningTPT

This 41 page product includes:

• Two warm ups--one physical and one imaginative, both boost energy
• Original version of The Magic Lake--great for comparison and contrast
• Teacher's script--what I say and how I say it!
• Procedure--including video links and time allotments
• Advice in directing reader's theater
• Blocking plot for performance
• Vocabulary
• Information about the Inca people
• Photos of a Macaw and Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu Facts
• Eleven page script with roles for 20+
• Enrichment activities--designing a parrot feather fan, design of costume, designing a set, study of other Native American folk tales or a drama exercise using tableaux

Maidens of the Corn

The Zuni tale The Legend of the Corn Maidens is a dramatization with roles for 20+ students and suitable for studying Indigenous people, the American southwest, or drama, language arts or reading classes. Students strengthen their reading (fluency), speaking (diction) and listening skills (restating) while learning to work cooperatively. This product was created specifically for the classroom.

Or this product can be used by a teacher with distance learning students. #DistanceLearningTPT

This 47 page product includes:

• Two warm ups--one physical and one imaginative, both boost energy
• Original version of the Legend of Corn Maidens--great for comparison and contrast
• Teacher's script--what I say and how I say it!
• Advice in directing reader's theater
• Blocking plot for performance
• Kachina Dolls Information
• Vocabulary
• Information about the Zuni people?
• Eleven page script with roles for 20+
• Original song reminiscent of the Zuni music
• Sheet music (optional for performance)
• Sound bytes of music
• Enrichment activities--designing a costume, designing a set, study of other Native American creation myths or a drama exercise using tableaux

HOW DO I USE THIS IN MY CLASSROOM? If a teacher was studying world cultures, these units would be excellent tools for this purpose. Or use one a month either as a stand alone or part of a celebration.

Comprehensive? You bet! This will be very successful teaching and learning experience for everyone.

Created by an award winning drama teacher of thirty-eight years.

For more Dramamommaspeaks products, go to: Dramamommaspeaks Store

Reviews of Dramamommaspeaks Products:

Lin Manuel Miranda Biography

"WOW! WHAT an AWESOME Resource!!!! Thanks for providing the questions, the links, a couple of different teaching options. This could be a great sub plan, but I know every teacher wants to do this lesson for themselves. Love that you finished with a great tweet from L M Miranda. Kids are gonna love THIS."

Sedna, an Inuit Tale

"This resource is a fantastic way to tie Social Studies into reading! Thank you!"

Costume Designs with Fairy Tales

"How interesting, informative, and creative. Thank you for creating this project. It will definitely be helpful."

Earning TPT Credits

• Do you want credit for future TPT purchases? Just provide feedback for resources you purchase. Click on the “provide feedback” button next to your purchases, rate the resource, and leave a short comment. (You need to do both to earn credits.)

You receive 1 TPT credit for each dollar you spend, and you can spend it just like cash on future Teachers Pay Teachers purchases.