Readers Theatre Grades 5 8

Why use Readers Theater in history classes? The format gives students a sense of involvement with the human dramas that make up history. Performers can feel the excitement as Archimedes discovers the displacement of water. They can relate to the terrors of a slave s passage from Africa to the Americas. They can imagine the tension of wading through the water at Omaha Beach as bullets strike their buddies. Each script (12 15 per book) is accompanied by background information, literature connections, extension activities, and discussion questions.

"Original scripts based on historic events and highlights; introductory background information to set the stage for each script; reader's response and extension activities; convenient, reproducible pull-out scripts for each student."

Why use Readers Theater in history classes? The format gives students a sense of involvement with the human dramas that make up history. Performers can feel the excitement as Archimedes discovers the displacement of water. They can relate to the terrors of a slave s passage from Africa to the Americas. They can imagine the tension of wading through the water at Omaha Beach as bullets strike their buddies. Each script (12 15 per book) is accompanied by background information, literature connections, extension activities, and discussion questions.

11 rich and engaging scripts are the perfect way to get students to read the same selection over and over without getting bored. As students practice and learn their parts, they begin to read the text with greater fluency, confidence, and dramatic expression Help students reading at Q-U reading levels build fluency, automaticity, and comprehension using motivating and repeated reading practice Reproducible scripts, practice pages, and picture dictionaries make it easy.

All your students can shine thanks to the flexible casting options provided in Readers' Theater, Grade 5. To support struggling readers, cast two or more students in each role; the extra support of choral reading can make an important difference for many students. Refer to the Readers' Theater Table of Contents to see how you can connect each of the 15 read-aloud scripts to key content from the Grade 5 curriculum. Some of the scripts included are: - "Demeter and Persephone"--based on the classic Greek myth - "SOS Titanic"--a rescue on the high seas based on true events - "Getting the Scoop on UFOs"--a high school journalist learns a lesson about objective reporting - "The Montgomery Bus Boycott"--Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other historical figures take the stage in this script based on historical events - "All the Rice in India"--this version of a folktale from India involves students in an intriguing mathematical challenge - Many more

"Stories on Stage" is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, Russell Hoban, Wanda Gag, and Roald Dahl. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, stories were selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a wide range of reading levels. The scripts in this collection are -- "Three Sideways Stories From Wayside School," by Louis Sachar -- "Mr. Twit's Revenge," by Roald Dahl -- "Millions of Cats," by Wanda Gag -- "Tapiwa's Uncle," by Nancy Farmer -- "How Tom Beat Captain Najork," by Russell Hoban -- "Harriet," by Florence Parry Heide -- "Mr. Bim's Bamboo," by Carol Farley -- "Talk," by Harold Courlander -- "The Jade Stone," by Caryn Yacowitz -- "The Bean Boy," by Monica Shannon -- "The Kid from the Commercial," by Stephen Manes -- "The Fools of Chelm," by Steve Sanfield -- "Mouse Woman and the Snails," by Christie Harris -- "Westwoods," by Eleanor Farjeon -- "The Legend of Lightning Larry," by Aaron Shepard. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of numerous children's books and magazine stories, as well as three books on reader's theater. He spent five years as a professional actor in reader's theater, performing in schools and conducting workshops for teachers, librarians, and students. He now hosts Aaron Shepard's RT Page, the Web's most popular reader's theater destination, with visits by thousands of teachers and librarians each week. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "What? Don't have time to write up your own scripts for reader's theater? Not to worry. Aaron Shepard will get you started with his stellar scripts -- perfect for duplicating, handing out to your students, and bringing to life. This is one must-have book." -- Judy Freeman, Author, More Books Kids Will Sit Still For "One of the challenges of teaching is instilling in our students a love for reading. By transforming imaginative stories by some of our favorite authors into clever scripts, Aaron Shepard once again provides the means for teachers to nurture a passion for the written word. This second edition of Stories On Stage is a most worthwhile addition to your cache of reading strategies that work." -- Susan Finney, Author, Keep the Rest of the Class Reading and Writing While You Teach Small Groups "Reader's theater gets a boost from this collection. . . . The scripts are simple and direct, multicultural, and easily reproducible for classroom use." -- Ilene Cooper, Booklist (American Library Association), Jan. 1, 1994 "An intriguing, well-rounded collection. . . . The tone and content of source material is effectively preserved." -- The Horn Book Guide, July-Dec. 1993 "Give kids a script and watch them act. . . . Shepard's talent as a storyteller shines out in his adaptations." -- Jan Lieberman, TNT: Tips & Titles of Books, Fall 1993 "A well-written collection. . . . These scripts will inspire young actors to read the books." -- Penny Peck, Bayviews (Assoc. of Children's Librarians), Nov. 1993 "Gives teachers a fun and useful tool for bringing reading and literature to their students." -- Betty S. Evans, School Library Journal, Feb. 2006