FUN. That’s the key word that pulls students deeper into this study. Use these reader theater scripts to increase the FUN factor, and watch learning blossom.
These readers theater scripts are adapted directly from the stories at the beginning of each Young Peacemaker lesson. Many thanks to Corlette Sande and Peacemaker Ministries for granting permission to adapt them. Using these scripts is much more effective than merely having the teacher read the stories to the students. I can think of two reasons this is so. First, students are more involved because they are part of the presentation, not merely listening. Second, students can “feel” conflict from the inside, but in a safe, controlled manner because they are within the confines of a script. And it’s easy! Unlike skits and drama – readers theater is meant to be READ. No memorization.
My normal pattern of use in my fifth grade class has been this: I assign students parts for one lesson script and give them the script a day or two in advance. I give them a few minutes over a day or two to practice. Typically, on the first day of a new lesson, I settle the class down and have the readers present. After the reading, I ask a few comprehension questions. This not only checks their understanding, it helps overcome any errors or over-quietness on the part of the actors. Then we get into the lesson. Throughout the rest of the lesson, we will often refer back to the story.
Several further activities easily flow from using readers theater scripts. For one, we record all our “performances.” At the end of the study, I’ll burn them all to CD as a keepsake for the students. Another common extension is to let other students replay the scenario, but putting a new ending on according the peacemaking principle under study. We’ve even used puppets. Some students feel much more comfortable speaking through a puppet than they would in regular role play. And of course, don’t overlook the numerous opportunities to weave this into your Language Arts curriculum. Listening, speaking, and reading are inescapable activities in readers theater. Instruction in these arts will not only benefit your students academically, but increase the pleasure of the scripts themselves. Some students might even enjoy writing their own.
In all, this is just one more way to draw students into the learning so that they learning gets into them. I do hope you and your students enjoy the scripts. And, I would greatly appreciate any feedback you can offer.