Reader's Theater Day!
Background Information:
DIRECTIONS:
PLAN/PRACTICE: Today you will be working in groups to read, practice, and present Reader's Theater plays that cover a variety topics from our history curriculum. If you are not familiar with Reader's Theater, it will be your group's responsibility to assign speaking parts, sound effects, and gestures to go along with the script.
Many of the scripts will tell you when you need to add a gesture or Sound Effect (SE), but if your script only has speaking lines on the page, you can decide as a group where to add gestures or sound effects. Some of you might have small parts or multiple parts, but the key is to work together so that you present the BEST version of your play to the class.
PRESENTATION: Each group should have another classmate from the audience record your readers theater presentation. They can use Quicktime on their Macs to record it. Go to Quicktime > New MOVIE Recording > make sure the internal microphone is enabled, and turn the mac to record the presentation. I will collect the videos in Schoology when I get back to school. You do not need to turn the videos in today...just save them on your desktop!
GUIDELINES: The substitute teacher will help arrange you into groups. You will have the whole class to work on your play:
NOTE: You do NOT need to memorize your script...You can print in the library (ask for a pass) OR have the substitute log on to my desktop with one of your logins and print all the scripts from there. (ask Ms. Barry next door OR another teacher if you need help printing)
- Gesture - physical movement that communicates a message...without speaking!
- SE - Sound Effect (ex. sigh, laugh, a yippee...etc.)
DIRECTIONS:
PLAN/PRACTICE: Today you will be working in groups to read, practice, and present Reader's Theater plays that cover a variety topics from our history curriculum. If you are not familiar with Reader's Theater, it will be your group's responsibility to assign speaking parts, sound effects, and gestures to go along with the script.
Many of the scripts will tell you when you need to add a gesture or Sound Effect (SE), but if your script only has speaking lines on the page, you can decide as a group where to add gestures or sound effects. Some of you might have small parts or multiple parts, but the key is to work together so that you present the BEST version of your play to the class.
PRESENTATION: Each group should have another classmate from the audience record your readers theater presentation. They can use Quicktime on their Macs to record it. Go to Quicktime > New MOVIE Recording > make sure the internal microphone is enabled, and turn the mac to record the presentation. I will collect the videos in Schoology when I get back to school. You do not need to turn the videos in today...just save them on your desktop!
GUIDELINES: The substitute teacher will help arrange you into groups. You will have the whole class to work on your play:
- 30 minutes to plan
- 30 minutes to practice
- 30 minutes to present
NOTE: You do NOT need to memorize your script...You can print in the library (ask for a pass) OR have the substitute log on to my desktop with one of your logins and print all the scripts from there. (ask Ms. Barry next door OR another teacher if you need help printing)
Available REader's Theater Scripts: CLICK ON THE SCRIPT TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD
Short Scripts
- Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. DuBois - 4 Students
- Chinese Immigrants & the Railroad - 6 Students
- The Gold Rush of 1849 - 6 Students (one-page script)
- The Transcontinental Railroad - 5 Students
- Civil Rights Movement: Letters From Birmingham - 8 Students
- Interview with Thomas Edison - 6 Students