Grades K–1
The Snail and the Bunny
A reader’s theater script for 3 readers: a twist on the tortoise and the hare. Answer three questions after the show.
Drama worksheet · Reader’s theater scripts
The Great Cookie Mystery
A reader’s theater script for 5 readers. The cookie jar is empty, and Detective Whiskers follows the clues.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 25 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Reading aloud with expression, Following a script and waiting for a cue, Reading comprehension, Working as a cast
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Cast: NARRATOR · BAKER BEA · DETECTIVE WHISKERS, a cat · OFFICER BARKLEY, a dog · PIP, a mouse
- NARRATOR: Baker Bea baked chocolate chip cookies every Monday. But this Monday, the cookie jar was empty.
- BEA: (gasping) My cookies! All twelve are gone!
- WHISKERS: (tipping a hat) Never fear. Detective Whiskers is here. Officer Barkley, what do you see?
- BARKLEY: (sniffing the floor) Crumbs! A trail of crumbs going toward the wall.
- WHISKERS: And look: tiny footprints in the flour. Too small for a dog. Too small for a cat.
- BARKLEY: Hey, I would never... (sniffs) Okay, I thought about it.
- NARRATOR: The detectives followed the crumbs to a tiny door in the wall.
Teacher tip
Before reading, have kids look for the two clues the detectives find. Then the class can solve the mystery along with Whiskers.
How to use it
- Read the whole script to the class first, then assign parts.
- Have kids highlight their own lines before practice.
- Read the box at the top of the sheet together, then try the first item out loud as a class.
Watch for
Losing the place. Have kids follow along with a finger.
Talk about it
- How did your character feel in this part?
- What did you change in your voice or body to show that?
Take it further
Have kids write one more scene for the same characters.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More reader’s theater scripts worksheets
Grades 1–2
The Lost Crayon
A reader’s theater script for 4 readers. Red Crayon is missing, and the other crayons go looking.
Grades 2–3
The Robot Who Could Not Dance
A reader’s theater script for 4 readers about a stiff little robot and the school talent show.
Grades 2–4
The Monster Under the Bed
A reader’s theater script for 4 readers. Max is scared of the monster under his bed, but the monster is scared too.
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