Readers’ Theatre Lesson Plan

Grade Level: K-4 grades

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Lesson Objectives:
• ELA-1-E1 gaining meaning from print and building vocabulary using a full range of strategies (e.g., self-monitoring and correcting, searching, cross-checking), evidenced by reading behaviors while using the cuing systems (e.g., phonics, sentence structure, meaning); (1,4)
• ELA-1-E5 reading, comprehending, and responding to written, spoken, and visual texts in extended passages; (1,3,4)
  ELA-4-E1 speaking intelligibly, using standard English pronunciation; (1,4)
• ELA-4-E4 giving rehearsed and unrehearsed presentations; (1,4)
• ELA-4-E5 speaking and listening for a variety of audiences (e.g., classroom, real-life, workplace) and purposes (e.g., awareness, concentration, enjoyment, information, problem solving); (1,2,4,5)
• ELA-4-E7 participating in a variety of roles in group discussions (e.g., active listener, contributor, discussion leader). (1,4,5)
• ELA-5-E1 recognizing and using organizational features of printed text, other media, and electronic information (e.g., parts of a text, alphabetizing, captions, legends, pull-down menus, keyword searches, icons, passwords, entry menu features); (1,3,4)

Technology Performance Indicators: Use a variety of developmentally appropriate resources and productivity tools (e.g., logical thinking programs, writing and graphic tools, digital cameras, graphing software) for communication, presentation, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories (e.g., signs, posters, banners, charts, journals, newsletters, and multimedia presentation.) (1,3,4)

Technology Connection: Video and/or digital camera

Assessment: Video or slide show

Procedures:

1. Teacher involves the class in a guided reading of a book. (Suggestion: Is It Dark? Is It Light? by Mary D. Lankford; Crow Moon, Worm Moon by James Skofield)
2. Explain the idea of "Readers’ Theatre" to the class. Practice the concept.
3. Assign parts, and give each student a copy of the script.
4. Use brainstorming to generate ideas about what could be used as props. Help students create props to present during their reading and determine how chairs will be placed on stage area.
5. Have students practice the performance with props.
6. Students will perform the readers' theatre, while one student uses the video and/or another takes pictures with the digital camera.
7. Students will show their video during a moon party.
8. Evaluate students using a rubric. (See our sample)

Suggestion: The digital pictures can be used in a slide show presentation using KidPix, PowerPoint, or HyperStudio for a moon festival.

Websites:
http://www.aaronshep.com/rt
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/langrt.htm
http://www.aspa.asn.au/Projects/english/rtheatre.htm

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