October in my classroom means owls, a fox in a hat, and one very surprising spider.
These three reader’s theaters are all built the same way: seven parts, each written for a different reading level, so a whole mixed group can read one story together. The cast list shows characters only, never levels, so no child is labeled.
Mango’s First Night Watch. A young owl takes her first turn keeping watch over Maple Hollow, and the woods are very dark. A firefly, a bat and a lost raccoon help her find out what she already had.
The Little Fox and the Witch’s Hat. Ember finds a crooked hat in an old oak tree, and every time she helps someone, a golden star appears on the brim. I first wrote this one for two readers. It is now a seven-part script, and the beginning reader still gets the lead.
The Wolf Spider’s Halloween Party. Mango, Ember and their friends plan a surprise party for Hazel the wolf spider. Hazel arrives with a surprise of her own, and about a hundred guests nobody planned for.
All three are gentle. There is moonlight and mist, and no one is ever in danger.
