Skill of the Month
School Library Media Activities Monthly/Volume XXV, Number 7/March 2009
Dr. Seuss' Birthday: A Readers' Theatre for Three
by Karen Tukua
Karen Tukua, MLIS, is the library media specialist at Cambridge Elementary School in Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Concord, CA.
Readers' theatre is an excellent way to introduce students to an appreciation for the silliness, made-up words, and tongue twisters found in books by Dr. Seuss. Students can learn to use their voices to interpret a written script for an audience of their peers. The final performance of the readers' theatre can then be performed via the loud speaker on the morning of Dr. Seuss' birthday. Through this process, students can learn about Dr. Seuss' life and works. They can also participate in the experiences of audition, collaboration, and teamwork through the theatre performance.
Grade Levels: 4 +
Resources:
Collection of books by Dr. Seuss
Materials:
Overhead projector or LCD to display script
Individual scripts for performers
Highlighters and pencils for marking stage and voice instructions/directions
Getting Ready
The library media specialist introduces the topic of a readers' theatre to the students, provides scripts, holds rehearsals, and organizes the performance. The library media specialist and teacher collaborate to identify students who are good readers—responsible, organized, and interested in the performing arts. Final selection, however, does not have to be a teacher recommendation because students are often full of surprises.
Students are given the opportunity to read the library's Dr. Seuss collection. Place a couple of books on each table for students to read and discuss. Excerpts from the books may be projected on a screen for students to take turns reading, and discuss why they like a particular book.
The Process
The concept of a readers' theatre is explained and demonstrated.
Students are asked to put their names on a list. The library media specialist and classroom teachers review the list of books. A schedule for tryouts is posted. The library media specialist schedules days and times to accommodate the number of students wanting to audition.
Students who are interested are asked to come to the library media center before school. The library media specialist holds tryouts and makes selections.
Individual scripts are given to each of the performing students. Each student should have a script to take home. The library media specialist should keep a copy of each script in the event a student loses or forgets the script at home. It is not unusual for more then one student to read a given part.
The three selected students read all three parts with final parts given to students, after several readings.
Rehearsals should start about two weeks before Dr. Seuss' birthday so students are familiar with the script. Students can highlight their parts as well as individual directions for voice inflection, pauses, and beats.
The library media specialist should maintain one script with all of the instructions for all readers. A "director's assistant" could be used for this role.
The library media specialist should make arrangements in the office a week in advance for the auditory performance via the loud speaker.
On the day of the performance, students should meet in the library media center before school for one final read through.
The performance takes about 2-3 minutes.
Students may keep their scripts as a souvenir.
Evaluation:
Have students evaluate their experience with the following questions:
- Is this something they would like to try again?
- Did they enjoy the theatre process—auditioning, rehearsing, and performing?
- After this performance, are they more or less apt to audition for other performances, either readers' theatre or the legitimate theatre?
- Would any of them be interested in writing their own readers' theatre scripts?
- What suggestions do they have that would make their experience even better?
References:
- Geisel, Theodor Seuss. Happy Birthday to You! Random House, 1959.
- Geisel, Theodor Seuss. The Sneetches and Other Stories. Random House, 1961.
- Pulitzer Prizes. "Special Citations." http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1984 (accessed January 6, 2009).
Dr. Seuss' Birthday: A Readers' Theatre for Three
Speaker 1:
Hey guys, guess what day this is.
Speaker 2:
It's Monday, the second of March.
Speaker 1:
I know that, but it's someone's birthday, too. Do ya' know?
Speaker 2:
Your birthday?
Speaker 1:
No!
Speaker 3:
Your brother's?
Speaker 1:
No.
Speaker 2:
Your dog's!
Speaker 1:
No, get serious! I'll give you a hint:
"I wish we could do what they do in Katroo.
They sure know how to say 'Happy Birthday to You!'" (Geisel 1959).
Speaker 3:
"In Katroo, every year, on the day you were born
They start the day right in the bright early morn"
Speaker 2:
"When the Birthday Honk-Honker hikes high up Mt. Zorn
And let's loose a big blast on the big Birthday Horn" (Geisel 1959).
Speaker 1:
"Wake Up! For today is your Day of all Days!" (Geisel 1959).
Speakers 2 & 3:
DR. SEUSS!!
Speaker 1:
You're right; it's Theodore Geisel's birthday.
Speaker 2:
Theodore who?
Speaker 1:
Ha, ha, Theodore Geisel—DR. SEUSS. That Theodore! That's his real name.
Speaker 3:
Wow, I didn't know his real name was Geisel. How old is he?
Speaker 1:
Let's see… he was born in 1904 and he died in 1991, that would have made him… let's see… 86 years old when he died, or if we use today's date, he would be 105.
Speaker 2:
Wow, like Stanley Yelnets would say, "That''s good math." Dr. Seuss wrote many children's books, didn't he?
Speaker 3:
Yes, and he illustrated them, too.
Speaker 1:
He wrote in clever rhyme, made up creative creatures with silly names and invented words like:
"They never invited the Plain-Belly Sneetches,
They left them out cold, in the dark of the beaches" (Geisel 1961).
Speaker 2:
Yeh, like:
"And here comes your cake! Cooked by Snookers and Snookers,
The Official Katroo Happy Birthday Cake Cookers" (Geisel 1959).
Speaker 3:
He even won an award for his books.
Speaker 1:
I know, I know, in 1984 the Pulitzer Prize Board awarded Dr. Seuss a Special Citation…
Speaker 2:
"for his contribution over nearly half a century to the educational and enjoyment of America's children and their parents" (Pulitzer Prize Board).
Speaker 2:
That's really cool! I've got an idea. Let's all wish Dr. Seuss a happy birthday.
Speakers 1 & 3:
Okay!
Speakers 1, 2 & 3:
Together:
"When it ends,
You're much happier,
Richer and fatter.
And the Bird flies you home
On a very soft platter.
So that''s What the Birthday Bird
Does in Katroo.
And I wish
I could do
All these great things for you"
(Geisel 1959).
YAH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS! READ, READ, READ!