Franklin D. Roosevelt U.S. President | Historical Figure Readers Theater Script

This Franklin D. Roosevelt Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin follow Franklin D. Roosevelt’s journey from a privileged childhood to the presidency during two of the greatest crises in American history: the Great Depression and World War II.

Script Summary:

Abigail and Benjamin see how FDR created the New Deal to restore the economy, gave people hope through his “fireside chats,” and guided the nation through the Second World War. Under his leadership, America became the “Arsenal of Democracy,” supporting allies and then entering the war after Pearl Harbor. The script also highlights a secret letter FDR wrote to Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer during the top-secret Manhattan Project, demonstrating the secrecy, urgency, and significance of developing an atomic weapon. Although Roosevelt’s record included moral challenges, such as the internment of Japanese Americans, his presidency expanded the role of government in people’s lives and shaped a new global order after victory in WWII. He passed away before the final victory, but his leadership left a lasting influence on America’s place in the world and on how Americans view their government’s responsibility in tough times.

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~10 Characters, 1300 words, PDF & Editable DOCX Formats (7 pages)
• Includes factual historical information, primary source quotes, and narrative storytelling
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Comprehensive Script Worksheet

• Includes Answer Key, Google Slides & PDF Formats (4 Pages | 17 Slides)
• 10 Vocabulary Words: Definitions based on the context of the script to build historical literacy
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script, ensuring students can analyze the content without requiring additional research.
• Long-Format Writing Questions: Encourage deeper reflection and analysis, including one primary source exploration question.

3) Primary Source Document

• Franklin D. Roosevelt’s letter to J. Robert Oppenheimer June 29, 1943
• Full Primary Source Text, PDF & DOCX Formats (2 pages)

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For digital classrooms, upload the DOCX Script and convert to Google docs
• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about ~25 minutes and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, vocabulary or short answer comprehension questions should also be planned.

This resource is part of a bundle dedicated to the most notable 12 U.S. Presidents:

SAVE 50% and get the bundle here: U.S. Presidents Reader's Theater Scripts Bundle (12)