Free Historical Readers Theater Script | The Guano Act | Odd Event Series

The Guano Act — Grades 7-10 Readers Theater

An eco-club drama dives into the 1800s “white gold” rush for guano, showing how bird droppings powered U.S. farms, exploited Peruvian labor, and reshaped global trade. Tiered roles—from a demanding German Scientist to an easy Teacher part—let mixed-ability classes perform, read fluently, and debate modern resource use.

• Grade bands: 7-10
• Scenes: 12
• Characters: 13
• Word count: 2500

Perfect For

• History units on 19th-century global trade
• Lessons on labor and environmental history
• Emergency sub plans
• Collaborative classroom drama

What’s Included

• Script — 12 scenes · 11 pages · Google Doc / PDF
• Teacher guide — national history standards, answer keys, lexical notes, themes (13 pages)
• Student worksheet — 25-slide Google Slides with vocabulary, questions, activities
• Exit quiz — 20 self-graded multiple-choice questions (Google Forms)

Skills Addressed

• Reading fluency & comprehension
• Historical analysis of resource exploitation & geopolitics
• Collaborative performance & discussion
• Critical thinking and real-world connections
• Vocabulary development & textual evidence

Worksheet Components

• Vocabulary: 10 key terms with script quotes (e.g., “monopoly,” “sustainability”)
• Short-Answer: factual recall (“What law does Narrator 1 introduce?”)
• Discussion: themes of resource exploitation & environmental impact
• Challenge: analysis such as Darwin’s role in the guano boom
• Application: link guano lessons to modern sustainability or community fairness

Teaching Tips

• Assign advanced readers the German Scientist; give emerging readers the Teacher role.
• Rehearse in small groups, encouraging expressive delivery (e.g., Peruvian Worker’s anger).
• Use theme prompts to discuss geopolitical consequences and sustainability.
• Finish with the self-graded quiz to check comprehension and analysis.