George Washington Carver | BHM | Readers Theater Script

This George Washington Carver Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin explore how he overcame tremendous obstacles—from being born into slavery to facing poverty and limited schooling—to become a famed scientist at Tuskegee Institute.

Script Summary:

This script traces Carver's life, starting with his fragile childhood in Missouri, his deep interest in plants and education, and his move through various schools (Simpson College, Iowa State) until Booker T. Washington invited him to lead Tuskegee’s agriculture program. Carver researched hundreds of uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and other crops, eventually testifying before Congress in 1921. He believed in serving farmers, enriching the soil through crop rotation, and harnessing natural resources for the good of all. By the end of his life in 1943, Carver was hailed for his scientific breakthroughs, kindness, and devotion to helping others.

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~9 Characters, 1900 words in editable DOCX Format (9 pages)
• Includes factual historical information, primary source quotes, and narrative storytelling
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Comprehensive Script Worksheet

• Includes Student Copy and Answer Key in PDF & Google Slides 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.
• 5 Long-Format Writing Questions: Encourage deeper reflection and analysis, using the full text of the included primary source.

3) Two Primary Source Documents

• Carver's Personal Narrative "Or Thereabouts" (1897)
• Carver’s Congressional Testimony (1921)
• 2 Primary Source Texts, DOCX Format (6 pages)

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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.