New Year’s Day | Holiday Readers Theater Script for Grades 3 to 5 | Resolutions

This engaging Readers Theater script for Grades 3–5 brings New Year’s Eve and Day to life, immersing students in the global excitement of December 31–January 1 celebrations! Through a current day classroom and flashbacks to ancient Mesopotamia and Rome, kids explore the Times Square ball drop, lucky foods like grapes, and New Year’s resolutions, rooted in cultural traditions. Five scenes highlight resolutions—volunteering, health, learning, organization, kindness—with tips like journaling and buddy systems to keep goals alive. Perfect for social studies teachers looking for multicultural resources, this activity aligns with CCSS standards, boosting fluency, cultural awareness, and goal-setting skills.

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(a single PDF with links to Google Docs/Slides, if print format is preferred you can download from your Google Drive to word/pdf/ppt/etc)

What’s Included

• 12-scene script (Google Doc, ~1750 words, 9 pages)
• Teacher guide with script summary, answer keys, and standards alignment (Google Doc, 6 pages)
• Student worksheet (Google Slides) featuring vocabulary, comprehension, countdown math, tradition comparison questions, and reflection prompts

Skills Addressed

• Reading fluency and expressive storytelling
• Understanding the cultural and historical significance of New Year’s
• Analyzing characters’ roles in celebrating New Year’s traditions
• Building vocabulary tied to global celebrations and goal-setting
• Encouraging cross-cultural awareness and personal growth

The Worksheet Includes

• Short-Answer: Identify key details and themes from New Year’s history and resolutions
• Countdown Math: Solve problems using countdown numbers (e.g., 10 numbers × 6 people)
• Tradition Comparison Questions: Compare New Year’s to another holiday (e.g., Christmas) in written responses
• Reflection Prompts: Connect New Year’s resolutions to personal goal-setting
• Vocabulary: Clearly defined terms (e.g., resolution, Akitu) supported by script quotes
• Themes: Deep exploration of hope, growth, and community

Script Summary
This script celebrates New Year’s Eve and Day, a global holiday on December 31–January 1, explored through a modern classroom and historical moments for Grades 3–5. Students discover the Times Square ball drop, lucky foods like grapes, and resolutions for positive change, rooted in ancient traditions from Mesopotamia and Rome. The story begins in a modern classroom where a teacher and student discuss New Year’s excitement. It flashes back to 2000 BCE for the Akitu festival and 46 BCE for the Julian calendar, then highlights modern traditions like fireworks and goal-setting. Five scenes focus on resolutions (volunteering, health, learning, organization, kindness), offering practical tips like journaling and buddy systems. The script ends with a festive New Year’s party, inspiring students to set goals and embrace new beginnings.

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