Obon Festival in Japan | Holiday Readers Theater Script for Grades 3 to 5

This engaging Readers Theater script for Grades 3–5 brings Obon, a Japanese Buddhist festival around August 13–15 to honor deceased ancestors, to life, immersing students in its cultural and historical significance. Through a 2025 classroom and flashbacks to the 700s and 1500s, students explore dancing Bon Odori to welcome spirits, floating lanterns to guide them home, and making offerings at temples, rooted in Buddhist traditions. From home altars to Okuribi fires, students discover Obon’s focus on remembrance and family, fostering social studies connections to Japanese culture. Perfect for social studies teachers seeking multicultural resources, this activity aligns with CCSS standards, promoting fluency, respect, and collaborative learning.

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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

• 10-scene script (Google Doc, ~1700 words, 8 pages, 11 Characters)
• Teacher guide with script summary, answer keys, and standards alignment (Google Doc, 6 pages)
• Student worksheet (Google Slides) featuring vocabulary, comprehension, lantern count math, tradition comparison questions, and reflection prompts

Skills Addressed

• Reading fluency and expressive storytelling
• Understanding the cultural and historical significance of Obon
• Analyzing characters’ roles in celebrating Obon traditions
• Building vocabulary tied to Japanese culture and festivals
• Encouraging cross-cultural awareness and family connection

The Worksheet Includes

• Short-Answer: Identify key details and themes from Obon’s history and traditions
• Lantern Count Math: Solve problems using lantern quantities (e.g., 5 lanterns × 4 families)
• Tradition Comparison Questions: Compare Obon to another holiday (e.g., Day of the Dead) in written responses
• Reflection Prompts: Connect Obon’s values to personal experiences and ancestor honoring
• Vocabulary: Clearly defined terms (e.g., Bon Odori, Toro Nagashi) supported by script quotes
• Themes: Deep exploration of remembrance, family, and joy

Script Summary
This script celebrates Obon, a Japanese Buddhist festival around August 13–15 to honor deceased ancestors, explored through a modern classroom and historical moments for Grades 3–5. Students learn about dancing Bon Odori to welcome spirits, floating lanterns to guide them home, and making offerings at temples, rooted in Buddhist traditions. The story begins in a 2025 classroom where a teacher and student discuss Obon’s purpose. It flashes back to the 700s with the festival’s Buddhist origins and the 1500s when lantern floating emerged, then explores modern traditions like home altars and Okuribi fires. The script ends with a joyful Obon party, emphasizing remembrance, family, and joy, inspiring students to honor loved ones and connect with community.

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