Sojourner Truth | BHM | Readers Theater Script

This Sojourner Truth Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin follow the life of Sojourner Truth, born Isabella, who was enslaved and escaped in early 19th-century New York.

Script Summary:

After bravely escaping with her child, she won a historic lawsuit to free her son, an extraordinary victory for a formerly enslaved woman of that era. Embracing the name “Sojourner Truth,” she traveled widely to speak against slavery and for women’s rights. Her famous speech, often called “Ain’t I a Woman?,” challenged conventions of the time, highlighting both her strength and the broader inequalities women faced. Sojourner’s activism continued into the Civil War, advocating for African American enlistment and better conditions for soldiers. After the war, she kept pushing for land grants for freed-people and for women’s suffrage, revealing her unyielding commitment to universal freedom and equality.

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~10 Characters, 1850 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) One Primary Source Document

• Sojourner Truth “Ain’t I a Woman?” Speech (1851)
• Full Primary Source Text, DOCX Format (1 page)

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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.