The Elves and the Shoemaker | Reader's Theater Script | Brothers Grimm

The Elves and the Shoemaker Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive story instead of reading a third person narrative. This activity helps improves reading fluency, speed, accuracy, and expression while developing listening and speaking skills as students actively practice expressive voice acting.

Script Summary:

A poor Shoemaker and his Wife live in hardship, with barely enough leather for one pair of shoes. Miraculously, each morning, any cut leather left overnight becomes perfectly finished shoes. Unseen helpers—two tiny Elves—arrive at midnight to stitch everything flawlessly. The Shoemaker quickly regains prosperity. Curious, he and his Wife stay awake one night to watch, discovering the Elves, who have no clothes. Feeling gratitude, they sew tiny outfits and shoes for the Elves, leaving them as a gift instead of raw leather. The Elves arrive, find the clothes, and in delight, dress up, dance joyfully, and then vanish forever. Even without further help, the Shoemaker’s business thrives, and he and his Wife remain thankful for the kind Elves who first turned their fortunes around.

Product Info:

An editable DOCX format (18 pages) which contains:

1) Teacher Tips & Answer Key

• CCSS Alignment
• Teacher Tips for use as both RT and Play/Skit
• Answer Keys for Worksheet
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Readers Theater Script

• ~7 Characters, 1850 words, 12 Scenes in 2 Acts

3) Script Worksheet

• 10 Vocabulary Words
• 10 Short-Answer Comprehension Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script
• Character Traits: Covers the main characters, students provide direct quotes from the script that demonstrate each character's traits
• Story Plot Elements: Students identify which scenes demonstrate the Setting, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Conclusion.

Try this free Rapunzel script to make sure it will suit your classroom :) 

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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 an extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, and the worksheet.
• Grade Level Note: This script targets grades 3 to 5 but depending on your classroom's reading level it may be suitable for grade levels 6~8 as well.