The Thunderbird - Mythical Creatures | Readers Theater Script for Grades 3 to 5

Soar into Native American tales with this exciting Readers Theater script for Grades 3–5, perfect for social studies teachers teaching tribal history! Students learn Thunderbird myths from 1880s Ojibwe and Lakota stories, 1900s Haida totem art, and 1910 Kwakiutl dances, using old records like 1880s storyteller notes and Tribal Stories Book. Aligned with CCSS standards, it builds reading, balance, and tribal history, great for learning about cultures.

(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, ~1550 words, 9 pages, 10 characters)
• Teacher guide with summary, answer keys, and standards (Google Doc, 6 pages)
• Student worksheet (Google Slides) with vocabulary, questions, map activity, story note, and thinking prompts

SAVE 35% and get this script in the Mythical Creatures Series bundle!

Skills Addressed

• Reading with fun and clear voices
• Learning about Thunderbird tales and tribal history
• Understanding people in Native American stories
• Growing words about tribes and old records
• Showing care for nature and tribal past

The Worksheet Includes

• Short-Answer: Find facts from Thunderbird tales and old records
• Map Activity: Draw a map of Thunderbird places
• Story Note: Write about a Thunderbird tale
• Thinking Prompts: Connect tales to balance and history
• Vocabulary: Words like totem and history with script quotes
• Themes: Talk about stories, strength, and tribal past

Script Summary
This Readers Theater script for Grades 3–5 explores the Thunderbird, a giant bird from Native American folklore, through a present-day storytelling circle and historical flashbacks. Students learn Thunderbird myths from 1880s Ojibwe and Lakota oral traditions, 1900s Haida totem art, and 1910 Kwakiutl dances, using primary sources like 1880s storyteller notes and Tribal Stories Book. The story follows Tala and Elder Dawn as they prepare a tribal history talk, meeting figures like Nita and a shadowy Thunderbird. Focusing on strength, balance, and respect for nature, the script shows how myths connect Native cultures. It ends with kids teaching others about tribal lands, encouraging oral storytelling.

Will this lesson meet your needs?

Download this free, similar Loch Ness Monster script first :)