Theodore Roosevelt U.S. President | Historical Figure Readers Theater Script

This Theodore Roosevelt Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin travel through time to witness Theodore Roosevelt’s rise from a sickly child in New York to a national leader who shaped the modern presidency.

Script Summary:

Abigail and Benjamin see him as a young reformer in the New York Assembly, a daring Rough Rider in the Spanish-American War, and as President following McKinley’s assassination. Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” brings trust-busting, consumer protections, and conservation efforts that preserve millions of acres as national parks and forests. He also projects American power abroad by backing the Panama Canal’s construction and displays diplomatic skill, insisting that the U.S. speak softly but carry a big stick. Although he meets with African American leader Booker T. Washington, he does not push far-reaching civil rights reforms. His landslide election victory in 1904, as described in a letter to his son Kermit, shows a confident leader who values his family above all. By the end of his presidency, Roosevelt leaves a legacy of expanded presidential power, progressive reforms, environmental stewardship, and a strengthened position for the United States on the world stage.

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~12 Characters, 1400 words, PDF & Editable DOCX Formats (8 pages)
• Includes factual historical information, primary source quotes, and narrative storytelling
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Comprehensive Script Worksheet

• Includes Answer Key, Google Slides & PDF 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.
• Long-Format Writing Questions: Encourage deeper reflection and analysis, including one primary source exploration question.

3) Primary Source Letter

• Letter to Kermit Roosevelt November 10, 1904
• Full Primary Source Text, PDF & DOCX Formats (2 pages)

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.

This resource is part of a bundle dedicated to the most notable 12 U.S. Presidents:

SAVE 50% and get the bundle here: U.S. Presidents Reader's Theater Scripts Bundle (12)