U.S. History Colonial America and the Early Republic RT Script Bundle (10)

Explore America’s formative years with this 10-script Readers’ Theater bundle, bringing to life important events from 1587 to 1811 for grades 6–8. From the mysterious disappearance of Roanoke’s settlers to Tecumseh’s fiery resistance and Jefferson’s controversial Embargo Act, these scripts use primary sources like John White’s journals, Mary Rowlandson’s narrative, and Jonathan Edwards’ sermons to immerse students in vibrant historical dramas. Merchants protest, Native leaders rally, and explorers brave the unknown, sparking debates over survival, freedom, and identity.

Can a colony vanish without a trace?

Can trade be sacrificed for peace?

Perfect For

• Social Studies classes exploring early American history
• Reading fluency and dramatic performance practice
• Historical analysis through primary source integration
• Engaging students in critical thinking and debate

What’s Included

• 10 Scripts: ~9 pages each, ~10 scenes per script, casting breakdowns, vivid settings, primary source quotes, editable DOCX/PDF
  • The Lost Colony of Roanoke (1587): John White’s desperate search for vanished settlers, marked by “CROATOAN.”
  • King Philip’s War (1675–1676): Metacom’s rebellion and Mary Rowlandson’s captivity amid brutal conflict.
  • The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s): Jonathan Edwards’ fiery sermons and George Whitefield’s revival crowds unite colonies.
  • Proclamation of 1763: King George III’s land ban sparks colonial defiance and Pontiac’s resistance.
  • The Northwest Ordinance (1787): Rufus King and Nathan Dane shape westward expansion, debating slavery’s limits.
  • The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798): John Adams’ laws clash with Jefferson’s free speech defense, testing liberties.
  • The Barbary Wars (1801–1805): Edward Preble’s naval battles against pirates assert U.S. global power.
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806): Sacagawea guides explorers through uncharted lands, mapping the West.
  • Tecumseh’s Resistance (1809–1811): Tecumseh rallies tribes against Harrison’s forces at Tippecanoe.
  • The Embargo Act of 1807: Jefferson’s trade ban devastates merchants, fueling protests and smuggling.

• Teacher Guides: ~10 pages per script, including main ideas, discussion questions, answer keys, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY standards, DOCX/PDF
• Student Worksheets: ~25 slides per script, 10 SAT-level vocabulary words, 10 short-answer questions, 5 analysis questions, 5 application/extension questions
• 20-question self-grading Google Forms quizzes

Skills Addressed

• Historical analysis through primary source engagement
• Reading fluency and expressive performance
• Collaborative learning and dramatic interpretation
• SAT-level vocabulary development
• Critical thinking and debate over historical themes

Script Summaries

1. The Lost Colony of Roanoke (1587): John White leads settlers to Roanoke, only to find them vanished by 1590, with “CROATOAN” carved as a clue. Scenes depict arrival struggles, Native tensions with Wanchese, White’s departure, and theories like drought or assimilation, engaging teens with the unsolved mystery and Virginia Dare’s birth.
2. King Philip’s War (1675–1676): Metacom unites tribes against English expansion, sparking brutal battles and Mary Rowlandson’s captivity. Scenes show tribal councils, the Great Swamp Fight, and Metacom’s grim fate, captivating students with vivid accounts and the war’s devastating toll.
3. The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s): Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners” sermon and George Whitefield’s preaching ignite colonial faith. Scenes depict revival meetings, church disputes, and Sarah Edwards’ support, intriguing teens with emotional sermons and debates over authority.
4. Proclamation of 1763: King George III bans settlement beyond the Appalachians, angering colonists and echoing Pontiac’s rebellion. Scenes show British announcements, settler defiance, and Native perspectives, drawing students with land disputes and revolutionary sparks.
5. The Northwest Ordinance (1787): Rufus King and Nathan Dane craft rules for new territories, banning slavery north of the Ohio River. Scenes depict Congressional debates, settler optimism, and early slavery tensions, engaging teens with dreams of expansion and moral conflicts.
6. The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798): John Adams’ laws restrict speech, prompting Jefferson’s resolutions and editor arrests. Scenes show Federalist enforcement, press defiance, and free speech debates, gripping students with political drama and liberty questions.
7. The Barbary Wars (1801–1805): Jefferson sends Edward Preble’s navy to battle North African pirates, securing U.S. trade. Scenes depict pirate threats, naval clashes, and victory celebrations, thrilling teens with high-seas action and global stakes.
8. Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806): Sacagawea guides Lewis and Clark through the West, mapping lands and meeting tribes. Scenes show expedition challenges, Native encounters, and scientific discoveries, captivating students with adventure and cultural exchanges.
9. Tecumseh’s Resistance (1809–1811): Tecumseh unites tribes against U.S. expansion, clashing with Harrison at Tippecanoe. Scenes depict tribal rallies, settler fears, and battle chaos, engaging teens with Native resistance and dramatic conflict.
10. The Embargo Act of 1807: Jefferson bans trade to avoid war, devastating merchants and sparking smuggling. Scenes show tavern debates, dockside protests, and Jefferson’s defense, intriguing students with economic struggles and diplomacy’s cost.

Will this meet your needs?

Download this Free King Philip’s War RT Script included in the bundle first and try one before you buy one :)

Want More Social Studies Activities?

Perfect for sub plans, sick days, supplemental activities, review stations, Friday fun days or even build an entire emergency curriculum with these 4 bundles below:

BUNDLE #1 Colonial America and the Early Republic (1587 – 1811)

1. The Lost Colony of Roanoke (1587)
2. King Philip’s War (1675–1676) [FREE DOWNLOAD!]
3. The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s)
4. Proclamation of 1763 (1763)
5. The Northwest Ordinance (1787)
6. The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
7. The Barbary Wars (1801–1805)
8. Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806)
9. Tecumseh’s Resistance (1809–1811)
10. The Embargo Act of 1807 (1807)

Bundle #2 Westward Expansion (1801 – 1865)

1. The Missouri Compromise (1820) [FREE DOWNLOAD!]
2. The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
3. The Second Great Awakening (1820s–1830s)
4. Oregon Trail Migration (1840s)
5. The Fugitive Slave Act (1850)
6. Bleeding Kansas (1854–1856)
7. John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)
8. The Pony Express (1860–1861)
9. The Battle of Antietam (1862)
10. The 13th Amendment (1865)

Bundle #3 Revolutionary War (1773 – 1804)

1. The Boston Tea Party (1773–1774) [FREE DOWNLOAD!]
2. United We Stand: The First Continental Congress (1774)
3. Liberty or Death: Patrick Henry's Speech (1775)
4. Midnight Ride and Paul Revere (1775)
5. Green Mountain Boys and Bunker Hill (1775)
6. The Second Continental Congress (1775)
7. Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence (1776)
8. Crossing the Delaware and Trenton Victory (1776)
9. Valley Forge and The American Crisis (1777–1778)
10. Foreign Allies: Lafayette and France (1777–1778)
11. Sybil Ludington and Molly Pitcher (1777)
12. Hamilton and His Duel (1780s–1804)
13. Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris (1781–1783)
14. Washington Steps Down: The Man Who Would Be King (1783)
15. Slavery and the Revolution (1770s–1780s)

• NOTE 1: These 15 scripts do not include Google Docs or Slides but the docx file can easily be uploaded to Google Docs and distributed digitally if desired.
• NOTE 2: These 15 scripts also include a G3-5 reading level of each script for diverse language ability classrooms.

Bundle #4 Reconstruction (1865 – 1877)

1. The Assassination of Lincoln (1865) [FREE DOWNLOAD!]
2. Presidential vs. Radical Reconstruction (1865–1867)
3. The Freedmen’s Bureau (1865–1872)
4. The 14th and 15th Amendments (1868–1870)
5. Black Political Participation (1867–1877)
6. The Ku Klux Klan and Resistance (1866–1871)
7. The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson (1868)
8. The Compromise of 1877 (1877)

SAVE 50% and cover all your Social Studies needs with this Mega Bundle available on TeachersPayTeachers.com:
U.S. History Mega Bundle of 43 Readers Theater Scripts for Grades 6 to 8