Free readers' theater scripts by T. P. Jagger

Free Readers Theater Scripts & Poems

FREE & FUNNY READERS’ THEATER SCRIPTS

Click the titles below to download my FREE readers’ theater script PDFs via my Readers’ Theater Fast & Funny Fluency site. If you’d like to be notified when new scripts are added (and to receive other news), please subscribe to my e-newsletter: “T. P.’s THREE R’s: READING, WRITING & RAMBLING.”

CINDER…REALLY? THE TRUE STORY OF CINDERELLA

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 6-10

Approximate length: 7 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “FAIRY TALES BONUS BUNDLE.”

*Read 7 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE for ideas that can be worked into a fractured fairy tales unit or mini-lesson.

*There’s also a video that can be used to introduce the 7 ideas to students: HOW TO WRITE A FRACTURED A FAIRY TALE.

MOTHER GOOSE INTERRUPTED: THIS LITTLE PIGGY

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 6

Approximate length: 5 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-SCRIPT “MOTHER GOOSE INTERRUPTED” COLLECTION.

KING MIDAS & THE GOLDEN TOUCH

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 5-9

Approximate length: 7 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “MANGLED MYTHS SERIES BONUS BUNDLE.”

ONSET & RIME PHONICS POETRY: MY BROTHER HAD A FIT

Grades: K, 1st, 2nd

Number of readers: 2

Approximate length: 1 minute (plus extension activities)

EXCERPTED FROM THE 12-POEM PHONICS POETRY COLLECTION “TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE RAG.”

PERFECT FOR “NATIONAL POETRY MONTH” (APRIL)

SILLY POEMS SERIES: JILL McTIBBLE’S GARDEN

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 2

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-POEM “THE OCTOPUS ON MY HEAD: A SPRINGTIME SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”

PERFECT FOR “TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY” (SEPTEMBER 19th)

SILLY POEMS SERIES: OUR TEACHER WAS A PIRATE

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3-4

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “TALK-LIKE-A-PIRATE TOOLKIT.”

DAVY CROCKPOT: A TALL (& TWISTED) TALE

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3-6

Approximate length: 6 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “TALL TALES BONUS BUNDLE.

*Read FIVE TRAITS OF TALL TALES (& HOW TO USE THEM IN YOUR CLASSROOM) for genre information about tall tales that can be worked into a tall tales mini-lesson.

SEARCHING FOR SUMMERTIME SILLINESS?…

SILLY POEMS SERIES: THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER VACATION

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-POEM “SCHOOL’S ALMOST OUT: A SUMMERTIME SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”

A PERFECT POEM FOR CHRISTMAS-Y FUN!

SILLY POEMS SERIES: SANTA’S SOCKS

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 2-4

Approximate length: 2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-POEM “IF YOU CATCH A MAGIC SNOWFLAKE: A CHRISTMAS SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”

PERFECT FOR VALENTINE’S DAY!

SILLY POEMS SERIES: CHARLIE GAVE ME CHOCOLATES

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 2

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 4-POEM “CUPID SHOT MY TEACHER: A VALENTINE’S DAY SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”

View a funny, 2-student readers’ theater performance of “Mother Goose Interrupted: Little Miss Muffet”!

LOVE READERS' THEATER?… LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!

Valentine's Day Readers' Theater Poetry
PERFECT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!
SILLY POEMS SERIES: CHARLIE GAVE ME CHOCOLATES

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 2

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 4-POEM “CUPID SHOT MY TEACHER: A VALENTINE'S DAY SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”
Fractured Fairy Tale Cinderella Readers' Theater
CINDER…REALLY? THE TRUE STORY OF CINDERELLA

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 6-10

Approximate length: 7 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “FAIRY TALES BONUS BUNDLE.”

*Read 7 WAYS TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE for ideas that can be worked into a fractured fairy tales unit or mini-lesson.

*There's also a video that can be used to introduce the 7 ideas to students: HOW TO WRITE A FRACTURED A FAIRY TALE.

Free Greek myth readers' theater
KING MIDAS & THE GOLDEN TOUCH

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 5-9

Approximate length: 7 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “MANGLED MYTHS SERIES BONUS BUNDLE.”
Funny readers' theater scripts on sale
Mother Goose Interrupted - "This Little Piggy"
MOTHER GOOSE INTERRUPTED: THIS LITTLE PIGGY

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Number of readers: 6 Approximate length: 5 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-SCRIPT “MOTHER GOOSE INTERRUPTED” COLLECTION.
Funny readers' theater poems by T. P. Jagger
SILLY POEMS SERIES: BABYSITTING SUPERMAN (& OTHER SILLY POEMS)

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3-7

Approximate length: 2 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 10-POEM “ANOTHER SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”
THE TREASURE TEST (Hide & GEEK #2) by T. P. Jagger
Free onset & rime phonics poetry
ONSET & RIME PHONICS POETRY: MY BROTHER HAD A FIT

Grades: K, 1st, 2nd

Number of readers: 2

Approximate length: 1 minute (plus extension activities)

EXCERPTED FROM THE 12-POEM PHONICS POETRY COLLECTION “TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE RAG.”
Funny pirate readers' theater poem
PERFECT FOR “TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY” (SEPTEMBER 19th)
SILLY POEMS SERIES: OUR TEACHER WAS A PIRATE

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3-4

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “TALK-LIKE-A-PIRATE TOOLKIT.”
SILLY POEMS SERIES: I GAVE MYSELF A HAIRCUT (& OTHER SILLY POEMS)

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3-7

Approximate length: 2 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 10-POEM “THE SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”
Free tall tale readers' theater script
DAVY CROCKPOT: A TALL (& TWISTED) TALE

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3-6

Approximate length: 6 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE “TALL TALES BONUS BUNDLE.”

*Read FIVE TRAITS OF TALL TALES (& HOW TO USE THEM IN YOUR CLASSROOM) for genre information about tall tales that can be worked into a tall tales mini-lesson.

Springtime funny readers' theater poetry
PERFECT FOR “NATIONAL POETRY MONTH” (APRIL)
SILLY POEMS SERIES: JILL McTIBBLE'S GARDEN

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 2

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-POEM “THE OCTOPUS ON MY HEAD: A SPRINGTIME SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”
Summertime poem free readers' theater script
SEARCHING FOR SUMMERTIME SILLINESS?…
SILLY POEMS SERIES: THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER VACATION

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 3

Approximate length: 1 1/2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-POEM “SCHOOL'S ALMOST OUT: A SUMMERTIME SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”
Funny Christmas Readers' Theater Poem
A PERFECT POEM FOR CHRISTMAS-Y FUN!
SILLY POEMS SERIES: SANTA'S SOCKS

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

Number of readers: 2-4

Approximate length: 2 minutes

EXCERPTED FROM THE 8-POEM “IF YOU CATCH A MAGIC SNOWFLAKE: A CHRISTMAS SILLY POEMS COLLECTION.”

View a funny, 2-student readers' theater performance of “Mother Goose Interrupted: Little Miss Muffet”!

Do your students find my readers' theater to be fun and funny? If you use any of my free readers' theater scripts to help your students improve their reading fluency, I'd love your feedback. Feel free to leave a comment below!

This Post Has 23 Comments

  1. Michael

    I really like your website. I look forward to accessing even more content as you continue to develop it.

  2. Jill Satterfield

    Wow! I came across a post on FB, and that led me here! I am not surprised and yet, so thankful, that you are publishing!!! Have you published the story where the character shoots apple peel out of a nostril yet?

  3. Carrie

    how do I get a copy of the miss muffet…I nearly died laughing

    1. Carrie,
      I’m glad you enjoyed “Little Miss Muffet”! That script is no longer available as one of the free downloads on my site, but it is part of the complete, 8-script “Mother Goose Interrupted Collection.” However, since I’d forgotten the YouTube readers’ theater performance included a link to when that script was one of my freebies, I’d love to set you up with a copy. If you email me via my address provided on the “Contact Me” page, I’ll get back in touch with you in order to get you a copy of the script. Thanks for your interest! 🙂

  4. Maureen

    Would these work for second grade?

    1. Maureen,
      Thanks for your interest in my free scripts! Although they’re geared primarily for grades 3-6, I HAVE received feedback from a number of 2nd-grade teachers who have enjoyed using them, especially with their higher reading groups. Feel free to download some of the scripts and see what you think.

      Also, your question came at a perfect time–I am currently polishing up a set of short readers’ theater poems and activities that is specifically geared toward K-2, and I’ll be posting one of those as a free download very soon (hopefully within the next 1-2 weeks). If you subscribe to my e-newsletter, you’ll get notified once I’ve posted that new script. If not, I encourage you to check back soon. Thanks again for your interest! 🙂

      -T. P.

  5. Holly Pollard

    Hello,
    I am a fourth grade language arts teacher for two classes. I found your reader’s theatre skits while searching online, and I am so excited to begin using them! The skits have the humor I was looking for to make it fun and something the students want to do. I have an after school club of third and fourth graders starting today. I’m going to be trying the reader’s theatre skits with them, and hopefully, I will use this activity into my classroom as well. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I’ll let you know how it goes.

    H. Pollard

  6. UN-NAMED

    I really like your “King Midas And The Golden Touch.

  7. Cindy Beaulieu

    Hi, do you have any short Christmas skits for grade 1?

    1. Cindy,
      Thanks for your interest in my scripts and for posting your question. Unfortunately, I don’t have any Christmas-themed scripts for grade 1. The handful of Christmas-y scripts I’ve written are geared more for grades 3-6, and while I’ve received positive feedback from teachers who’ve used them successfully with advanced grade-2 readers, they’d be a bit too challenging for most first graders. I guess I may need to add a grade-1 Christmas script to my to-write list now! 🙂

      -T. P.

  8. Funmi Cole

    hello
    I found your King Midas and the Golden touch script very interesting and full of humour!
    Thanks so much for putting it up for free.
    Your work is very much appreciated

  9. Gladys Dean

    I have been a school volunteer for the past few years. We did many reader’s theater plays. I have copies of the scripts. I would like to share them with other people who might like to use them. I can send you a few samples of what I have written.

    It does not look like I will be going back to volunteering. It makes me very sad.

  10. Gladys Dean

    What I forgot to mention, is that a favorite is ‘Who’s on First’, by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The performers love it, and so does the audience. And I have a little skit, called ‘Bud and Lou do Math’, also based on one of their routines.

    1. Gladys,
      Thanks for reaching out! Feel free to email me a couple of your readers’ theater. I always enjoy reading other folks’ scripts! (My email address can be found on the “Contact Me” page.)

      To share your scripts with others, I encourage you to consider Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT), which is where all of my scripts ultimately get downloaded from, too. A basic TpT “store” can be set up for free, and you could post your scripts as freebies for teachers to download and use with their students.

      Thanks again,
      T. P.

  11. Ezra Azra

    Not all my poems and plays are ‘funny, silly.’ Some are Shakespearean-tragedy serious. Will the serious ones, too, be made available free to whomever? Thanks.

    1. Ezra,
      Thanks for visiting my site and reaching out. Unfortunately, I don’t post others’ poems/scripts on my website or in my Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) store, which is where all of my scripts ultimately get downloaded from; I only post my own, original works. If you’re looking to share your work with a broader audience and feel that it’s appropriate for school-age children, I recommend exploring putting your work on TpT. A basic TpT “store” can be set up for free, and you could post your poems as freebies for teachers to download and use with their students.

      Thanks again,
      T. P.

  12. D. Gina Grayeyes

    Thank you so much for the free downloads! I will be doing readers’ theatre for an enrichment activity under the 21st Century program. I teach on the Navajo reservation in the four corners area. Again, thank you.

  13. Natalia

    I have been looking for the one called pat-a-cake pat-a-cake is there any way i could read it

    1. Thanks for posting your question and for your interest in my scripts! The “Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake” script is part of my Mother Goose Interrupted Collection. However, “This Little Piggy” (posted above on this page) is the only Mother Goose Interrupted script I’ve posted as a freebie. The complete 8-script collection, which includes “Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake,” is less than $10 in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I hope that information helps. Thanks again for letting me know about your interest in the script! 🙂
      -T. P.

  14. Angela Muonio

    Thank you so much for providing these! I need two-part scripts, which are hard to find.

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