WHY READER’S THEATER?

Reader’s Theater is one of my favorite tools to utilize in my

middle grades classroom. While I have listed the 4TH-8TH
grade common core standards that this package covers,
Reader’s Theater directly improves fluency and
comprehension. In addition, Reader’s Theater allows
students the opportunity to climb inside of a character and
perform. While you can read through a passage just one
time, students gain a greater understanding and build
fluency when read multiple times.

DIRECTIONS:
 Copy the passage and extension activities for students.
 Give students 2-5 minutes to preview the passage and determine which
character they might like to perform
 Based on class size, you may be able to have multiple groups perform the
same play.
 Display characters/parts in the classroom for students to see.
 Because this is a script with few characters, possibly form different groups
of students to perform this same script.
 I pull Popsicle sticks with student names to make character selection most
fair. As I pull a student’s name, they get to pick which part they would like
 I then write the student’s name next to the character/part as a reminder.
 Once all parts have been selected, I give students another 2-5 minutes to
scan through to locate their part.
 Finally, begin the passage. Read aloud as many times as you find suitable
for your students.
 Answer reader response questions, word work, and journal prompt.

Erin Beers 2014

 Common Core Focused Reader’s Theater
High Interest/Realistic Fiction Passage for
Middle Grade to Middle School Learners

CCS: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 RL 1. Cite textual evidence to support

analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences
drawn from the text.

CCSS: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 RL 2. Determine a theme or central idea of

a text and how it is conveyed through particular details;
provide a summary of the text distinct from personal
opinions or judgments.

CCSS: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 RL 3. Describe how a particular story’s or

drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how
the characters respond or change as the plot moves
toward a resolution.

CCSS: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 RL 4. Determine the meaning of words and

phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and
connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific
word choice on meaning and tone.

Erin Beers 2014

 Characters

Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Max-6th grader
Kate-6th grader
Ellie-6th grader
Mr. Zander-6th grade teacher

Erin Beers 2014

 The Harvest Moon

Narrator #1: It was finally Friday and the students were anxious to gather their
backpacks and head out the door. Problem was, there were still 15 minutes left
before the bell would ring indicating that the last class of the day was over.
Narrator #2: Mr. Zander was one of those educators that used up every last
minute of instructional time and would not let his students sit around wasting a
moment.
Mr. Zander: (as he collected the social studies tests off of students’ desks) What
was the easiest question on the test?
Max: I didn’t think any of those questions were easy!

Kate: I thought the vocabulary was the easiest part since we spent so much
time talking about it in class, but the extended response questions all had tricky
parts.
Ellie: I agree.

Mr. Zander: Ok, glad to hear it didn’t seem too bad! Last question before I let
you grab backpacks and head out for the weekend…does anyone have any
fun adventures planned for the weekend?
Max: I have a football game and I just want to play outside with my friends.

Ellie: We wanted to go to that brand new haunted house they have been
building, but it doesn’t open for another week.

Kate: I have no idea what we are doing. I have two soccer games, but I have
no idea if we will do anything else.
Max: What are you doing this weekend, Mr. Zander?

Narrator #1: Mr. Zander was listening and consolidating all of the tests he had
collected, clipping them together, and placing them on his desk to be graded.

Mr. Zander: My family will be headed to the Harvest Moon Festival this weekend.
Has anyone heard of that? It is in Montgomery on Saturday evening.
Ellie: No, what do you do there?
Mr. Zander: Have you ever heard of the Harvest Moon?

Erin Beers 2014

Narrator #2: All of the students in the classroom shook their heads signifying that
this was not something they had ever heard of.

Mr. Zander: The Harvest Moon is the full moon that falls closest to the autumnal
equinox, which is the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. This year fall
begins on September 22, so the full moon in September that comes closest to
that time is called the Harvest Moon. Would you believe it is actually going to
take place tonight?
Ellie: So why don’t they call it the Fall Moon instead of the Harvest Moon?

Mr. Zander: Great question! It is called the Harvest Moon because so many of
our crops tend to be their ripest toward the end of summer and into early fall for
us in North America. Before there were advancements and technology for
farmers, like tractors with headlights, they had to rely on the light of the moon to
work late into the evening in order to harvest their crops.

Kate: So are you going to take your family to gather crops somewhere and help
a local farmer?

Mr. Zander: (laughing) I am sure some farmer somewhere would appreciate

that! But, no, we are going to a festival where we drink hot chocolate, roast
marshmallows, take hayrides, and paint pumpkins. My wife and I have been
taking our children to this special event since they were babies, and it is a
tradition we do every year. We will get to enjoy a beautiful full moon while we
do all of those fall rituals, however.

Ellie: I will have to let my mom know about this Harvest Moon. Her garden is
starting to look a bit tired. It might benefit her to get outside tonight and harvest
the rest of her fruits and veggies that actually grew this year!
Max: You are funny, Mr. Zander. We just took a test and somehow you
managed to cram in more learning in the few minutes we had before leaving. I
will tell you, my little brother would love that festival, and I will definitely be
watching to see the moon. It sounds like it will be really extraordinary.
Mr. Zander: Have a great weekend, everyone!

Narrator #1: The bell rang and the students filed out of the classroom to their
lockers for their backpacks. Mr. Zander was just as enthusiastic about heading
on his way and enjoying this fun yearly tradition with his family. He loved this
time of year! Then just like those ambitious farmers harvesting their crops and
preparing for fall, later in the weekend, Mr. Zander would be grading those
social studies tests and preparing for another week of learning.

Erin Beers 2014

Name: ______________________________________________________________________

The Harvest Moon

Word Work
Directions: Find the word in the text. Write the sentence that the word is in in the
“Word in Sentence” box. Using context clues, write the meaning of the word in
the “Meaning using context clues” box.

Word Word in Sentence Meaning using

Context Clues
indicating

consolidating

signifying

autumnal
equinox

harvest

rituals

extraordinary

Erin Beers 2014

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________

The Harvest Moon:

Reader Response Questions

Directions: After completing the Reader’s Theater, answer the following questions in
complete sentences citing specific details from the text.

1. What is the Harvest Moon? Cite evidence from the text to support your
response.
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2. Why do you think that the Harvest Moon might not be as beneficial to
present day farmers? Cite evidence from the text to support your
response.
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3. Would you like to go to the Harvest Moon Festival with your family? Why
or why not? Cite evidence from the text to support your response.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Erin Beers 2014

 The Harvest Moon
Journal Prompt
Directions: In the space provided below, respond to the journal topic. Your
writing needs to be in complete sentences, with correct grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.

Topic #1: Mr. Zander loves going to the Harvest Moon Festival every year
because it is a tradition he has shared with his children since they were babies.
Share a tradition that you take part in with your family. What is the tradition?
When did this tradition begin? Why is this tradition so important to your family? If
or when you have children of your own, will you continue this tradition? Why or
why not?

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Erin Beers 2014

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