Free Scripts

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The Apple Seed- Themes: Faith, Responsibility, Talents, and Good Health
Fancifone - Themes: Prayer, and Following instructions.
The Girl Who Called 911 - A young girl learns how to use 9-1-1 properly.
Good Food is the Best Medicine - A young boy learns that good food can help him feel better.
Harry B. Blue - A big blue monster that lives under a bed makes friends with a boy when he is told to clean his room.
The Hike - Two young girls learn of the necessity of preparation!
Joey's Imagination - A young boy learns to use his imagination to make work fun.
The Lion Who Lost His Roar- A lion learns that he is still special even without his roar.
The Monsters and The Witches Brew- Theme: Good Nutrition
Murky Lake- Themes: Obedience, Trust, and Rules
Smiles - Themes: Self Esteem, Looking for the good in others, Befriending others.
Too Much of a Good Thing - Themes: Appreciation, Moderation

THE APPLE SEED

Written by Carolyn Frank

THEME: Faith

(A boy and a girl are on stage with an apple.)

SUSIE: Hey Johnny, look at my big red apple. Doesn’t it look pretty?

JOHNNY: It sure does.  But what it really is, is yummy.

SUSIE: Do you want a bit?

JOHNNY: Sure! (Both kids take a bite of the apple. Johnny bites into a seed.) Ouch!!

SUSIE: What happened?

JOHNNY: Dumb seeds! I just bit into one. What are those silly things doing in the apple any way? You can’t eat them.

SUSIE: Seed are very important. That’s how you grow new apple trees. Hey, that gives me an idea! Let’s plant these apples seeds so we can grow lots and lots of pretty apples just like this one.

JOHNNY: Sounds great!

SUSIE: You plant yours over there, and I’ll plant mine right here.

(Each kid acts like he’s planting a seed.)

JOHNNY: Okay, mine’s all planted. I’m going to go play now.

SUSIE: Wait a minute! Aren’t you going to do anything else to it, like water it, or give it plant food?
JOHNNY: Why should I? It will grow by its self. Look at all these weeds, (He motions to his surroundings) nobody took care of them and they grew fine by themselves. I’m going to go play. (He leaves).

SUSIE: If you want a weed that’s fine, but I want a big strong healthy apple tree. So I’m going to work hard to make sure I get it. I know I’ll have to water it, pull the weeds, feed it, and give it lots of tender loving care. (She fusses over the seed a little longer then leaves.)

(There is a slight pause, then Susie’s tree begins to grow first. Make some big healthy growing sounds as it slowly emerges on stage, as if it were growing. Then Johnny’s tree begins to grow, making squeaky, unhealthy growing sounds.)

BIG TREE: (Susie’s tree) Wow, I feel great! This is fun being a big strong, healthy apple tree.

SMALL TREEE: (Johnny’s tree) Oh, I feel terrible!

BIG TREE: What in the world are you?

SMALL TREE: I’m an apple tree.

BIG TREE: You’re kidding me! What happened to you?

SMALL TREE: The person who planted me didn’t take care of me. He didn’t water me, feed me, or pull the weeds. I had a hard time growing. Wait till I get my limbs on him. I’d like to tell him a thing or two, if only I had the strength.

BIG TREE: It looks like you’ll get the chance now, here he comes.

(Johnny and Susie enter).

SUSIE: Johnny, come and see my apple tree.

JOHNNY: Wow, it looks great. Hey, let’s go and see mine. It should look about the same because we planted them at the same time.

(They both go over to where his tree is planted and look around as if they can’t find it.)

SUSIE: I can’t see your tree anywhere. All that I see is this scrawny twig.

JOHNNY:  Hey twig, what are you doing here, where my apple tree is supposed to be?

LITTLE TREE: I am your apple tree! (Kids open their mouths in amazement.)

JOHNNY: You’re kidding me! What happened to you! You don’t look anything like Susie’s tree. We both got our seeds from the same apple.

LITTLE TREE: You didn’t take care of me. You didn’t water me, you didn’t feed me, and you never pulled any of these weeds around me. They are about ready to choke me out. I feel awful. (The little tree shivers as he says this. Then he makes a choking sound and falls over the edge of the stage towards the audience.)

JOHNNY: I feel just terrible. I didn’t mean to do this to my apple tree. I just kind of forgot about him and thought more about playing instead.

SUSIE: At least you can learn a lesson from this; A lesson that doesn’t even have to do with apples.

JOHNNY: Oh really! What’s that?

SUSIE: Anything that you invest your time and work hard in will grow strong and healthy, and will turn around and bless your life.  One example is faith. If you compare the seed you planted to faith you can see how it works. The seed of faith starts out small, but if you feed and nourish it, it can grow much bigger and stronger. You don’t feed faith plant food, of course, but you do need to nourish it by reading the scriptures, going to church, and doing what is right. If you don’t nourish your faith in these ways, it will shrivel and soon die like your little tree. On the other hand, if you nourish the seed of faith by doing those things, your faith will continue to grow and even bear a different kind of fruit—the fruit of happiness.

THE END

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VARIATIONS:

Responsibility: Replace Susie’s lesson on faith at the end with this one; A lesson on responsibility; Say for example, your mom asks you to tend your little brother. She is, in a sense, asking you to be responsible for him. Now if you go out and play, and figure your little brother will be okay alone by himself, something terrible might happen to him. He’s too little to be on his own, just like your tree wasn’t able to grow on its own. That’s not being responsible. If you want to be responsible, then you take care of him, like I took care of my tree. You may need to feed him, change his diaper, or maybe just play with him. But in the long run you will be happier if you take responsibility.

Talents: Replace Susie’s lesson on faith at the end with this one;

Well, those seeds we planted are like our talents. Everyone has some kind of talent, but what we do with them is what counts Say for example, we both have a talent for playing the piano. If you don’t practice everyday, just like you didn’t take care of your seed every day, soon your talent dwindles away, and you won’t be able to play at all. If I practiced everyday and really cared about my talent, just like I cared for my seed, my talent would grow, and soon I would be very good at playing the piano. I would have a worthwhile talent just like I have a worthwhile tree. There are lots of other talents beside musical ones. (You may wish to replace the talent of playing the piano with any of numerous others.)

Good Health:

Option 1:

SUSIE: The seeds we planted are like our bodies. We can’t just ignore them. We must take care of them if we want them to grow up to be strong and healthy. Just as the tree needs plant food and lots of water, we need to eat good food. With my tree I pulled out the bad things like weeds, so the good things like sunshine could reach my tree. We should keep bad things out of our bodies too.

JOHNNY: Like what?

SUSIE: Like drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

JOHNNY: They’re not that bad for you. They make you feel good. Besides, everybody uses them.

SUSIE: That doesn’t make it right. Besides, they all contain things that are poison for your body.

JOHNNY: Poison?!

SUSIE: Yes, poison! As bad of a gardener as you are, even you would never have given poison to your little tree. Why should you be any different with your body?

Option 2:

SUSIE: The seeds we planted are like our bodies. We can’t just ignore them. We must take care of them if we want them to grow up to be strong and healthy. Just as the tree needs plant food and lots of water, we need to eat good food, and stay away from junk food that gets in our system and chokes our bodies, keeping them from receiving the nutrients our bodies need to be strong.

THE END

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FANCIFONE

Written by Carolyn Frank 

THEME: Prayer

NARRATOR: In a land far away and long ago, there lived a very wise king and his two sons.

KING: Sons, gather ‘round and listen to what I have to say. You have learned all that you can by living in this kingdom. The time has come for you to move on to other places… and learn from your experiences.

SON I: Must we?

SON II: But we like it here. Besides, we will miss you.

KING: I will miss you also. But you must go, for that is how I gained all of my wisdom.

SON I: Who will be there to help us? What if we can’t make it on our own?

KING: I won’t expect you to.

SON II: What if we should have problems?

KING: I will still help you.

SON I: But how father?  You will be so far away!

KING: By using this Fancifone. (play phone, or cup with string, is placed on stage.)

SON II: How does it work?

KING: Listen carefully, because if you don’t use it properly it won’t work, you’ll get discouraged then you’ll quit trying. That would be sad because you’ll have no way of getting in touch with me, and I won’t be able to get in touch with you.

SONS: (together) Tell us! We are ready!

KING: Well, you talk into this funny shaped handle. The first thing you say is my name… Father. Next… It would be nice if you would tell me thank you for the other things I will give you for your journey. After that, you can ask me for whatever you need. Last thing… say goodbye.

SON I: That sounds easy enough.

KING: That is the easy part. The hard part is listening for an answer. You see, you won’t always be able to hear me. Don’t let this stop you. I will always be able to hear you. Keep trying, because eventually I will get through. One other thing… don’t ask for any thing foolish or something you can do for yourself, because for your own good I won’t answer you. But you might think the Fancifone doesn’t work Be off with you now, and good luck. Most important, do not forget I love you. (Both sons exit together.)

NARRATOR:  (King exits as narrator begins.)  As these two sons embark on their journey they are faced with numerous new experiences. The first son remembered well the words of his father concerning the Fancifone. He used it daily, and thus found it easy to talk to his father and receive answers, and other help along his journey. But the second son forgot the words of his father. He rarely used the Fancifone. Soon he came to believe it didn’t even work.

SON I: ( Enters alone.)  This is hard being away from home. It was so nice back home. Father was always there when we needed help. Like right now—I’m starved, and I don’t have a cent. I blew my last dollar at the video arcade across the street. If only Father were here. Maybe he could give me an advance on my allowance. Maybe I should use the Fancifone Father gave me. I haven’t used it for so long, I forget how it works. If I remember correctly I don’t think it ever worked. Oh well, I’ll give it a try, I’m desperate.  (He picks up the phone and speaks into it.) How about sending me my allowance early this week Dad!) Better yet, just send me a pizza.

(Pause)

SON I: Just like I thought. It doesn’t work.

SON II: (Enters) What’s the matter brother?

SON I: I’m broke and I’m hungry.

SON II: Have you asked Father to help you?

SON I: Yes, but I don’t think these Fancifones work. I don’t think they ever did.

SON II: That’s not true. I use mine all the time. I really enjoy talking to Father on it.

SON I: That’s not fair! Father gave me a broken one.

SON II: It’s not broken. You just don’t know how to use it right. Do you remember the instructions Father gave us?

SON I: No, I didn’t listen very well. I didn’t think it mattered.

SON II: Let me tell them to you again. The Fancifone is so important to us, I want you to be able to us it like I do.

NARRATOR: And so the one son learned from his brother how to use the Fancifone according to the rules their Father had set up. He also learned how to hear his Father’s answers, and how to use it for the important things, and his journey became much easier.

(At this point either the narrator, or teacher, in a teaching moment afterwards, makes the correlation of the Fancifone to prayer.)

THE END

VARIATIONS:

Following instructions:  You may wish to make instructions from the father on how to use the fancifone somewhat different. Put less emphasis on things that would pertain to prayer, and put more emphasis on the set of instructions. Emphasize how the second son was much better off than the first, because he listened and followed the instructions.

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THE GIRL WHO CRIED 9-1-1

by Carolyn Frank

GIRL: There’s nothing to do. None of my friends are home… I’m so bored! (Pause, she looks around and acts bored, then she spots the phone.)

(excited) I know! I can talk on the phone.

(depressed) but I’ll have to wait for it to ring.

(excited) Or I could call them!

(depressed) But who do I call? I don’t know any phone numbers, and I don’t read very well, so I can’t use the phone book.

(excited) There is one number I do know—9-1-1.

(depressed) But that’s only for emergencies. This is an emergency! I’m bored out of my gourd!

(She starts to pick up the phone) This sounds fun! I’ve always wondered what happens when you call 9-1-1.

(She starts to dial) Hello.

(Pause, then she responds in a stumbling manner, as if to a person on the other end of the line) My address? Yes … of course, it’s 123 Sycamore Street.

(Pause, then as if repeating what had been said) What’s the emergency?

(Off to the side, not into the receiver. Almost as if she is thinking out loud) I can’t tell them my emergency is boredom. Think! Think! What’s a good emergency?

(Then into the receiver) Fire! Yes, there is a fire in my house.  (She hangs up and soon a fireman appears on stage.)

FIREMAN: (running in frantically) Fire! Fire! Where’s the fire?

I’ve got my hose, I’ve got the nose, to sniff out the smoke, and put the fire out before you choke.

GIRL: (laughing) You look so funny running in here like you were worried there was really a fire. Oh, this is lots of fun! I’m not bored any more. I should have called 9-1-1 the last time I was bored!

FIREMAN: (angry) You mean there is no fire?

GIRL: (shakes her head) No.

FIREMAN: Did I understand you right when you said you called 9-1-1 because you were bored?

GIRL: (shakes her head) Yes.

FIREMAN: Young lady, I don’t  think you fully understand the serious nature of what you’ve done.

GIRL: What do you mean? I was just playing on the phone.

FIREMAN: 9-1-1 is a special phone number. It should be used only in case of an emergency—not boredom. You should never play around with, or call 9-1-1 unless you have a REAL emergency.

GIRL: What’s a real emergency?

FIREMAN: When someone is hurt or in danger, and needs help quick.

GIRL: Why don’t you guys have a normal phone number? That way I couldn’t remember it so easy. Like “Ten”- I wouldn’t have called that!

FIREMAN: That’s exactly why we have that number. When someone is hurt or in danger, they don’t have time to look up our phone number in a book. They need our number quick. And the nice thing about the phone number 9-1-1, is that it is the same anywhere you go. If you need help anywhere in the USA, you just call 9-1-1… But not if you’re bored. (Fireman exits).

Sometime later… ( a sign stating this appears on stage.)

GIRL: There’s nothing to do! My friends are not home. I’m so bored! Hey! Wait a minute; I don’t need to be bored. I can call 911 like I did last time. That turned out to be anything but boring. That fireman was so funny. (She begins to laugh) Ha, ha, ha. He looked so funny when he came running in because he thought there was a fire. I‘m going to do it again. (She picks up the phone and dials.) Hello. (pause) Emergency? (like she’s repeating them.) Yes I’ve got one. uh…  uh….our house is on fire.(pause) 123 Sycamore Street. (She hangs up).

FIREMAN: (running in) Fire! Fire! Where’s the fire?

GIRL: (laughing even harder than before) There is no fire. I just wanted to see if you would be as funny as last time. (pause) You’re even funnier!

FIREMAN: Young lady, fire is not funny and I am not funny. Fire fighting and fire prevention is very serious business.

GIRL: Huh? Fire prevention, what’s so important about that. It can’t be that tough—just stay away from fires.

FIREMAN: It’s not always that simple. Accidents do happen. Fires can start in the safest of homes.

GIRL: Really?

FIREMAN: Yes! And if they do, there are some simple rules to follow to help protect you.

GIRL: Tell me what they are.

FIREMAN: First of all, children should never play with or use matches. If matches need to be used, let a grown up do it. You should never have candles or anything burning when your parents are not home.

GIRL: But I like the smell of pretty candles. My mom lights them to make our house smell good.

FIREMAN: That doesn’t matter. They should not be burning when there is not a grown up there.

GIRL: What else?

FIREMAN: You should make an escape plan.

GIRL: What do you mean?

FIREMAN: That is a plan you prepare ahead of time, with your family, in case you ever do have a fire. You decide where to meet to make sure everyone is accounted for. You have alternate ways to exit your house in case the fire is blocking the door.

GIRL: What if it’s so smoky that you have a hard time following your plan?

FIREMAN: Good question! If there is a lot of smoke, you should get down on the floor and crawl out.

GIRL: Why?!

FIREMAN: Because smoke rises. The air on the floor will be the best for breathing until you get out of there.

GIRL: What if I my house isn’t on fire, but I have a little fire… uh.. like if the waste basket catches on fire, or my dress?

FIREMAN: If you see even a small fire start, unless you have a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it, you should run and get help. Don’t try to put it out yourself.

GIRL: But if my dress is on fire, running for help would just make it worse.

FIREMAN: Good point! You’re right. If any part of you or your clothes catch on fire, you should stop, drop, and roll.

GIRL: Stop, drop, and roll? What’s that?

FIREMAN: You stop immediately, drop to the ground, and roll over and over until the fire is out. Rolling on the ground helps to smother the fire.

GIRL: This stuff sounds scary.

FIREMAN: Fires are scary and should be taken seriously. Can you see now why it is so important not to joke around about it?

GIRL: Yes, I do.

(they both Exit)

Sometime later…(hold up sign on stage)

SETTING: (Dispatch headquarters/fire house)

DISPATCHER: (on phone) This is 9-1-1. (pause) You say the field next door is on fire? Okay, we will send a truck out immediately. (to the fireman who just came on stage ) Hey Joe, we’ve got a fire down at the Johnson’s farm.

FIREMAN: We’ll get right on it!

(phone rings)

DISPATCHER: 9-1-1 (pause) Stay calm. You say your house is on fire. What is your address? (pause) 123 Sycamore Lane, Okay we’ll get right on it. (To the fireman who is still on stage) Sounds like we have a more serious fire here. Do you want me to call another fire station and see if they can take one of these fires?

FIREMAN: You said 123 Sycamore Lane didn’t you?  Was it a little girl calling?

DISPATCHER: Yes.

FIREMAN: Don’t bother the other station. That’s the address of the little girl who likes to call 9-1-1 and report a fire when she is bored. She’s probably bored again. (pause) It won’t take long to put out the fire on the Johnson’s farm. Then I’ll run over to that little girl’s house and give her another lecture.

(Fireman runs off stage and dispatcher leaves. The little girl appears on staged smudged with soot. Black or gray pieces of fabric can be backed with Velcro and place on puppet for added effect.)

GIRL: (coughing and crying) Oh no! What have I done?

FIREMAN: (comes on stage) Oh my! You weren’t bored this time.

GIRL: (shakes her head no)

GIRL: I wanted my room to smell pretty, so I lit a scented candle.

FIREMAN: Where is your mother?

GIRL: She went to the grocery store.

FIREMAN: There are two fire prevention rules you’ve broken. Any thing else you want to add to that?

GIRL: Well… after that I accidentally knocked the candle on the floor. It caught some clothes that were on the floor on fire. Instead of getting out, I tried to put the fire out myself. Then my pants caught on fire.

FIREMAN: (shakes his head in disbelief)

GIRL: But after that I remembered what you told me. I stopped, dropped and rolled. By then smoke was all over the room. So I crawled on the floor, got out of my room and shut the door. I hurried and found my little brother and got out of the house. He was waiting at our assigned meeting place. We made our fire escape plan after you talked to me last time.

FIREMAN: Is your brother okay?

GIRL: Yes, I took him over to the neighbors until my mom gets home.

FIREMAN: You’re a very lucky young lady.

GIRL: How can you say that? My house and everything in it is gone.

FIREMAN: But you and your brother made it out safely. You’re alive—a little dirty—but alive!

GIRL: None of this would have happened if I had listened to you about fire safety and calling 9-1-1.

FIREMAN: You must have listened a little. (pause) Remember, accidents happen. It’s not important who’s fault it is or isn’t. You must stay calm, think straight, remember the rules, and you can prevent matters from getting any worse. And that’s just what you did.

(They walk off stage together.)

The End

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GOOD FOOD IS THE BEST MEDICINE

by Carolyn Frank

(Setting: Doctor’s office – A mom has just brought her child in to see the doctor.)

MOM: I hope you can find out what my little boy has. He just hasn’t felt good for such a long time. I know it’s not the measles or the chicken pox, because he doesn’t have any spots. Could it be one of those other childhood diseases that aren’t so easy to spot?

DOCTOR: Well, let’s have a look at this young ma n and see if I can find out what is wrong with him. (Doctor motions to the boy, and the boy moves over to him.) Come on over here son. Let’s have a look at you. (Doctor examines boy.) Tell me your symptoms.

BOY: Well… I keep getting cold sores in the corners of my mouth. I always have a runny nose. Sometimes I get dizzy, sometimes I get headaches, and when I get a scratch it takes longer to heal than when my friend Scott gets one.

DOCTOR: Hmmmm….I don’t see any cold sores right now.

BOY: I don’t really know doctor; my symptoms aren’t always the same. But I do know one thing—I’m always tired.

MOM: He is always tired. He should be out climbing trees and riding bikes like most little boys his age.

BOY: All I feel like doing is sitting around and watching TV, or playing video games.

MOM: Oh doctor, please find out what’s wrong with him. What kind of medicine does he need? Can you give him a shot so he can start to get better?

DOCTOR: Hmmm…. I don’t think a shot is what he needs.

BOY: Great—Pills are good! I’d rather take those any day!

DOCTOR: Pills aren’t the answer either.

MOM: (In a worried voice) What kind of medicine does he need then?

DOCTOR: No medicine.

BOY: (In a worried voice) What kind of disease do I have, Doctor?

DOCTOR: You are suffering from malnutrition.

BOY: Isn’t that what poor people in other countries get, because there isn’t enough food to eat?

DOCTOR: Yes it is.

MOM: But Joey gets plenty to eat—we’re not poor, we have lots of food.

BOY: Yeah! I eat all the time—candy bars, chips, soda, yum—my favorites. I’m usually even too full to eat my dinner most of the time. So I don’t. In fact, I’ve got a few extra inches around my belly to prove it.

DOCTOR: Just because your stomach isn’t hungry, doesn’t mean other parts of your body aren’t hungry.

MOM: What do you mean?

BOY: (Chuckling) Yeah, how can my feet be hungry—or my eyes be hungry?

DOCTOR: If you eat lots of candy bars, chips and soda, but skip dinner, you are filling your stomach with empty calories. Your stomach does feel full, but those kinds of foods lack the nutrients to run the other parts of your body.

BOY: Huh?

DOCTOR: Let me explain it another way. Joey, do you like cars?

BOY: Yes I do!

DOCTOR: What do you have to put in them to make them run?

BOY: Fuel.

DOCTOR: Just any fuel?

BOY: Oh no! My dad’s sports car uses premium gasoline.

DOCTOR: Why doesn’t your dad use the cheap stuff?

BOY: He says it won’t run as good.

DOCTOR: Oh, Now Joey, Why doesn’t your dad use water instead of gas?

BOY: That would be stupid! His car wouldn’t run very far that way.

DOCTOR: But his gas tank would be full, wouldn’t it?

BOY: Yeah, but of worthless stuff.

DOCTOR: Exactly! The food you like to eat doesn’t get its nick name  “junk food’ for no reason.

BOY: Are you saying it’s worthless stuff.

DOCTOR: I don’t know about worthless, but they are full of empty calories.  Your body can’t run very far or efficiently on them. If that is all you eat, they could eventually ruin your engine—that is your body!

BOY: What am I supposed to eat then?

DOCTOR: Wholesome foods, like fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains.

BOY: But those foods are so boring.

(Broccoli, orange, bean, bread, pyramid and milk enter)

BROCCOLI: Boring are we? That’s  a lie!

                You’ve just got to give us a try!

BOY: Doctor, who are these strange characters?

DOCTOR: These are the foods you should be eating.

ORANGE: That’s why we’ve arranged this meeting.

BEAN: To let kids like you know, that eating us is the way to go.

MOM: I try to feed you guys to my family once in a while.

BEAN: Once in a while is not enough.

CHEESE: You need to eat a lot of this stuff.

BOY: Like I said, you guys are strangers to me. I don’t even know what you are, especially you (pointing to the pyramid). You don’t look like anything to eat.

PYRAMID: You’re right! I’m kind of a spokesman for these edible characters. You see, there’s a lot of people like you who aren’t very familiar with healthy food. My job is to introduce these yummy foods to more people, and encourage people like you to get to know them better.  (Looking at the food). Hmmm, who should introduce first?

BROCCOLI: Let me have the privilege of introducing my self—I am broccoli.

But I represent all vegetables you see.

We are full of fiber and vitamins A, B, and C, and carbohydrates for energy.

You should eat 3-5 servings of us per day

We are tasty and good for your body, what more can I say!

PYRAMID: Next we have fruit. Tell us about you and your family, Orange.

ORANGE: Oh, we’re little sweeties—that we are.

To find us, you need not look too far.

We’re in desserts, we’re in drinks, and we’re in candy too.

But when you eat us alone, we’re the best for you.

That way you’ll get all the fiber, flavor and fun—

Energy, and vitamins A and C all rolled into one.

A better snack than us, you’ll never find.

We fruit—we’re one of a kind.

You should eat 2 to 4 servings of us every day,

to help keep you  healthy when  you work or when you play.

PYRAMID: Who needs candy when you’ve got these sweet little things? Don’t these guys just make you hungry?

BOY: (Shakes his head) No.

PYRAMID: Don’t give up so soon. There’s more to choose from. Hey, Mr. Bean, you’re on the scene.  Ha, ha, ha (laughing) I’m starting to sound like these guys (pointing to the food).

BEAN: Though I look like a bean… and a bean is what I am,

I represent a variety of foods,

from peanut butter down to spam.

Meats, nuts and legumes are in my group.

We’re great as a main course, a snack or in a soup.

BOY: What is a legume?

BEAN: Good question! Glad you asked! Doc, I’ll give you that task.

DOCTOR: A legume is a bean…

BEAN: (Interjecting) Like me!

DOCTOR: like pinto, kidney and garbanzo.

BOY: Speak in English, doctor.

DOCTOR: Okay. Like the refried beans in your burritos, or the red beans in your chili.

BOY: Oh really! Then I’ve eaten beans a few times. They’re not bad.

BEAN: Not bad! We’re GREAT!

We’re the guys that put protein on your plate.

BOY: Protein, what’s that? 

BEAN: Protein provides the building blocks by which your body grows.

It’s in your hair, your skin, your muscles,

even the nails upon your  toes.

You should have 2 to 3 servings of me, meat, or nuts, every day.

(pause) If you have meat—remember to cut the fat away.

PYRAMID: The next food needs no introduction—milk products! 

CHEESE: But I do doc! There’s a lot about me, people don’t usually see.

I’m tasty for breakfast, lunch, or dinner it’s true.

But there’s so much good inside your body that I also do!

I am full of calcium and minerals, of which your bones are made.

I’ve kept them strong and healthy; while you’ve worked or while you’ve played.

I’m important for your teeth.

Not just the ones you’re losing now, but the ones you’ll one day keep.

I’ll also help you get a good night’s sleep.

You should have 3 to 4 servings of me a day.

Or you can get them in another way;

There’s milk, yogurt, and pudding just to name a few.

You can add ice-cream and chocolate milk—does that sound good to you?

BOY: (nods head) Yes!

PYRAMID: Last, but not least, is the bread group. Hey, bread you’re on!

BREAD: I represent the group you should eat the most.

Try me as a tortilla, tortellini, or toast.

How about cereal, muffins, or a waffle.

I’m easy to eat a lot. I’m great, not awful.

I provide fiber—to help your digestive system run smoothly.

I’m full of carbohydrates—to provide the energy that makes you move.

You should have 6 to 11 servings of me each day—sounds like a lot?

Hey, try me instead of candy—I’ll hit the spot!

BOY: This is so much to remember. Even if I do start eating you good guys instead of the junk I have been eating, I’ll never remember how many servings of each of you I should eat. It sounds too hard!

PYRAMID: No it isn’t. Just remember me and my “anything-but-girlish” figure. I’m smaller at the top and larger at the bottom.

Notice how I’m wearing my food. Milk and meat are near the top. There’s not as much room for them here. That’s okay.  You don’t need as many of them each day. Just below them are fruits and vegetables. You need to eat more of them each day than milk and meat. Just below them is bread. You should eat even more of this group than the fruits or vegetables. That’s easy to remember ‘cause I’m so big down here.

BOY: (contemplative) And eating this way is going to make me feel better?

FOOD: (in unison) YES!

BOY: (determined voice) I want to do this!

MOM: Thank you doctor! Thank you friends!

(They all walk off stage chattering support from the food, and thanks from the boy).

THE END

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Harry B. Blue

By Carolyn Frank 5/4/1997 

NARRATOR: Monster Harry B Blue was a monster no one knew.

Under kids beds he did reside

You could never see him, for he could hide

So cleverly amongst the junk.

Big beds, small beds, old beds, new.

He didn’t care, old Harry B. Blue

As long as he could hide, and not be spied.

That’s why he never chose the top bunk.

(Monster innocently plays with toys, junk, and dust bunnies.)

He comments this is his favorite bed of all to hide under because this boy leaves so many things under his bed to play with, not to mention the old half eaten peanut butter sandwiches to nibble on.

Two boys enter and sit on top of the bed and monster hides. (bedspread acts as a curtain for where the monster is, boys are sitting on top of this.)

BOY I: Guess what! There’s a monster under my bed!

BOY II: No way! It’s all in your head.

BOY I: But I swear I’ve heard him under there…

and just last week I found a blue hair!

(monster makes sound)

BOY II: What’s that noise? It’s in the toys!
BOY I: It’s that monster I’ve been telling you about!

BOY II: Lets get out! ( Boy run off stage)

MONSTER: (peeks out and looks around) Are they gone?

I did wrong!

My movements, I can’t let them hear.

In children it instills great fear.

But it is men that should be afraid,

Because if the room is clean and the beds are made

There’s no place for me to hide,

And I’ll have to move outside. (Bed is removed from stage.)

NARRATOR: The next day at the local school. The whole student body made a new rule.
And unless some kid was willing to bend,

I’m afraid it would mean old Blue’s end.

TEACHER: (emerges on stage) Students, listen carefully to what I say.

Tomorrow is keep the earth clean day.

To celebrate it, our school wants to do something that has never been done before.

We want to challenge every student to keep their rooms clean

 not just for one day, but twenty four.

By clean we don’t mean just sweep the junk under your bed.

We want your rooms clean from top to bottom instead.

Sure, we could do those same old projects like most other schools, where we plant a new tree and clean out the pools.

But we feel that if we help you learn to clean on your own,

To do something you’re not always shown,

To help form the habit to clean what is yours,

Soon this habit will extend out of doors.

We feel if you keep your room clean every day

You will want to treat the earth the same way.

(Teacher exits, bed is placed back on stage. Little boy comes out and starts cleaning under it)

BOY: (In a disgusted voice) Twenty four days to keep my room clean.

Boy my teacher sure is mean! (He looks under the bed)

Gee, there are thing under here I never knew I had.

Like that old blue rug that smells really bad.

(boy looks up then looks under bed again.)

Hey wait a minute! That rug used to be over there! (Screams!)

BOY: There is a monster under my bed!

I knew it wasn’t all in my head.

MONSTER: Oh please don’t hurt me! I wont hurt you

(hangs head) Oh dear, now what will I do?

BOY: Whatever do you mean.

All I’m doing is trying to clean

MONSTER: I have no where else to go

I’ve tried every other bed in the neighborhood I know.

But it’s the same story everywhere.

There’s nothing under any bed to hide my blue hair.

So I came back here, yours is my favorite bed.

Hoping yours would be different instead.

But there’s nothing to play with, there’s nothing to eat,

There’s nothing to keep me company or tickle my feet.

Where on earth shall I go now?

It’s could outside, its beginning to snow.

BOY: why didn’t you say so from the very start.

I’m a little boy, but I’ve got a big heart.

I’ve also got a toy box that’s now fuller than ever

You’re welcome to live there, It’s always good weather.

NARRATOR: So the monster that used to live under the bed lives in the toy box now instead.

And the little boy’s room is always clean,

but… occasionally an old peanut butter sandwich can be seen… but not for very long…( blue emerges, eating a sandwich.)

THE END

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The Hike

by Carolyn Frank 

Narrator: Nestled in a secluded valley of the Himalayan Mountains, lay a quaint little town. This town was full of traditions. Their most valued tradition was—of all things—a hike.

OLD MAN: This is not just any hike. This one signifies the growing up of a child; the passing from childhood to young manhood or young womanhood. I did it, my father did it, as well as his father and his father’s father.

NARRATOR: Every child was to begin this hike on their 12^th birthday.

OLD MAN: This is not an easy task for any child. That is why the parents, teachers, and most everyone of the town, do all they can to help the children prepare for this big hike. (Old man exits).

NARRATOR: (girls on  stage) This story is about two little girls that lived in this town. These two girls were the same age. In fact, their birthdays were on the same day. The past eight years of their lives they had become best friends. In many ways they were alike, but in many ways they were very different.

SUSY: Gee, now that we are eight we can start taking classes!

AMY: What on earth are you talking about?

SUSY: The HIKE preparation classes, silly.

AMY: Oh yeah—I forgot.  Ahhh—I’ve got so many other things to do, I wasn’t planning on taking them. Besides, they sound kind of boring.

SUSY: Other things! What other things could possibly be more important than preparing yourself for THE HIKE?

AMY: Well, you know I’m involved in dance, soccer, and underwater basket-weaving. They are all costing my parents lots of money. So of course they are more important than those free HIKE classes. Anyways, I can learn all the stuff on my own or at school. I don’t need any extra help.

SUSY: Boy, you must be smarter than I am. You’ve probably already memorized all thirteen principles of hiking—I’ve only memorized #1 so far.

AMY: Are you kidding. I haven’t even thought about them. I’ve got plenty of time to learn them—I don’t take the HIKE for FOUR MORE YEARS!

SUSY: What do you plan on doing? Cram the night before the HIKE?

AMY: Sounds like a plan to me.

SUSY: Well, not to me! I have a better plan.

NARRATOR: And Susy did. She had a real plan. It was written down and involved numerous goals that would help her accomplish her plan.

SUSY: (Writing in a notebook) There! I’ve passed off another goal. This sure feels good! To set a goal, then accomplish it! It’s almost as exciting as the HIKE itself.

AMY: (walks onto stage) What’s up?

SUSY: I’m just working on my goals.

AMY: Goals? You’re not dressed to play soccer. And there’s certainly not enough room in here to play. You’re teasing me. What are you really doing?

SUSY: Get your mind off soccer for once Amy. I’m talking about goals I have set—and I’m working on—to help me to prepare for THE HIKE!

AMY: Oh, the HIKE. I keep forgetting about that.

SUSY: You mean you haven’t done any preparing since the last time we talked about it?

AMY: (shakes her head no)

SUSY: Have you memorized any of the 13 principles of hiking yet?

AMY: (shakes her head no) But I have plenty of time off that! It’s still several months away.

SUSY: Still planning on cramming?

AMY: (shakes her head yes)

SUSY: There are some things you can’t cram for AMY—even if cramming worked—like good strong muscles, (pause) and endurance.

AMY: You mean you have to have those to go on the HIKE?

SUSY: Where have you been Amy? It certainly hasn’t been at the HIKE preparation classes.

AMY: (Shakes her head no) Susy, are you actually developing good muscles and endurance through these classes?

SUSY: (nods her head yes)

AMY: But how can that be possible Susy? You are so un-athletic! I can’t believe it.

SUSY: I set goals.

AMY: Oh yea, goals—that’s what got us on this subject.

SUSY: Remember when we used to go swimming. I could never make it across the pool. (Amy nods yes) Well, I knew I might need to swim across something on the HIKE so I figured I needed to become better at swimming.

AMY: Ahhh!  You mean we might need to swim on this hike! Oh dear.

SUSY:I didn’t worry about swimming across the pool all at once. I made a goal to swim half-way across for my first month of the class. Then I worked every day until I could do that. Then I made a goal that by the end of the next month, I would swim all the way across the pool. I worked every day until I could do that. I didn’t even take the whole month to meet my goal that time. That was exciting!

AMY: So now you can swim across the whole pool?

SUSY: Yes, and back and forth 2 more times without stopping.

AMY: Wow!

SUSY: That is because I set a goal, and worked on it a little every day until I could do it. The important thing is to take it one day at a time. Take one step at a time, instead of looking at the big picture and then getting scared and giving up. That’s what goals can do for you.

AMY: I’d better go now. I think I’d better go home and start cramming. (Amy exits, then Susy)

NARRATOR: Several months passed and the big day came for these two girls. For Susy, it was a wonderful adventure and she finished in great time. For Amy, it was an exhausting catastrophe. She was very unprepared and could not even finish. She was very lucky, however, for she was given an opportunity to try again, after she had taken time to prepare herself properly. After learning her lesson,  and hours and weeks of hard work, she too was able to experience the success that Susy had experienced.

THE END

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JOEY’S IMAGINATION

by Carolyn Frank

Theme: Imagination

(Mom is on stage, Joey enters all excited.)

JOEY: Mom, Mom! I just saw the neatest skateboard down at Mr. McFadden’s store. Can I have it, please, please, please?

MOM: We just had Christmas, and your birthday is not for six months.

JOEY: I don’t care; can I have it any way?

MOM: Well, I think the only fair way for you to get it at this time is to earn the money and buy it yourself.

JOEY: How can I do that? I don’t have a job.

MOM: I need a lot of help around the house. You can work for me and I’ll pay you.

JOEY: Oh Mom! I hate to work around the house. It’s so boring. Besides, none of my friends do that.

MOM: Jennifer across the street is always working and helping her mother. Her mother has even told me that Jennifer likes to do work.

JOEY: Likes to do work?! That’s crazy.

MOM: Why don’t you go talk to her? Maybe she can tell you her secret.

JOEY: I guess it’s worth a try. I want that skateboard really bad.

(Mom exits one side of the stage and Joey the other. Jennifer appears on stage, then Joey reenters kind of sad.)

JENNIFER: Hi Joey, what’s wrong?

JOEY: Well, you see, I saw this great skateboard down at Mc Fadden’s store and I want it really bad. But my mom just won’t give it to me. She says I need to work for it.

JENNIFER: So, what’s wrong with that?

JOEY: I hate work. It’s no fun.

JENNIFER: Oh, but it can be fun.

JOEY: You’re kidding! How?

JENNIFER: I like to make a game out of it. I imagine that I’m doing something else and it makes it fun. For example, when my mom asks me to sweep the kitchen floor, I pretend I’m Cinderella and I’ve got to  hurry and sweep the floor so I can go to the ball. It’s fun! Use your imagination.

JOEY: I suppose I could give it a try. (pause) Thanks for the idea. Talk to you later—I’m going to go and try to earn a skateboard. ( Puppets exit opposite sides of the stage. Mom appears on stage and Joey reenters.)

JOEY: Mom. I’ve decided I’d like to try and work for you to earn my skateboard.

MOM: Great! You can start by mowing the lawn. Your dad is busy today and that would really help him out. (Mom exits.)

JOEY: (in disgust) Mow the lawn! It isn’t going to be easy to make this fun.  I hate to mow the lawn. Now what did Jennifer say to do?  (He starts to exit) Use my imagination. Now what could I imagine is fun about mowing the lawn? (Joey reenters as a dinosaur) I know! I could pretend I’m a dinosaur and the lawn mower is my mouth. Yummm. I just love grass.

NARRATOR: And so Joey mowed the whole yard; better than it had ever been done before. (Dinosaur exits, mom reappears on stage then Joey reenters.)

MOM: I thought I asked you to mow the lawn?

JOEY: I did it already!

MOM: Are you kidding? You usually take much longer to mow the lawn.

JOEY: My imagination helped me do it faster. In fact it was almost fun. (mom looks puzzled) What can I do next to earn some more money?

MOM: Could you pull some carrots from the garden for dinner?

JOEY: Sure Mom! (Puppets begin to exit opposite sides of the stage) How could I make picking vegetables fun? I know, (Joey reenters as a bunny.) I can pretend I’m Peter Rabbit, and I’ve got to pick these carrots before Mr. McGregor finds me.  (Rabbit exits and Mom and Joey reenters.)

JOEY: Here are your carrots Mom.

MOM: Thank you. Would you mind picking some cherries for me also? I want to make a pie for dessert.

JOEY: Not at all Mom. (The puppets begin to exit) I can’t be Peter Rabbit again. Rabbits can’t climb trees.  (He reenters as George Washington) I’ll pretend I’m young George Washington, and instead of chopping the cherry tree down, I’m going to pick the cherries.

NARRATOR: So Joey picked and picked until he had picked all of the cherries on the tree.  (George Washington exits, Mom and Joey reenter.)

JOEY: Mom, I picked all of the cherries and put them in the fridge.

MOM: Joey that’s great. I can’t believe how hard you are working.

JOEY: What else can I do?

MOM: Well, that room of yours has been pretty hard to get into lately. I think it’s time you give it a good cleaning.

JOEY: Clean my room! (Mom and Joey start to exit) I hate to clean my room. How can I make that fun? I know! (Joey reappears as an elf) I’ll pretend I’m one of Santa’s elves and my room is his workshop, and I’ve got to organize all the toys so Santa can deliver them.

NARRATOR: So Joey worked hard and cleaned his room—better than ever before. (Elf exits. Mom and Joey reenter.)

JOEY: My room is all cleaned Mom.

MOM: Wow Joey! I’ve never seen you work like you have today. I’m so proud of you. You must really want that skateboard.

JOEY: Oh, I do mom!

MOM: Tell you what, I think you have just about earned your skateboard. You do me one more favor and tomorrow I’ll take you down to Mr. McFadden’s store and you can buy that skateboard.

JOEY: Wow, what’s the favor?

MOM: I want you to go to bed early tonight—without fussing, Okay?

JOEY: To bed early?! I hate to go to bed early.

MOM: I know, but if you want that skateboard…

JOEY: Okay, it’s a deal. (mom exits, then Joey starts to exit) Maybe I can use my imagination to make going to bed early fun too. ( Joey reenters as a monster) I know! I’ll pretend I’m a monster, and my blankets area dark cave. (Monster starts to yawn then lays his head down and goes to sleep.)

 THE END

Variations:

Making work fun: Use the exact same script; just emphasize this in a teaching moment after the play.

The value of work: Put less emphasis on Joey using his imagination, and place more emphasis on the fact that he is working to buy the skateboard himself rather than his mother just giving it to him.

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The Lion That Lost His Roar

by Carolyn Frank

 LION: (On stage and sad) Clarence the lion isn’t a lion anymore!

Because Clarence the Lion can no longer roar.

What once was a mighty roar at its peak,

Is now just a humble little squeak (squeak / roar)

Oh dear, What shall I do?

Oh dear, I am so Blue!

MONKEY: (enters) Hey! Clarence, you look down to me and the guys,

Is there something wrong with your eyes.

LION: Yes, there is something wrong, but not with my eyes.

(squeak/roar)

MONKEY: Now that’s a surprise!

LION: My roar…is no more.

What is in store, for me anymore.

As king of the jungle, I can’t take the floor.

Maybe I’ll get a job at a store…

Opening the door, or mopping the floor. I could be poor!

MONKEY: Don’t be so sad. It can’t be that bad.

We’ll find something to make you glad,

And bring back the roar you once had.

LION: But how?!... Can you do it now?!!

MONKEY: Wow! / Sigh…(Perks up with an idea)

Its worth a try!

LION: What? Tell me please.

MONKEY: You’ve got to sneeze.

LION: Sneeze?

MONKEY: Yes. Sneeze, if you please,

From your head to your knees, make a breeze!

It might loosen that throat, so you won’t sound like a goat.

LION: Sneeze, I can’t do ‘cause I don’t need to!

MONKEY: I can fix that.

I’ll be back in nothing flat. (exits, and returns with a feather).

(He tickles the Lions nose. Lion laughs but it doesn’t work.)

LION: Stop!! I plead!

MONKEY: You’re right. Its pepper you need.

(exits, enters with pepper, sprinkles it on Lions nose).

No go? Oh, oh… I know!! (exits enters with perfume).

cheap perfume…enough to fill this room. (Sprays perfume, they all start coughing and choking)

LION: just because I can’t roar, doesn’t meant I don’t want to live anymore.

I can’t breathe, where’s the door!

(They run off stage then re-emerge)

LION: I don’t care if I can’t roar, I don’t want to do this anymore.

I’m hungry and tired… You’re fired.

MONKEY: I was never hired.

LION: Come on, how about a treat (monkey nods yes)

Where would you like to go to eat?

MONKEY: The McDonalds down the street.

(they exit, then enter licking lips and fingers etc).

MONKEY: Thanks for lunch… Thanks a bunch.

Wish I could have helped you more with your roar.

LION: I don’t care anymore about my roar.

So it’s a squeak, it doesn’t meant I’m weak.

MONKEY: You’re right! You’ve still got your fight.

Just because your roar ain’t right

You can still protect the jungle at night

With all of your might.

LION: You’re right! ROAR!My roar is back! It does not lack.

MONKEY: It’s no surprise. You had a burger and friesEveryone knows… to get your squeak to cease,You apply a little grease.

It doesn’t take a lot, we just forgot.

THE END

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THE MONSTERS AND THE WITCHES BREW
Written by Susan Webb

THEME: Good nutrition, eating right.

WITCH LIZA: Monsters! Oh Monsters!

MONSTER I: Yes?

MONSTER II: I’m  here!

MONSTER III: What is it?

WITCH LIZA: It’s time for the annual witch’s brew contest.

MONSTERS: (In unison) Hurray!

WITCH LIZA: Now I want you guys to follow my recipe perfectly. I won’t be able to help, because I’ve got to get my hair done and my nails sharpened. (The monsters look at the cook book.) Oh and I must not forget to have my broom tuned up. It’s all up to you. I know we will win first prize, but you must follow the recipe very carefully.

MONSTER I: This recipe has junk food in it!

WITCH LIZA: That’s right, isn’t it great! There is the basic stuff, eye of newt, toenail of toad, eyelash of dragon. I added the candy bars plus those taco chips to give it an extra kick.

MONSTER II: We don’t want to make this kind of witch’s brew.

WITCH LIZA: (Shocked) What?

MONSTER III: We want a nutritious witch’s brew.

MONSTER II: With carrots and peas.

MONSTER I: Potatoes!

MONSTER III: And Meat!

WITCH LIZA: Yuck! That’s awful!

MONSTER I: You have never tried nutritious food. How do you know you won’t like it?

WITCH LIZA: I know because it’s good for you, that’s why.

MONSTER II:  You would be happier if you ate better.

WITCH LIZA: I am happy and healthy! I don’t need to eat right.

MONSTERIII: You’re not healthy! Your skin is a pale green instead of the glowing green it should be.

MONSTER I: Your nails break off easily.

MONSTER II: You can’t stay out at night like you used to. You get too tired to go out hunting.

WITCH LIZA: (angry) You monsters fix that brew the way I want or I’ll turn you all into little puppies! (The monsters shiver) I’m going to get my hair done now. You get that brew made right! (She leaves)

MONSTER II: You heard her. We’ve got to make that witch’s brew right.

MONSTER I: I’ll bring the potatoes! ( He leaves)

MONSTER III: I’ll bring the carrots and peas! ( He leaves)

MONSTER II: I’ll bring an onion and some other spices, also some nice lean meat. (He leaves. Put up a sign that says later. Also put a blue ribbon on the top. The witch reappears.)

WITCH LIZA: Monsters! Oh monsters!

MONSTER I: Yes!

MONSTER II:  I’m here!

MONSTER III: What is it?

WITCH LIZA: I want you to know how proud I am of you. The witch’s brew was perfect, it tasted wonderful, and we won first prize, I knew we’d win with the recipe of mine. (The monsters giggle.)  What is going on here?

MONSTER I: We fooled you!

MONSTER II: We didn’t follow your recipe!

MONSTER III: We made a nutritious witch’s brew.

WITCH LIZA: (Angry) I’m shocked! How could you! I told you if you did not obey I would turn you into puppies. (The monsters shake.) However, I must admit, you were right. The nutritious witch’s brew was the best.

MONSTERS: (In unison) Hurray!

WITCH LIZA: To celebrate I’m going to take you all for a ride on my broom.

MONSTERS: (In unison) Hurray!

WITCH LIZA: (As they leave) Ya know? I ate four bowls of that witch’s brew. I feel wonderful, full of energy and happy.

MONSTER I: REALLY?

MONSTER II: I ate several bowls my self.

MONSTER III: I ate six.

WITCH, MONSTER I & II: Six!!! (They laugh as they leave.)

THE END

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MURKY LAKE

Written By Carolyn Frank 

THEME: Obedience

NARRATOR: (Peter is on stage) Peter is a boy who thinks that his parents make rules, just to pick on him and make him miserable. He doesn’t realize that his parents make rules because they love him. They want to protect him and help him to grow up to be responsible.

PETER: I’m tired of this, I’ve been sitting here alone in my room for over an  hour. It seems like I’m always doing this, or something else just as miserable. My parents LOVE to punish me! ( Mom enters.)

MOM: I think you have been in here long enough to learn your lesson.

PETER: What lesson? You were punishing me.

MOM: Exactly, I punish you so you will have time to think about how you have broken a rule, so next time you’ll think twice before you do it again.

PETER: You make too many rules, and you punish me just for fun. Your rules are silly.

MOM: That’s not true. I love you and want to protect you, and I want to teach you to be wise.

PETER: That’s silly! For example, why don’t you ever let me go down to murky Lake. It’s so pretty and looks so fun. You just want to be mean, because you can never give me a good reason why I can’t go.

MOM: I just don’t feel good about that place.

PETER:  That’s not good enough.  You just don’t want me to have fun. You just want to make rules for the sake of making rules.

MOM: I’ll tell you what, tomorrow we’ll make a “no rule” day. You don’t have to obey any rules. But I’ll bet by the end of the day you will realize how important our rules are. (Puppets exit.)

NEXT DAY

(Peter enters.)

PETER: It’s Saturday! What am I going to do today? Hey, wait a minute! Didn’t Mom say today was going to be a “no rule” day? Great! I know exactly what I want to do now. I’m going to go down to Murky Lake. (Peter exits one side of the stage and reenters on the other side)  Gee… This is cool. I don’t see why Mom didn’t want me to come down here.  ( Monster sneaks up on Peter and grabs him.)

MONSTER: Gotcha!

PETER: (Screams) What are you going to do with me?

MONSTER: Eat you of course. Little boys are my favorite treat.

MOTHER MONSTER: (From off stage) Junior, dinner is ready. Hurry home right now!

MONSTER:  You are lucky this time. I don’t have time to eat you right now. Besides my mommy doesn’t like me to eat treats before meals and I always obey my mommy. (Monster hurries off.)

PETER: I had better hurry and get out of here. Boy, I’m lucky that monster obeys his mother. Maybe I should obey my mother too. She really does know what is best. (Peter exits.)

THE END

VARIATIONS:

Trust—Deemphasize obeying the rules and put more emphasis on the fact that mom knows best. She has more experience and Peter should trust her judgment.

Rules—Emphasize that rules are made for a purpose. They are to help Peter, and they should be followed. We need rules.

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SMILES

Written By Carolyn Frank

THEME: Smiling

Setting: Monster is on stage and is acting quite grumpy with the audience.

MONSTER: (to the audience) How are you? (Hopefully the audience will respond positively.)  Well, I’m terrible and I think everyone else should feel that way too! (Little girl comes onto stage.)

GIRL: Hello.

MONSTER: (Surprised that someone would take an interest in talking to him.) What are you talking to me for?

GIRL: Because I like you.

MONSTER: Oh bologna! Nobody likes me.

GIRL: I do.

MONSTER: No. You don’t.

GIRL: Yes I do.

MONSTER: No you don’t.

GIRL: Yes I do. (She leans over and kisses the monster on the cheek and the monster blushes—as best as a puppet can.)

MONSTER: What do you want to do a dumb thing like that for? I’m so ugly.  I’ve got a big red nose, big bushy eyebrows, and a messy blue fur that even Loving Clairol can’t do anything with!

GIRL:  I think you’re beautiful on the inside.

MONSTER: Oh really! You had better check, just in case.  (Monster opens his mouth and girl looks inside.)

GIRL: Just as I thought. You are a good person on the inside.

MONSTER: I’m so glad! I always thought I was a good monster on the inside, but everyone else thought I looked mean and ugly. So I started to act that way.  (He starts to act sad again.)

GIRL: What’s the matter now?

MONSTER: Well, you know that I’m good on the inside, and I know that I’m good on the inside, but how is everyone else out there going to know. I can’t walk around all day with my mouth open. (Monster opens his mouth for awhile and says “ahh.”) I get bugs in my teeth. Yuck!

GIRL: Why don’t you try smiling?

MONSTER: Smiling? What’s that?

GIRL: (puzzled) You don’t know what a smile is? (Monster shakes his head no.)  Well, do you know what a frown is?

MONSTER: Oh yes! I can do that really well. (Monster pulls a mean face and growls.)

GIRL: You’re right, that is a good frown. Now all that you have to do is turn that frown upside down, and then you’ll have a smile.

MONSTER: That sounds easy enough. (Monster frowns, then he turns his whole head upside down.)

GIRL: Oh no, no, no! That’s not quite what I meant. I’ve got an idea! But I’m going to need your help.  (She is referring to the audience.)  Everyone smile really big and help me sing this song if you know it. (The girl sings the song “Smiles.”) The monster starts to frown and smile along with the words of the song, and is smiling big by the end of the song. (A smile is made by opening the mouth of the puppet a little bit larger than when just speaking.)

MONSTER: Oh, I like smiling! I feel prettier already. Now everyone will know that I’m beautiful both inside and out, (referring to the audience.) Thank you so much for your wonderful smiles. I can tell that you are beautiful on the inside too.

THE END

VARIATIONS:

Looking for the good in people: Put less emphasis on getting the monster to smile, and emphasize more the fact that it doesn’t matter what a person may look like on the outside (for example the monster’s ugly features,) but it’s what a person feels and thinks inside that we should look at. Most important; all people have some good, and we should look for that, and not dwell on the bad.

Befriending others: Put less emphasis on getting the monster to smile. Dwell on the idea that the new kid in town (in this case–the monster) sometimes acts mean or stuck up because he is lonely. We (in this case—the girl) should make the first step is saying hello and getting to know them. If we do this, we’ll discover they aren’t so mean and stuck up after all. Perhaps in this story you could leave the song out.

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Too Much of a Good Thing

Written by Carolyn Frank

THEME: Appreciating special days, Moderation

SETTING: balloons, favors, etc., are scattered around giving the impression that a birthday party has just finished. Mom and Susie are on stage.

SUSIE: Oh Mom, that was the best birthday I’ve ever had!

MOM: I’m glad you liked it.

SUSIE: Oh I did! I loved everything I got, especially my new puppy you and Dad gave me. I loved having all of my friends over and playing birthday games. And I just love birthday cake with pink frosting and chocolate chip ice cream. It’s my favorite, I could eat it everyday! I wish it could be my birthday everyday!

MOM: If it was your birthday everyday it would no longer be a special day. I think you would soon grow tired of presents and pink cake.
SUSIE: Oh no I wouldn’t . I would love it! I wish it could happen.

MOM: You had better be careful what you wish for. Anyway, that’s enough nonsense for now. Clean up this mess before you go to bed.

SUSIE: Sure Mom.

(Mom exits and Susie starts to clean up, then she walks over to a window an  gazes for a little while. Then she gasps and acts excited at the sight of a falling star.)

AHHH!  A falling star! My best friend, Polly Probert told me that if you see a falling start and make a wish, your wish will come true. Do you think maybe…?   Naaa…  Ah, what do I have to lose. I wish, I wish it could be my birthday everyday. (She finishes cleaning). Good enough! Time for bed. (Susie exits.)

NEXT MORNING

(Susie comes in yawning. Mom is already on stage, cooking.)

SUSIE: What’s for breakfast Mom?

MOM: Cheerios.

SUSIE: What! No bacon and eggs?

MOM: No time this morning; I’ve got to finish your birthday cake so I can run down to the store to buy you a present before your party. I can’t believe I’m so unprepared for your birthday. It sneaked up on me so fast. It seems like just yesterday was your birthday.

SUSIE: (To herself) Could this really be happening? I must have received my wish, it’s my birthday again! (Susie and Mom exit separately.)

NARRATOR: Later that day was Susie’s birthday party.

(Susie is on stage. Some kids come on stage bringing presents.)

KID I: (hands Susie a present) I hope you like it, it’s not much, but for some reason my piggy bank was almost empty. It seems like only yesterday I had to raid it for another birthday party.

KID II: Oh boy! Party games, let’s get started!

MOM: (walks on with a dog) Susie, here’s the puppy you have always wanted. Dad and I decided to get it for you for your birthday.

SUSIE: Another one! (Mom exits, the kids play for a while then they leave Susie in a mess)

MOM: (Mom enters.) Susie, make sure you clean this mess up before you go to bed. (Mom exits)

SUSIE : Gee, this was great having another birthday. This is the neatest wish. Just think! It’s going to be my birthday again tomorrow! (She cleans up and leaves yawning, ready for bed.)

NARRATOR: After about a week Susie’s thinking began to change.

SUSIE: (enters stage yawning) What’s for breakfast Mom?

MOM: Cheerios

SUSIE: Again?

MOM: I’ve got to make your birthday cake.

SUSIE: I’m getting tired of birthday cake. Can’t we have something different like chocolate pudding?

MOM: That’s not the kind of thing to have for a little girl’s birthday. It must be birthday cake with pink frosting!

SUSIE: Ohhh (Susie and Mom exits.)

NARRATOR: Later that day was Susie’s birthday party again. (Kids enter on stage. They are not very excited, and are a bit resentful.)

KID I: (Resentfully hands Susie a present,) I had to hock my piggy bank to buy this present. I hope you like it.

KID II: Do we have to play birthday party games? I’m sick of them. 

MOM: (Enters with a dog) Susie, here’s the puppy you always wanted. Dad and I decided to get it for you for your birthday. I hope you appreciate it. We had to look all over own to find it. For some reason there seems to be a shortage of puppies in town. Someone must be buying them all up.

SUSIE: Another puppy! What am I going to do with him? I’ve already spent all of my allowance on dog food, and the garage won’t fit any more puppies.

NARRATOR: The kids play unenthusiastically for a while then went home, leaving Susie in a mess.

KIDS: (In monotone ) Good-by Susie, Happy birthday. (kids exit)

MOM: (Enters) Make sure you clean up this mess before you go to bed. (Mom exits)

SUSIE: I’m tired of cleaning up after parties. (pause) I’m tired of birthday cake with pink frosting. I’m tired of chocolate chip ice cream. I’m tired of party games. I’m tired of cheerios for breakfast. I’m tired of Mom being so busy preparing for birthday parties and not having time to read me stories or taking me shopping. And I don’t want any more dogs! (pause) I’m tired of my birthday. I wish it wasn’t my birthday any more. I wish it was just once a year. (Susie looks out the window and sees another falling star.)

Another falling star! Oh, I wish I had never wished for my birthday to be every day. Mom was right. My birthday is no longer special. Too much of a good thing isn’t good. (Susie exits to go to bed.)

NEXT DAY

SUSIE: (Enters yawning, Mom is cooking) What are you cooking Mom? Please don’t say cake with pink frosting.

MOM: Of course not! Why would I make that for breakfast? I’m making bacon and eggs.

SUSIE : Sounds great!

(Optional)

NARRATOR: (At this time you may wish to expound on the lesson learned by Susie.)

 THE END

VARIATIONS:

Christmas or any other holiday: Just replace birthday terms with similar things pertaining to the holiday you desire.

Moderation: Moderation is necessary in all things. Too much of a good thing is not good. This could be illustrated in almost any instance you care to choose or need to illustrate. Some examples include; eating, playing, studying, sleeping, working, kidding, etc. Just replace the birthday terms with similar things pertaining to the subject you choose.

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