The First

Thanksgiving
Readers Theater
Characters:
Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Narrator 3
Narrator 4
Narrator 5
Narrator 6
Squanto
Englishman Pilgrim1
Englishman Pilgrim2
The First Thanksgiving
Adapted by Chrissy Beltran
Chrissy Beltran: 2012: http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com

Teacher Tips Page

This script is an adaptation of the book The First
Thanksgiving.
Students can be paired to read the parts or the class may
be divided into two groups. There are nine parts.
Each student needs a copy of the script. These can also be
put on file folders and laminated to make a class set for
reuse.
Assign parts: this could be done based on ability; longer
parts to more able readers, or randomly, depending on
your group of students.
It is helpful for students to highlight their lines.
Model reading with fluency: phrasing, expression,
emotion.
Students should practice reading the script all the way
through several times to practice reading with the
appropriate voice.
Recording the scripts can be useful for students to
evaluate their performance. I have recorded the readings
and had students listen to them as a class. They write
down things they heard people do well and things that
could be improved for the next time.

Chrissy Beltran: 2012: http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com

Name: ___________________
The First Thanksgiving
Adapted to a Readers Theatre Script
Parts: Narrator 1, Narrator 2, Narrator 3, Narrator 4, Narrator 5,
Narrator 6, Squanto, Englishman/Pilgrim 1, Englishman/Pilgrim 2
Narrator 1: This is a tale about two very different perspectives.
Narrator 2: On one side is Squanto, a Native American who was stolen from
his home by Englishmen.
Narrator 3: On the other side are the Pilgrims, who escaped from King
James I so they would be able to believe in their own religion.
Narrator 4: These two different sides came together once, in a time so long
ago that only the rocks remember.
Narrator 5: Our story begins with Plymouth Rock, a huge boulder surrounded
by a forest.
Narrator 6: A tribe lived there; called Wampanoag, the People of the Dawn.
Squanto: We planted corn, beans, squash, and pumpkins. We hunted deer and
turkey and fished the sea and the freshwater streams. Every year we gave
thanks for these gifts to Mother Earth at the Green Corn Dance, which
lasted many days.
Narrator 3: In the early 1600s, Englishmen visited their shores. These men
sailed in ships with butterfly wings, killed with guns, and kidnapped
Wampanoag men for slaves.
Native American 1: We became afraid of the white men.
Englishman: One spring morning, we Englishmen sailed into the cove and
tricked seventeen of the Wampanoag men into our ship. Then we sailed away.
Squanto: I am Squanto. I was trapped on the ship and taken to New England.
Englishman: We sold the men into slavery. Squanto was sold to an Englishman
like me.
Squanto: After many years of slavery, in 1619, I was able to return home to
my village. But my return was not jubilant. My village was deserted. All of my
people were dead from a European plague.
Narrator 1: Squanto was full of grief. He finally joined another tribe nearby.

Chrissy Beltran: 2012: http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com

Narrator 2: Back in England, King James I demanded that everyone believe

in the same religion, or leave England.
Narrator 3: A group of people called the Puritans refused to obey.
Pilgrim 1: We believed we had the right to worship whomever we believe in.
We called ourselves Pilgrims.
Pilgrim 2: We fled to the New World, America, which we believed to be full
of savages.
Narrator 4: The Mayflower was the only ship that would be able to cross the
ocean.
Narrator 5: On September 6, 1620, one hundred two men, women, and
children and their furniture, hens, pigs, dogs, and nine cats crowded aboard
that small ship.
Pilgrim 1: We were crowded below the deck, and we suffered terrible
seasickness.
Pilgrim 2: On December 11, 1620, the Pilgrims in the Mayflower landed at
Plymouth Rock.
Narrator 6: The Pilgrims finally had a home.
Narrator 1: But when winter stuck violently, the Pilgrims had to stop building
their houses and live on the Mayflower.
Pilgrim 1: We huddled in blankets and layers and layers of clothes.
Pilgrim 2:We only had five kernels of Indian corn to eat a day.
Narrator 2: Eight pilgrims died in January,
Narrator 3: seventeen in February,
Narrator 4: and thirteen in March.
Narrator 5: When spring arrived, only fifty-seven Pilgrims and half the crew
had survived. Seventeen were children.
Pilgrim 1: There were few of us left, but we worked hard to survive.
Pilgrim 2: We planted peas, wheat, and barley. We also scouted for Indians.
Narrator 6: But the Pilgrims did not meet any savages.
Pilgrim 1: Then, one day, when the birds were trilling and the leaves were
swelling, we were shocked to see a tall, handsome Indian come striding into
Plymouth!
Pilgrim 2: At first, we were scared, but then, he raised his hand and said,
Welcome, Englishmen. He spoke English!
Pilgrim 1: He was friendly and dignified.

Chrissy Beltran: 2012: http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com

Narrator 1: The next week, the Indian returned with Squanto and the leader
of the tribe..
Narrator 2: Squanto interpreted while the tribe leader and the Pilgrims
created a peace treaty.
Squanto: Then I decided to stay at Plymouth. I could see that the Pilgrims
did not know how to survive in the New World. They could barely catch
enough fish for their colony, so I taught them how to fish with nets, and I
took them to waters where cod and salmon were abundant.
Pilgrim 2: Then, in late May, when the oak leaves were as big as his thumb,
Squanto taught us to plant beans, corn, pumpkin, and squash, just like the
Wampanoag tribe had done.
Pilgrim 1: Then he showed us the leaf nests of the squirrels, the hideouts of
skunks and raccoons, and the turkey that dwelled in the open forests.
Narrator 3: Squanto showed the Pilgrims how to survive in the New World.
Narrator 4: He gave them the tools they needed to live in this different
land.
Narrator 5: Because of Squantos help, the harvest of 1621 was bounteous
beyond the most hope-filled dreams of the Pilgrims.
Narrator 6: Corn, beans, pumpkins, wheat, and barley spilled from baskets.
Narrator 1: Larders were stacked with dried venison, salmon, herring, cod,
and duck.
Narrator 2: Racks of wild berries lay during in the sun.
Narrator 3: The chickens laid eggs abundantly and the cats grew fat on field
mice.
Pilgrims: It was time to celebrate! The terrible winter was done. The
suffering was past.
Narrator 4: The new governor, William Bradford, asked Squanto to invite a
few of his friends to a feast.
Narrator 5: Bradford sent out men to shoot turkeys and ducks.
Narrator 6: The women baked bread.
Narrator 1: Boards were set on barrels, covered with cloth, and placed in the
middle of the only street in Plymouth.
Narrator 2: Squantos friends arrived on the day of the feast with five deer
and many turkeys. Instead of a few friends,
Narrator 3: he brought ninety!

Chrissy Beltran: 2012: http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com

Pilgrims: At first we were shocked! Then, we went right back to work. We

baked more bread, cooked more vegetables, and stuffed more turkeys!
Squanto: For three days, the Pilgrims and the Indians feasted, played games,
and shot guns and arrows.
Pilgrims: It was pure celebration!
Pilgrims & Squanto: We didnt know what a tradition we had begun!
Pilgrims: We called our celebration a Harvest Feast.
Squanto: We called it a Green Corn Dance.
Narrator 4: Now it is called, The First Thanksgiving!
Narrator 5: In the years that followed, President George Washington
decided to have the first national Thanksgiving day,
Narrator 6: and President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in
November as a holiday of thanksgiving and praise.
Narrator 1: Today, it is still a harvest festival and Green Corn Dance, and it
is more than that.
Narrator 2: Thanksgiving is a special day, on which we take time to
appreciate what we have, whether that is
Narrator 3: family
Narrator 4: friends
Narrator 5: pets
Narrator 6: education
Pilgrims & Squanto: opportunity
Narrator 1: or food to eat.
All: We are thankful!

Chrissy Beltran: 2012: http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com

Acknowledgements
Thank you for downloading The First
Thanksgiving: Readers Theater Adaptation! I
hope this document helps you in your classroom.
For more documents and teaching ideas, visit my
blog at http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com,
my TPT store: Chrissy Beltran, or email me at
cbeltranphes@yahoo.com.
Follow my store for updates on free and
affordable teaching products, such as Fairy
Tale Math: Readers Theater Pack!
Happy Teaching!
Fonts by Kevin & Amanda
Clipart by Melonheadz

Chrissy Beltran: 2012: http://buzzingwithmsb.blogspot.com