Dona Herweck Rice 
Lion and Mouse 

Students will act out the story of a mighty lion and tiny mouse who help each other. The mouse gets tangled in the lion’s mane and the lion angrily threatens to kill the mouse. The mouse pleads for his life, telling the lion that he may be able to help him later, so the lion frees him. Later, the lion is caught in a hunter’s net and the mouse helps him escape. This Reader’s Theater script features roles written to match multiple reading levels. Teachers can assign specific roles to their readers based on each student’s current reading level, allowing all students to get involved in the same activity and feel successful! Students will gain confidence in their reading fluency through performance, regardless of their current reading ability. While performing with others, students will practice performance, interacting cooperatively, reading aloud, and using expressive voices and gestures to better tell the story. These drama scripts for students are a great way to teach literacy and engage all learners!