Causes of the Civil War

Students will act out the story of Abolitionist John Brown as he raises a small army of men in the hopes of starting a slave revolt. Brown sends his men to Harper's Ferry to take over the United States arsenal, but the president sends the military to put down the uprising, ultimately capturing Brown and convicting him of treason. 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!