THIS___ is the story
of NORMA___ , a girl who wanted very much to be a GENIUS___. But no matter how hard she tried, it just didn't
work out. You see NORMA___ had a problem. She could not tell RIGHT___ from LEFT___. At school, the teacher
would say, "When you know the answer, raise your RIGHT __ hand." By the time NORMA___ figured which hand was
which, it was too late! At home, it was the same thing. It was, "NORMA___, who had her LEFT ___ shoe on the
RIGHT___ foot.
Things weren't any better outside. In soccer, they'd send her in at LEFT___ end and she
would end up being RIGHT___. In baseball, they'd yell "NORMA___, move to your LEFT___, she'd move to
the RIGHT___.
Poor NORMA___. No matter what she did, it wasn't RIGHT___ or LEFT___. But
NORMA___ was determined! Finally, she figured out what to do. She called it THIS___ and "THAT___". THIS___
was for RIGHT___ and "THAT___" was for LEFT___. Somehow it all seemed easier. And in no time, she had
it down pat. One day, while NORMA___ was home alone, a burglar forced his way in. NORMA___ was frightened! The
burglar asked where her mother's jewels and furs were. NORMA___ said, "In the closet". But when the burger said, "Which
was is THAT___?" NORMA___, of course, answered "LEFT___". The burglar followed these instructions and
found himself in the kitchen. Being a smart burglar, he said "'THIS___ isn't RIGHT___". And NORMA___
said, "Oh, yes it is, but you asked for THAT___."
The burglar became angry and said: "Now listen. I asked where
the closet is. Do you understand THAT___? NORMA___ answered, "Oh yes, THAT___ is LEFT ___. The
burglar said, " THIS___ is enough!" And NORMA___ said, Oh no. THIS___ is RIGHT___." Exasperated,
the burglar said "'Oh, forget it! Just tell me where the closet is!" And NORMA___ said, "Turn THIS___. But naturally
the burglar misunderstood and turned the knob on the door in front of him, and he plunged headlong down the basement stairs.
Just then, NORMA___'s parents came home, and when she told them what had happened, her father said the words
he'd been waiting so very, very long to hear, "NORMA___ you're a GENIUS___!
There once was a family a long
time ago that went on vacation. A mother, father, brother, sister and last but
not least a small baby. After a long day of sightseeing and traveling the family
decides to check into a local hotel. They'd checked out all the surrounding areas and the hotels were all full. Finally they come to the last one and are desperate! They
enter in to find that the hotel is full! Desperate, the father tells the clerk
"We'll take anything you have, anything!! Please Mr. don't you have a room for
us?" The clerk felt really bad for the family and told the father "Sir, we do
happen to have just one room left. We don't normally let people stay in it though.
It's haunted. Everyone that has stayed always disappears in the middle of the night without so much as a goodbye or even paying
their bill!" The father says "Great!! We'll
take it! You see, I don't believe in all that ghost rubbish anyhow!" He takes the key and they go off into the old hotel room. Seeing
as how the family was so tired from their travel, the family decided to order out for pizza.
The pizza finally arrives and the mother gets the pizza and sits it on the counter.
The little baby was so hungry!! He watched that pizza the whole time! Mom announced "Everyone it's time to wash up for dinner!!" So off to the bathroom Mom goes to wash her hands for dinner. She
enters into the bathroom, turns on the sink and a horribly scary voice can be heard...
"BLOOOOOODYYYYYYYY FINNNNNNNNGGGERRRRRR"
It scares the mom so badly
that she jumps out the bathroom window and runs away! Never to be seen again!
After a few minutes the
father starts to wonder where the mother is, so he tells the kids he'll go find out so that they can take their turn in the
bathroom and then eat the pizza.
He goes into the bathroom,
turns on the sink and hears that same scary voice "BLOOOOOOODYYYYYY FIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGERRRRR"
He gets so scared that he runs
to the window, jumps out never to be seen again.
After a few minutes the
brother starts to wonder where Mom and Dad went. He goes into the bathroom to
check on them. He walks over to the sink, turns on the water and hears "BBBBLLLLLLOOOODDDDYYYY FIIINNNNNNGGGERRRRR" (getting
louder and louder each time it's said)
He runs to the window and jumps
out, never to be seen again.
The sister starts to wonder
where everyone has gone to. She goes into the bathroom to check things out. Once in the bathroom she decides to wash up.
She walks to the sink, turns on the water and hears a scary voice "BBBBLLLLLLOOOODDDDYYYYY FFIIINNNNGGGGEEERRRRR" (getting
louder each time it's said)
She's so scared that she runs
to the bathroom window and jumps out, never to be seen again.
Ok...so all that's left
is the baby, he's pretty upset that everyone has left him alone and he can't even reach that delicious pizza himself! He's going to tell them exactly what he thinks about it too! JUST as soon as he can find them. He crawls into the bathroom to see where everyone has gone. First he opens the door...nothing...he crawls over to the sink...still nothing....."Hmm" he thinks to himself...THEN
he hears it! The scary, scary voice..."BLLLLOOODDDDYYY FIIINNNNNGGERRRRR" The baby, frustrated, looks around ..."BLLLLOOODDDDYYY FIIINNNNNGGERRRRR" (much louder
this time!) the baby just sits there ,..."BLLLLOOODDDDYYY FIIINNNNNGGERRRRR (VERY loud)
Finally the baby says just
as loud and very frustrated "AWWWW Stick a BANDAID ON IT!" he shouts!
Divide the group into three smaller groups and assign each group one of the words listed
below. Read the story. After each of the words is read pause for the group to make the appropriate response.
GIRLS |
"I'll get this right!' |
|
CHIEF |
Hit thighs rhythmically |
|
MOUNTAIN |
Pooff, Pooff! |
|
|
|
|
|
Far away in our dry southwestern country is an Indian village, set in front of a high MOUNTAIN___,
towering up out of the desert. It is considered a great feat to climb this MOUNTAIN___, so that all the GIRLS___
of the village were eager to attempt it. One day the CHIEF___ said, "Now GIRLS___, you may all go today
and try to climb the MOUNTAIN___. Start right after breakfast, and go each of you as far as you can. Then when you
are tired, come back; but let each GIRL___ bring a twig from the place where she turned.
Away the GIRLS___
went; full of hope, each feeling that she surely could reach the top. But soon a small GIRL___ came back, and in her
hand she held a leaf of cactus and gave it to the CHIEF___. The CHIEF___ smiled and said, "My GIRL___,
you did not reach the foot of the MOUNTAIN ___; you did not even get across the desert." Later a second GIRL___
returned. She carried a twig of sagebrush. "Well," said the CHIEF___, "You got up as far as the MOUNTAIN___
springs. Another came later with some bucks horn. The CHIEF___ smiled when she saw it and spoke, "You were climbing;
you were up to the first slide rock."
Later in the afternoon, one GIRL___ arrived with a cedar spray, and the
old CHIEF___ said: Well done, you went halfway up. An hour afterward, a GIRL___ came with a switch of pine.
To her the CHIEF___ said, "Good, you went to the third belt; you made three quarters of the climb."
The sun
was low when the last GIRL___ returned. She was a tall, splendid GIRL___ of noble character. Her hand was empty
as she approached the CHIEF___ but her face was radiant. She said, "My father, there were no trees where I turned back.
I saw no twigs, but I saw the shining sea." Now the old CHIEF'S___ face glowed too as she said aloud and almost sang,
"I knew it! When I looked on your face, I knew it. You have been to the top. You need no twigs for token. It is written in
your eyes and it rings in your voice. My GIRL___, you have felt the uplift; you have seen the glory of the MOUNTAIN___."
Oh, ye Guiders keep this in mind, then; the badges we offer for attainment are not prizes. Prizes are things of value
taken from another. Badges though are merely tokens of what you have done, or where you have been. They are mere twigs from
the trail to show how far you have gotten in climbing the MOUNTAIN___.
Once there were two girls who
shared a college dorm together. Their names were Meg and Venida. The girls were out partying one night. Meg noticed she forgot
her purse and went back quickly to the dorm. Without turning on the lights she
walked in and grabbed the purse. Then she returned to the party. Later on in the night, Venida got tired. She left to the dorm
to go to sleep.
The next morning, Meg went back to the dorm. The police officers were outside.
"Officer, what's the problem?" She asked.
"There has been a murder."
"Oh my god. Please
let me see."
"No. It's a bit to sloppy."
Said the officer.
"Please."
Finally, the officer let Venida
upstairs. When she walked in the room she saw her roommate covered with a clean
white sheet. On the mirror in big, red letters words said: "AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU
DIDN'T TURN ON THE LIGHT?"
5. Frog Went A-Courtin’
- England
Frog
went a courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh
Frog went a courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh
Frog went a courtin' and he did
ride
With a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
He
rode right up to Miss Mousie's door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie's
door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie's door
Gave
three loud raps, and a very big roar, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
Said
Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huh
Said Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huh
Said
Miss Mouse, are you within
Miss Mousie said, I sit and spin, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Took
Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
Took
Miss Mousie on his knee,
Said Miss Mousie, will you marry me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Without
my Uncle Rat's consent, uh-huh
Without my Uncle Rat's consent, uh-huh
Without
my Uncle Rat's consent,
I wouldn't marry the President, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Uncle
Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle
Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides
To think his niece would be a bride, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Uncle
Rat went running downtown, uh-huh
Uncle Rat went running downtown, uh-huh
Uncle
Rat went running downtown
To buy his niece a wedding gown, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Where
shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
Where
shall the wedding supper be
Way down yonder in the hollow tree, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
What
shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
What shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
What
shall the wedding supper be
Fried mosquito and a black-eyed pea, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
First
to come in was a flyin' moth, uh-huh
First to come in was a flyin' moth, uh-huh
First
to come in was a flyin' moth
She layed out the table cloth, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Next to come in was a juney bug, uh-huh
Next to come in was a juney bug, uh-huh
Next
to come in was a juney bug
She brought in the water jug, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Next
to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huh
Next
to come in was a bumbly bee
Sat mosquito on his knee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Next
to come in was a broken back flea, uh-huh
Next to come in was a broken back
flea, uh-huh
Next to come in was a broken back flea
Danced a jig with the bumbly bee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Next
to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huh
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huh
Next
to come in was Mrs. Cow
She tried to dance but she didn't know how, uh-huh,
uh-huh, uh-huh
Next
to come in was a little black tick, uh-huh
Next to come in was a little black tick, uh-huh
Next to come in was a little
black tick
She ate so much it made her sick, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Next
to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
Next to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
Next
to come in was the big black snake
Ate up all of the wedding cake, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Next
to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huh
Next to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huh
Next to come in was the old gray
cat
Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Mr.Frog
went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huh
Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huh
Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over
the brooke
A lily white dove came and swallowed him up, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Little
piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf, uh-huh
Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf, uh-huh
Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf
If you want any more you can sing it yourself,
uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Divide the group into six smaller groups and assign
each group one of the words listed below. Read the story. After each of the words is read pause for the group to make the
appropriate response.
SEA |
Splash! Splash! |
FISH |
Bubble-Bubble |
FRIEND
(or FRIENDS) |
Hello there! |
SEA HORSE |
Neigh-Neigh |
TREASURE |
Gold! Gold! |
DIVER |
Blub-blub-blub! |
There once lived way down
at the bottom of the SEA___, a friendly little FISH ___ named Finny FISH___. Now this little FISH___
who lived way down at the bottom of the SEA___ and who was named Finny FISH___ had a lot of FRIENDS___
among the other FISH___. In fact, down at the bottom of the SEA ___ all the FISH___ were Finny's FRIENDS___.
She even had some FRIENDS ___ at the bottom of the SEA___ who were not FISH___.
One of these
FRIENDS___ who lived at the bottom of the SEA___ and was not a FISH___, was Sam SEA HORSE___. Finny's
FRIEND___, Sam SEA HORSE ___, liked living at the bottom of the SEA___ with the other FISH___
except that the other FISH___ would not be FRIENDS___ with Sam SEA HORSE___.
Finny FISH___ said that she didn't care if Sam SEA
HORSE___ didn't look like her other FISH___ FRIENDS___. And this is how a beautiful friendship started at
the bottom of the SEA___ between Finny FISH___ and Sam SEA HORSE___.
There were many a DIVER___
who came to the bottom of the SEA___ to hunt for sunken TREASURE___. Now Finny FISH___ and Sam SEA
HORSE___ knew the bottom of the SEA___ well and they had seen a TREASURE___ chest many times while playing
among the seaweed and plants at the bottom of the SEA___.
Finny FISH___ and Sam SEA HORSE___
hadn't told anyone about the TREASURE___ chest for it was their own private hiding place. Finny FISH___ and
Sam SEA HORSE___ had many hours of fun at the bottom of the SEA___ playing hide and seek and Finny FISH'S___
favorite place to hide was in the TREASURE___ chest. This made it hard for Sam SEA HORSE___ to find her because
Finny FISH___ was so shiny that she glittered just like the Gold pieces in the TREASURE___ chest.
One
day while Finny FISH___ and San SEA HORSE___ were playing their usual hide and seek game at the bottom of the
SEA___, all of Finny FISH___'s FRIENDS___ came swimming up with a warning that a DIVER___ was
coming down to the bottom of the SEA___ to look for the TREASURE___ chest.
Just as the DIVER___ came down to the bottom of the
SEA___ looking for the TREASURE___, all the FISH___ FRIENDS___ swam away to hide from the DIVER___
who was hunting TREASURE___.
Sam SEA HORSE___ was the last one to leave because he didn't see Finny
FISH___ in the group of FRIENDS___ and he was beginning to worry about Finny FISH___. Just as the DIVER___
was about to reach the TREASURE___ chest, he saw what he thought was a Gold piece fall out of the TREASURE___
chest and land on the bottom of the SEA___. The DIVER___ was so greedy that he reached for it only to have it
swim speedily away. For it was only Finny FISH ___ and not a Gold piece at all! But when the DIVER___ had reached,
he had pulled off his face mask and had to surface without the TREASURE___ chest form the bottom of the SEA___.
All the FISH___ FRIENDS___ at the bottom of the SEA___ were so happy that Finny FISH___
got safely away from the DIVER___ and Sam SEA HORSE___ was especially happy because what really happened that
day at the bottom of the SEA___ was seen by all the FISH___ FRIENDS___. They knew now that Sam SEA
HORSE___ was really a FISH___'s best FRIEND___ and from then on they were always be his FRIENDS___.
Sam SEA HORSE___ had saved Finny FISH___. They learned that "A FRIEND___ in Need Is a FRIEND___
Indeed.
There
once was a tree (There
once was a tree)
A
pretty little tree (A pretty little tree)
The
prettiest little tree (The prettiest little tree)
That
you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh,
the tree in a hole
And the hole in the ground
And
the green grass grew all around, all around
And the green grass grew all
around
Now on this tree (Now
on this tree)
There
was a limb (There was a limb)
The
prettiest little limb (The prettiest little limb)
That
you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh, the limb on the tree,
And
the tree in a hole
And the hole in the ground
And the green grass grew all
around, all around
And the green grass grew all around
Now
on this limb (Now on this limb)
There
was a branch (There was a branch)
The
prettiest little branch (The prettiest little branch)
That
you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh, the branch on the limb,
And
the limb on the tree,
And the tree in a hole
And
the hole in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all
around
And the green grass grew all around
Now on this branch (Now on this branch)
There was a bough (There
was a bough)
The prettiest little bough (The prettiest little bough)
That you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh,
the bough on the branch,
And
the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree,
and
the tree in a hole
And the hole in the ground
And
the green grass grew all around, all around
And the green grass grew all
around
Now
on this bough (Now on this bough)
There was a twig (There
was a twig)
The prettiest little twig (The prettiest little twig)
That you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh,
the twig on the bough,
And the bough on the branch,
And the branch on the limb,
And
the limb on the tree,
and the tree in a hole
And
the hole in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all
around
And the green grass grew all around
Now on this twig (Now on this twig)
There was a leaf (There
was a leaf)
The prettiest little leaf (The prettiest little leaf)
That you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh, the leaf on the twig,
And the twig on the bough,
And the bough on the branch,
And the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree,
and the tree in a hole
And the hole in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around
And the green grass grew all around
Now on this leaf (Now on this leaf)
There
was a nest (There was a nest)
The
prettiest little nest (The prettiest little nest)
That
you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh, the nest on the leaf,
And
the leaf on the twig,
And the twig on the bough,
And
the bough on the branch,
And
the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree,
and
the tree in a hole
And the hole in the ground
And
the green grass grew all around, all around
And the green grass grew all
around
Now
in this nest (Now in this nest)
There was a bird (There was a bird)
The
prettiest little bird (The
prettiest little bird)
That you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh,
the bird in the nest,
And the nest on the leaf,
And
the leaf on the twig,
And the twig on the bough,
And
the bough on the branch,
And
the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree,
and
the tree in a hole
And the hole in the ground
And
the green grass grew all around, all around
And the green grass grew all
around
Now
on this bird (Now in this bird)
There
was a feather (There was a feather)
The prettiest little feather
(The prettiest little feather)
That you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh, the feather on the bird,
And the bird in the nest,
And the nest on the leaf,
And the leaf on the twig,
And the twig on the bough,
And the bough on the branch,
And the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree,
and the tree in a hole
And the hole in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around
And the green grass grew all around
Now on this feather (Now in this feather)
There
was a flea (There was a flea)
The
prettiest little flea (The prettiest little flea)
That
you ever did see (That you ever did see)
Oh, the flea on the feather,
And
the feather on the bird,
And the bird in the nest,
And
the nest on the leaf,
And the leaf on the twig,
And
the twig on the bough,
And the bough on the branch,
And the branch on the limb,
And
the limb on the tree,
and the tree in a hole
And
the hole in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all
around
And the green
grass grew all around
A
gypsy rover came over the hill
Down through the valley so shady.
He whistled and he sang 'til the green wood’s
rang
And he won the heart of a lady.
Chorus:
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-doo-dah-day
Ah-dee-doo-ah-dee-day-dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green wood’s rang
And he won the heart of a lady.
She
left her father's castle gate.
She left her own fine lover.
She left her servants and her state
To follow her
gypsy rover.
She left behind her velvet gown
And
shoes of Spanish leather
They whistled and they sang 'till the green wood’s
rang
As they rode off together
Last
night, she slept on a goose feather bed
With silken sheets for cover
Tonight
she'll sleep on the cold, cold ground
Beside her gyspy lover
Her
father saddled up his fastest stead
And roamed the valley all over.
Sought his daughter at great speed
And the
whistlin' gypsy rover.
He
came at last to a mansion fine
Down by the river Claydee.
And there was music and there was wine
For the gypsy
and his lady.
"Have
you forsaken your house and home?
Have you forsaken your baby?
Have you forsaken your husband dear?
For a whistling
gypsy rover?"
"He
is no gypsy, my Father," she cried
"but Lord of these lands all over.
And I shall stay 'til my dying day
with
my whistlin' gypsy rover."
A
Cumulative Story
I had a rooster and the rooster pleased me,
I fed my rooster on a greenberry tree,
The little rooster went cock-a-doodle doo,
Dee doodle-dee, doodle-dee, doodle-dee doo.
I had a cat and the cat pleased me,
I fed my cat on a greenberry tree,
The little cat went “meow, meow,”
The little rooster went cock-a-doodle doo,
Dee doodle-dee, doodle-dee, doodle-dee doo.
I had a pig (“oink, oink”)
I had a dog (“rough, rough”)
I had a cow (“moo, moo”)
I had a horse (“neigh, neigh”)
I had a baby (“waagh, waagh”)
Divide the group into seven smaller groups and assign
each group one of the words listed below. Read the story. After each of the words is read pause for the group to make the
appropriate response.
FIRE ENGINE |
"Mee-ee,
Whee-ee" |
PIGS |
"Oink,
Oink, Snort" |
LIBRARIAN |
"Sh-hhhhhh" |
DOG |
"ARF
ARF" |
POLICEMAN |
Loud
whistle |
GIRLS |
"Bite,
Bite" |
CHICKENS |
"Bok-bok-bok-bok" |
EVERYBODY |
ALL
sounds at once |
It was a beautiful spring
afternoon in the sleepy little town of Blodgetville. In the balmy air the fragrance of early tulips mingled with the rich
aroma of skunk cabbages in nearby marshes. The only sounds to be heard were the faint moan of a FIRE ENGINE___ in a
neighboring village, the distant barking of a DOG___ and the occasional whistle of the POLICEMAN___ at the main
intersection. In the town library, someone turned a page too loudly and the LIBRARIAN___ said. On the main road, at
the outskirts of town, a farmer was lazily driving his animals to market. Each time he hit a bump, the PIGS___ grunted
and the CHICKENS___ squawked. Yet all was peaceful in the sleepy little town of Blodgetville.
Suddenly, two
GIRLS___ appeared on the quiet street. They were singing and marching in time to the rhythm. They reached the center
of town where the POLIECEMAN___ blew his whistle to let them cross. Still singing, they marched up the steps of the
library. The LIBRARIAN___ looked up quickly. Each girl took a book and sat down at one of the tables. One of the GIRLS___
looked around the almost deserted library and said : "They'll do a lot more business around here if they had comic books."
Guess what the LIBRARIAN___ said? That's right.
Outside, the DOG___ could be heard. The POLIECEMAN___
blew his whistle as a car approached the intersection, followed by the farmer's truck. The woman in the car signaled for a
right turn, but oddly enough her car made a left turn. The farmer slammed on his brakes and there was a loud crash. Down went
the tailgate of the truck and out tumbled the PIGS___ and the CHICKENS___. The DOG___ barked widely.
Frightened, the grunting PIGS___ ran up the library steps followed by the squawking CHICKENS ___ and a yelping
DOG ___. The LIBRARIAN___ was startled. The GIRLS___ jumped up and burst into song. In rushed the POLIECEMAN___
frantically blowing his whistle. From across the street, old Miss Spinnett saw the disturbance and called 911 for the FIRE
ENGINE___.
But an hour later, everything was peaceful again in the sleep little town of Blodgetville. The PIGS___
and CHICKENS___ had somehow been caught and put back in the truck; the GIRLS___ and DOG___ had gone home
for supper. The FIRE ENGINE___ was back in the station house, and the POLIECEMAN___ again stood at his post
by the intersection.
And the LIBRARIAN___? Well, the LIBRARIAN___ looked around the library at the floating
feathers, the muddy floor, the disarranged books, the overturned tables and the broken chairs. And then, all of a sudden,
the LIBRARIAN___ screamed EVERYBODY___!
Once
there was a little girl whose name was Rose Marie.
One night she woke up about midnight because she heard someone walking
across the floor downstairs.
step...step...step...step...step
She quickly pulled the covers up over her head
and shivered, holding her breath.
Soon, she hears a wavery voice (say slowly in a scary voice.)
"Rose Marie - I'm
on the first step and I'm coming to get you!"
Then, Rose Marie heard another step and then the voice said
"Rose
Marie I am on the second step and I am coming to get you!"
Well every step the voice called to her until the voice
was right beside her bed.
"Rose Marie I am right beside your bed!"
(crouch
down in front of your audience)
"Rose
Marie! (pause)
I GOTCHYA!
(Jump at the audience as you shout “I GOTCHYA)
A repeat after me story!
The other day (The other day)
I met a bear (I met a bear)
Up in the woods (Up in the woods)
Away up there (Away up there)
The other day I met a bear
Up in the woods away up there.
He looked at me
I looked at him
He sized up me
I sized up him
He looked at me I looked at him
He sized up me I sized up him.
He said to me
Why don’t you run
I see you ain’t
Got any gun
He said to me why don’t you run
I see you ain’t got any gun
And so I ran
Away from there
But right behind
Me came that bear
And so I ran away from there
But right behind me came that bear
Ahead of me
There was a tree
A great big tree
O Lordy me
Ahead of me there was a tree
A great big tree O Lordy me
The nearest branch
Was ten feet up
I’d have to jump
And trust to luck
The nearest branch was ten feet up
I’d have to jump and trust to luck
And so I jumped
Into the air
But I missed that branch
Away up there
And so I jumped into the air
But I missed that branch away up there
Now don’t you fret
Now don’t you frown
‘Cause I caught that branch
On the way back down
Now don’t you fret now don’t you frown
‘Cause I caught that branch on the way back down
That’s all there is
There ain’t no more
Unless I meet
That bear once more
That’s all there is there ain’t no more
Unless I meet that bear once more
A Participative Story
Divide the group into six smaller groups and assign each group one of
the words listed below. Read the story. After each of the words is read pause for the group to make the appropriate response.
DOVE |
"Coo,
Coo" |
EAGLE |
"Screech,
Screech" |
CROW |
"Caw,
Caw" |
OWL |
"Whoo, Whoo" |
ROADRUNNER |
"Beep,
Beep" |
GREY BIRD |
"Tweet, Tweet" |
MOCKINGBIRD |
All the birds
together. |
Long ago, when the world was new, all the birds, the DOVE___, the EAGLE___,
the CROW___, the OWL___, and the ROADRUNNER___, had brightly coloured feathers. When they spread their
wings against the cloudless sky, they were like rainbows. When they made their nests on the ground, they were like a carpet
of flowers.
One bird, however, the GREY BIRD___, was not so beautiful. He had been asleep, hidden in the branches
of the trees, when the colourful feathers were given to the other birds. The GREY BIRD___ woke up to find that he alone
had a coat of dull, drab grey. It made him very sad.
The wind spirit was sorry to see that the GREY BIRD___
had been missed. To make up for this mistake, the Wind Spirit gave him a magic necklace to wear. Each bead of the necklace
was for a different song. The GREY BIRD___ tried the beads, one after the other, and was pleased to hear the music
that filled the air.
Soon the DOVE___ and the EAGLE___ stopped admiring their reflections in the rivers
and streams and hurried to listen. The CROW___, the OWL___ and the ROADRUNNER___ tried to sing too, but
the only sound that came from their throats was an ugly, rasping noise. The creatures of the woods covered their ears and
ran far from the noise as they could.
"Share your song beads with us," the EAGLE___ and the CROW___ begged.
"You have more than you will ever use."
The plain GREY BIRD___ did not want to be selfish. He wanted the others
to think well of him. So he gave a bead to the DOVE___, the ROADRUNNER___ and the CROW___ when they each
asked for one. Before he realized what he had done, the GREY BIRD___ had given away every bead on his necklace.
Now
he had no songs and no bright feathers either. Once again, he was sad. The GREY BIRD___ hid his head under his wing.
The other birds noticed his silence and stopped their singing. "What can we do to help him?" the CROW___ asked the OWL___.
"We must give him back his beads," said the ROADRUNNER___.
"Oh, no!" protested the DOVE___, who was especially proud of her own sweet melody. The rest of the birds agreed
with her.
"Well, if you are not willing to do that, then each of us should share a small part of our beads with him,"
the EAGLE___ insisted.
So that is what they did. THE GREY BIRD___ put together all the pieces they gave
him and made another necklace for himself. Now he could sing a little bit of the DOVE'S___, the EAGLE'S___,
the CROW'S___, the ROADRUNNER’S, and the OWL'S___
songs. And that is why he is called the MOCKING BIRD___.
A Participative Story
Each character in the skit has a distinctive sound to make when the Narrator
says their name during the reading of the skit. The Narrator should pause, after reading the name of each character so they
can make their sound and for audience reaction.
BRUTAL MINER
Grrrrrrrrrr
TIRED
WIFE
Oh dear.
LAZY SON
Yawning sound
YOUNG DAUGHTER
Giggles
BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER "Ahhhhh"
HANDSOME
HARRY
Ah Ha !
AUTOMOBILE
Honk Honk
CAT
Meow
Once upon a time in the far west, there lived a BRUTAL MINER___, who had
a TIRED WIFE___, a LAZY SON___, a giggling YOUNG DAUGHTER___, and a BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER___. On
the other side of the mountain lived HANDSOME HARRY___. This young man drove his AUTOMOBILE___ over the mountains
and carried mail to the BRUTAL MINER___.
One day, the TIRED WIFE___ was cleaning the house.
The BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER___ was helping her. The YOUNG DAUGHTER___
was playing with the CAT___ on the steps and the LAZY SON___ was
sleeping. The BRUTAL MINER___ came out and kicked the CAT___. The TIRED WIFE___ and the BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER___
rushed out with brooms and hit the BRUTAL MINER___, but this did not bother him. He grabbed the TIRED
WIFE___ by one arm and the BEAUTIFUL
DAUGHTER___ by the other and shoved them into the house. The YOUNG DAUGHTER___ ran away with the CAT___.
Just then, HANDSOME HARRY___ drove up in his AUTOMOBILE___ and
saw the BRUTAL MINER___ beating the TIRED WIFE___ and the BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER___. HANDSOME HARRY___
rushed to the rescue and grabbed the BRUTAL MINER___ and threw him down the mineshaft. The BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER___
flew into the waiting arms of HANDSOME HARRY___, while the TIRED WIFE___ and the YOUNG
DAUGHTER___ watched with enthusiasm. The LAZY SON___ slept on. HANDSOME
HARRY___ took the BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER___ in his AUTOMOBILE___ to the little church in the wildwood and they
lived happily ever after.
In this story, read the
story. After each of the words is read pause for the group to make the appropriate response.
If
an audience member... |
When
they hear... |
Then
they... |
has
BLUE eyes |
BLUE |
Pat
the top of their head. |
has
eyes not BLUE |
BROWN |
Pat
the top of their head. |
is
LEFT-handed |
LEFT |
Clap. |
is
RIGHT-handed |
RIGHT |
Clap. |
is
under age 40 |
NEW |
Stomp
feet. |
is
over age 40 |
OLD |
Stomp
feet. |
is
a male |
MAN |
Stand up. |
is
a female |
WOMAN |
Stand up. |
One day a MAN___
and a WOMAN___ went to the store looking for a NEW___ car. Their OLD___ one, which was a muddy BROWN___,
was not running well. It left much to be desired in the way of speed and safety, and they wanted another one RIGHT___
away. They wanted a new bright BLUE___ one.
As they walked into the car dealership, the WOMAN___ notice
a BLUE___ sports car on the showroom floor. "Darling", she said, "Look at the lovely NEW___ car RIGHT___
over there. Wouldn't it be perfect for us?"
"You may be RIGHT___. It's a lot better than our OLD___
BROWN___ buggy. Unfortunately there's one problem, I've LEFT___ all my money at home." said the MAN___.
"You LEFT___ it at home?" said the WOMAN___. "Yes, it's RIGHT___ in the pocket of my NEW___ BROWN___
suit," said the MAN___. "Your BROWN___ suit, why, I took that to the cleaners just this morning, and I didn't
notice any money in the pockets," said the WOMAN___. But I am certain I LEFT___ the money in the inside RIGHT___
pocket of my NEW___ BROWN___ suit," said the MAN___.
"Now wait a minute. Are you saying I'm not
RIGHT___? Are you saying that I'm lying about this?" " MAN___, oh MAN___, oh MAN___, oh," said the WOMAN___. "Let's not argue,"
said the MAN___. "We are here to look at cars, and that BLUE___ one in the corner is a RIGHT___ nice model. If we buy the
NEW___ car, we'll never have to worry about our OLD___ BROWN___ one breaking down again."
After looking at the price
or the NEW___ BLUE___ car, and figuring out what they could get as a trade on their OLD___ BROWN___ car, the MAN___ and the
WOMAN___ decided buying the NEW___ car would be the RIGHT___ move for them. But before they LEFT___ the store, they started
questioning their decision. Would they be better off with their OLD___ BROWN___ car of the NEW___ BLUE___ car didn't run RIGHT___?
Or what about a NEW___ BROWN___ one? How long before they thought of the NEW___ car as an OLD___ car? And would they ever
feel BLUE___ about trading in their BROWN___ auto? BLUE___ or BROWN___, OLD___, or NEW___, what was RIGHT___ and which car
would they be LEFT___ with? The MAN___ and the WOMAN___ were so confused, that they decided to sell their bar and buy themselves
bicycles. And that's just what they did. Then they knew it was RIGHT___...LEFT___...
Divide the group into four
smaller groups and assign each group one of the words listed below. Read the story. After each of the words is read pause
for the group to make the appropriate response.
KNIGHTS |
"Clankety-clank" |
MAIDENS |
"Help,
help" |
MEAN
KING |
"Gr-r-r-r" |
DRAGON |
"Roar-r-r-r-r-r-r" |
Back in the days of bold
KNIGHTS___ and fair MAIDENS___ there lived a MEAN KING___ with his daughter, who was indeed the most
beautiful MAIDEN ___ in all the land. All those who passed by their castle would see this fair MAIDEN___ sitting
by the hour in the window longing to be set free.
It was told about the land that this fair MAIDEN___ had a
curse put on her by a wicked witch, that if a DRAGON___ which lived in the woods close by, were to look upon her, she
would suddenly become the most ugly MAIDEN___ who ever lived. That is why the MEAN KING___ kept her locked within
the castle.
Of course, after hearing this, all the brave KNIGHTS___ for miles around came to that part of the
land, hoping to kill the terrible DRAGON___ and thus save the fair MAIDEN___ from a terrible fate. Night and
day the brave young KNIGHTS ___ searched for that terrible DRAGON___. Each one hoped to save the fair MAIDEN___
and take her away from the castle of the MEAN KING___.
One day there came a gallant KNIGHT___ who was
much wiser than all the rest. He decided that since the DRAGON___ was nowhere to be found that maybe there was another
reason why the MAIDEN___ didn't come out. He rode his horse as swiftly as he could and charged at full speed right
through the door of the castle, sending debris and rubble flying in all directions.
It seems the MAIDEN___
couldn't find the door because the castle was such a mess, and that is why she hadn't come out.
The brave young KNIGHT___
bounded up the stairs and carried his fair MAIDEN ___ down and put her on his horse. They rode away from the castle
of the MEAN KING___ and left the other KNIGHTS___ still searching for the terrible DRAGON ___, which
didn't even exist!
Chorus:
Ho,
ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Now in that bog there was a
tree,
A rare tree and a rattlin' tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Now on that tree there was a branch,
A rare branch and a rattlin' branch,
And the branch
on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Now on that branch
there was a limb,
A rare limb and a rattlin' limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And
the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Now on that limb there was a nest,
A rare nest and a rattlin'
nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And
the bog down in the valley-o.
Now in that nest there was a bird,
A rare bird and a rattlin' bird,
And the bird
in the nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in
the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Now on that bird there was a feather,
A
rare feather and a rattlin' feather,
And the feather on the bird,
And the bird in the nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And
the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Now on that feather there
was a bug,
A rare bug and a rattlin' bug,
And the bug on the feather,
And the feather on the bird,
And the bird
in the nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in
the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
A Participative Story
Divide the group into five smaller groups and assign each group one of
the words listed below. Read the story. After each of the words is read pause for the group to make the appropriate response.
DUSTY OLD
CELLAR |
"Cree-eek,
Ah-Choo" |
JUG |
"Boop, Boop" |
TRASH
CAN |
"Crash-Bam" |
SAW |
"Whaang, Whaang
" |
HAT BOX |
"Rat-a-tat-tat
" |
Once upon a time, as many stories begin, in a dusty old CELLAR___ there
lived a group of very good, very old and very out-dated friends. There was an empty glass JUG___, a rusty SAW___,
two beat-up TRASH CANS___ and a faded old HAT BOX____. Now these old friends had been in the dusty old CELLAR___
for a very long time, and except for being moved about from time to time, they were left alone to rust or turn to dust. Needless
to say, they were very lonely.
One day, the empty glass JUG___, in a deep low voice said, "It's too quiet here.
I wish something would happen." "Now really, JUG___," said the rusty SAW___, "What could possibly happen here?"
"Why," said the faded old HAT BOX___, "I've been sitting on this CELLAR___ shelf for 20 years and all I've seen
are two mice and a Daddy-Long-Legs spider." This empty glass JUG___ is just getting older and emptier," said the beat-up
TRASH CANS___. "Don't pay him any mind."
Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps on the CELLAR___
stairs. Four young girls, all dressed alike, came cautiously down the CELLAR___ steps. They were talking in hushed
voices. "Are they twins?" asked the faded old HAT BOX___. "I think they're pygmies!" said the rusty SAW___ in
a lofty voice. "Nonsense," said the empty glass JUG___. "They're Girl Guides," said the beat-up TRASH CANS___.
By now, the old friends were very curious and excited. They listened as the girls talked.
"Boy, it's spooky down here
in this dusty old CELLAR___," said Jenny. "Don't be a 'fraidy cat," said Michele. "Aw heck, let's go," said Janice.
"No, wait," said Brenda. "I've got an
idea. We have to do a stunt for our Guide Meeting, don't we?"
"Yeah, that's right,"
the other three chorused. "Well," said Brenda, "Let's have a band ... a CELLAR___ band!" "A band!" they yelped. "Sure,"
said Brenda. "I'll play that rusty SAW _. Jenny, you take that empty glass JUG___. Michele that faded old HAT
BOX___ will make a neat drum. And Janice, those beat-up TRASH CAN __ lids will be swell cymbals.
Well,
of course, you know the rest. The Guides Three made new friends with old friends, right there in the dusty old CELLAR___,
with an empty glass JUG___, a rusty SAW___, a faded old HAT BOX___ and two beat-up TRASH CANS___
and for all we know, they may be playing together still!