Free Funny Readers Theater Scripts for Kids

Humorous Scripts, Grades 6—8+

Motivate your students with humorous Readers Theater scripts.  Your students willhave fun while building important life skills (e.g., confidence speaking in front of a group, teamwork, focus, and fluency).  Choose scripts related to a specific subject (e.g., health, history) or fun stories to read aloud from our growing buffet of scripts.Many of our scripts have humorous elements, but may not be listed below.

***Consider having students create their own short, two-part humorous Readers Theater scripts with knock knock jokes!  ;)

Click on a Readers Theater script title below to read an excerpt from the script and access the printable PDF(complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans).

IMPORTANT:  Most of our scripts are available to our paying Script Buffet Club members only.  Each one pays a little and reaps a lot.  :)

R = Readability grade level (based on Flesch-Kincaide Readability Formula)

Below are script titles in order of publication, most recent first. It may be a long list.

= exclusive for Script Buffet Club paying members

NOTE: To see the rest of the list, click "more articles >>" at the bottom of the page.

Recent articles

The Hose Phone (R = 1.0)
May 8, 2018

GIGGLE WARNING! I read this simple script to three adults and all three chuckled several times.  Based on a true story, "The Hose Phone" shares the light side of a common experience:  not hearing exactly what someone else says.Students of ALL AGES will enjoy practicing this script with different voices. Perfect for partner plays or small groups, "The Hose Phone" would work well for short performances IF you train your readers to not speak when the audience is laughing.  Since this short Readers Theater script is easy to read it's appropriate for struggling students in grades 1-8 and even adults.  You may use it as a "hook" for a science unit study of sound, the ear, and hearing.  This fun script comes in two font options and includes annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.

TIME:  less than 2 min. (2–3 pages)           CAST:  2-4 (or choral)          TONE: light, fun        READABILITY:  grade 1.0 (easier without the word "narrator")

Dog Jog Adventure with the Sisters (R = 3.6)
Oct 1, 2014

"Dog Jog Adventure with the Sisters" was requested by a Script Buffet Club member for an all girl cast. Actually, the narrators could be boys. This light-hearted script is based on a true story that is guaranteed to make people laugh–or groan!  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Dog Jog Adventure with the Sisters" is perfect for students in grades 3-8 because the main characters are older girls and the vocabulary is slightly advanced.Struggling readers, ELL, and ESL students will particularly enjoy this real life script.  (Note:  We have this script in two other versions for three readers or three choral groups.)

TIME:  7 min.  CAST: 4-5    TONE:  humorous, light   READABILITY:  grade 3.6

Dog Jog Adventure (Advanced; R = 3.0)
Feb 29, 2012

How would you like to go jogging with three big dogs who are not really obedient?  Believe it or not a teacher did and told her story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul story.  I adapted the story a lot for children here in a fun Readers Theater script, "Dog Jog Adventure."
Because the children in this script are older elementary or teenagers, this script is perfect for mixed ages and abilities--upper elementary, middle school, high school, ESL or ESOL, adults, and family fun. Since the readability is about third grade, it should be perfect for literacy tutoring, too. You also have the option of using a narrator and two choral reading groups.NOTE:This is the advanced version with a more extensive vocabulary.  (The easier version is grade 2.7)

Complete with annotated curriculum links (including You Tube) for easy lesson plans, "Dog Jog Adventure" works well as part of a unit study on fitness, pets or dogs.

TIME: 7 minutes    CAST: 3 or a narrator and two choral groups     TONE: light, fun   READABILITY:  grade 3.0

Dog Jog Adventure (R = 2.7)
Jan 9, 2012

How would you like to go jogging with three big dogs who are not really obedient?  Believe it or not a teacher did and told her story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul story.  I adapted the story a lot for children here in a fun Readers Theater script, "Dog Jog Adventure."  Because the children in this script are older elementary or teenagers, this script is perfect for mixed ages and abilities--upper elementary, middle school, high school, ESL or ESOL, adults, and family fun. Since the readability is about third grade, it should be perfect for literacy tutoring, too. You also have the option of using a narrator and two choral reading groups.   (See "Dog Jog Adventure--Advanced" for more difficult vocabulary...grade 3.0.)

Complete with annotated curriculum links (including You Tube) for easy lesson plans, "Dog Jog Adventure" works well as part of a unit study on pets or dogs.

TIME: 7 minutes      CAST: 3 or a narrator and two choral groups     TONE: light, fun   READABILITY:  grade 2.7

The Bremen Town Detective Band–Part 2 (R = 4.3, 3.0)
Nov 29, 2011

Here's part two of a fun Readers Theater version of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Bremen Town Musicians," with a different twist at the end. Guaranteed to sprinkle giggles into your day, this talking animal script comes complete with curriculum links (valid as of June 2017) for easy lesson plans.  Perfect for elementary students, ESL, and family fun "The Bremen Town Detective Band--Parts 1 and 2" can be a launching point for a creative writing assignment for part three.

 TIME:  about 5 minutes           CAST:  3–12          TONE:  light and lively      READABILITY:  grade 4.3 (because of nonsense words and silly names)  Think third grade readability.

The Bremen Town Detective Band–Part 1 (R = 2.8)
Nov 29, 2011

Here's part one of a fun Readers Theater version of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Bremen Town Musicians," with a different twist at the end. Guaranteed to sprinkle giggles into your day, this talking animal script comes complete with curriculum links (valid as of June 2017) for easy lesson plans.  Perfect for elementary students, ESL, and family fun "The Bremen Town Detective Band–Part 1" and part 2 can be a launching point for a creative writing assignment for part three.

 TIME:  about 5 minutes           CAST:  3-9          TONE:  light and lively      READABILITY:  grade 2.8

Kid's Talk Show Interview: Banana Man, the Not-So-Serious Spy (2 versions: with or without chorus) R=3.5
Apr 2, 2011

Do you like puns?  Do your students recognize puns?  Do you have lesson plan ideas for teaching puns?  Did you ever think about puns needing higher level thinking skills? If puns do NOT annoy you, then this humorous Readers Theater script may tickle the funny bones of your students. Beware!  Punning is sometimes contagious!  "Kid's Talk Show Interview: Banana Man, the Not-So-Serious Spy" doesn't stop at puns, though;  Banana Man also gently shares about creativity.  You'll love the annotated curriculum links at the end for easy lesson plans.  This Readers Theater script comes in two versions:  with chorus and without.

TIME: less than 4 min   CAST: 3, plus chorus  TONE: light, humorous  READABILITY:  grade 3.5

The Little Red Rooster, Master Chef (R=4.7)
Jan 8, 2011

Do your kids like spaghetti?   Everyone likes Sparkling Special Spaghetti in the humorous Readers Theater script, "The Little Red Rooster, Master Chef".  Chef Raymond cooks up a witty take-off from the familiar tale "The Little Red Hen."  Goose, Peacock, and the athletic Emu ooze personality in this clever Readers Theater script with curriculum links for lesson plans.  Although some students will think this is silly fun, we know the positive twist packs a lesson in character building.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll inspire a student's heart to serve?

TIME:  abaout 5 1/2 min.  CAST:  5, plus chorus  TONE:  light-hearted with a practical punch   READABILITY: Grade 4.7

Not the Night Before Christmas (R=4.2/3.8)
Dec 3, 2010

"Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house
Ev'ry creature was stirring, especially the mouse!"

So starts this rollicking rendition of the old poem "The Night Before Christmas."  Your family will enjoy this free Christmas Readers Theater script full of fun.  All you'll need is a plate of cookies to keep the party going.  How about trying different voices?  Curriculum links help to expand "Not the Night Before Christmas" to full lesson plan potential.

TIME:  3 1/2 minutes  CAST: 2-6  TONE:  Light, even without Santa   READABILITY: Grade 4.2/3.8

Praise from Teachers

...Keep doing what you are doing.  There are not enough quality scripts available for children and teens.  So many are inappropriate from a parent's perspective.  As a teacher I want to also build character and integrity while I teach a subject.  Why can't drama build up, inspire and be thought provoking?...Anyway, keep doing what you're doing...we need all the help we can get!
Jen H., Drama teacher

> ...I have been teaching for 35 years. RT has been part of my education journey for the majority of that time. Initially my experience with it was as a performance genre in the Drama Curriculum. Now I use it across the curriculum - a wonderful high motivation strategy in the language program - particularly reading - and so much more as you would know. I was drawn to your 'community' by the idea of leadership... I think what you're doing is wonderful..."
Graham B. Former primary teacher (now a Visual Art and Drama specialist)

Readers Theater All Year is the most comprehensive collection of Readers Theater scripts and resources I have found on the internet!...Thank you Carol for your leadership and vision and for making Readers Theater so accessible for teachers and parents.
Daniel Fiore, Elementary teacher/author What They Have Taught Me

I found the free readers theater online scripts, teaching tips, and curriculum teleseminars at Readers Theater All Year very inspirational to me. I used the Twelve Days of Christmas...Vacation script in my ESOL classes before Christmas break and my students all enjoyed it..
Lily T. Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

"> ..We did Squanto's Squash for the family on Thanksgiving and [my sons] participated and loved it. I am so excited about making this a major part of homeschooling. What a great way to learn!
Bethany P. Homeschooling Mom

> ...re: our script "The Earth Day Hen and Friends" I've used this!The kids love it.Thank you for sharing...It's just right for all levels in the class...Your free scripts are wonderful!...They learn so much from drama and reader's theatre...I see the shy ones gain confidence as they read. Fluency and prosody increases with reader's theatre...
Angela D., 3rd grade teacher

Let's Celebrate YOU!

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***  Sprinkle giggles into your day!

Make lesson plans easy with annotated curriculum links and a graphic organizer on character qualities.

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Source: https://www.readerstheaterallyear.com/categories/20150411_24

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