Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce: Expanding and Preserving the Union (Building Fluency Through Reader’s Theater)

While America was expanding westward, Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians signed a treaty with the United States that placed them on a reservation. In this thrilling script, the U.S. cavalry pursues resisting Nez Perce tribe members until a battle ensues at Bear Paw Mountain. This leveled script allows teachers to implement differentiation and English language learner strategies into their instruction. Teachers can easily assign each role based on their students’ reading levels, encouraging everyone to get involved in the same activity. Whether students are struggling or proficient readers, they will all gain confidence in their reading fluency and feel successful. By performing together, students will also practice interacting cooperatively, reading aloud, and using expressive voices and gestures while storytelling. With an accompanying poem and song to give readers additional fluency practice, this script is a dynamic resource sure to engage a classroom of varied readers.