Dona Herweck Rice 
Emperor’s New Clothes 

Students will act out the tale of a vain emperor who is tricked by two tailors who take advantage of his vanity and make him clothes that are supposedly only visible to people who are fit for their jobs. Unwilling to look incapable by admitting that he sees nothing, he walks in a parade in just his underwear! Luckily, a bold child tells the truth about the emperor’s new clothes. 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!