Ancient History Readers' Theater Grade 5-8

Why use Readers' Theater in history classes? The format gives students a sense of involvement with the human dramas that make up history. Performers can feel the excitement as Archimedes 'discovers' the displacement of water. They can relate to the terrors of a slave's passage from Africa to the Americas. They can imagine the tension of wading through the water at Omaha Beach as bullets strike their buddies. Each script (12-15 per book) is accompanied by background information, literature con…