Three Native American folktale scripts for school plays

Coyote Tales
a script for school plays
adapted from three classic Native American folktales

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for school plays of Native American
folktales

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cover for scripts
for school plays of Native American
folktales

cover for scripts
for school plays of Native American
folktales

Is there a better way to get an experiential understanding of a Native American culture than by performing some of the folktales indigenous to its People? And one of the most colorful characters, bound to bring laughter to the performers and audience alike, is the Native American trickster, the subject of Coyote myths and legends. These three stories will delight and instruct both audience and cast.

Synopsis:
Coyote Tales is actually a collection of three Native American folktales:

In Coyote and the Stars, the first of the coyote myths and legends, The People are asked by First Man and First Woman to each bestow their own special gift upon their new home, the Fifth World. Each group of animal people, in turn, offers a particular gift, until it is Coyote's turn. Coyote is unsure of what talents he possesses, and when he offers to sing, the others laugh. First Man admonishes them not to laugh at another's gifts, but Coyote is ashamed and slinks away while the others set about gathering white flowers to use to make stars in the heavens. Before First Man can weave a pattern of the stars with which he plans to explain to The People the Laws of the Universe, night has fallen. While the others sleep, Coyote steals the flowers, thinking they are food. He trips, sending the flowers flying into the air where they stick to the sky in a chaotic, random pattern. When First Man discovers that his plan to write the Laws of the Universe in the sky has been ruined, he commands Coyote to sing the meaning of the stars each night so that The People will understand how to live.

In the second of the three coyote myths and legends, Coyote, the Firebringer, Coyote experiences cold weather the first time the Seasons are created. He decides that he can stay warm by getting fire from Fire Mountain. Not wanting to get burned, though, Coyote attempts to convince various other animals to ascend the mountain and face the Fire Spirits. The badgers and skunks refuse, but Coyote finally convinces the Birds to help. But after two of the birds have been singed in the attempt, Coyote decides to go up the mountain himself. He flatters the Fire Spirits into dancing and steals fire by using a stick attached to his tail. Before he completes his descent, the burning stick has turned the tip of his tail black which the Birds maintain is a badge of his courage.

The third of the coyote myths and legends, Coyote and the Blue Flowers is a variation on the legend of how the bluebonnet flowers were created. During a severe drought, the tribe's Shaman asks the Great Spirit for help, and receives word that the Great Spirit wants a sacrifice of the tribe's most valued possession. None of the tribe want to give up their valuables, until a young Native American maiden gives up her only momento from her parents (who died in the drought), a doll with bluejay feathers in its hair. The morning after her sacrifice, the tribe awakens to find the hills covered with blue flowers, and the rains falling once again.

Description:
This 45-minute play includes 3 Native American folktales, each of which is approximately 15 minutes in length and each of which can be performed separately or together.
Coyote and the Stars, the first of the coyote myths and legends, features 1 Shaman /narrator part, 1 strong male character (First Man) who carries the show, 1 good female supporting character (First Woman) and Coyote, a comic role who can be of any gender; with many smaller supporting roles, also of any gender. The cast is expandable in size, depending on the desired number of people in the cast. Good for 3rd grade on up, middle and high school students. Can be an intergenerational script for a school play, as well.
The second of the coyote myths and legends, Coyote, the Firebringer, contains a Shaman/ narrator role, one huge role for Coyote, and many smaller roles for the other animals and fire spirits. All can have interchangeable gender. Great for improvising with early childhood and elementary students if used with a strong adult narrator. Or it can be performed by 5th grade students on up as a script for the school play .
Coyote and the Blue Flowers, the third of the coyote myths and legends, contains strong roles of any gender for Shaman and Coyote, one strong female role, and any number of small supporting roles with expandable chorus of tribes people.
Production ideas for sets, costumes, etc. and thematic curriculum ideas are included at the end. The hard copy version of this Native American folktale is 8 1/2" x 11" in size, spiral bound so as to lie flat on a desk when open, and with color cover.

Here's one of our satisfied customers:
"The plays are turning out to be an absolute success! The kids love the play you sent us. Thank you for making this a wonderful summer for our camp."
-- Nyle MacFarlane, strawberry_blond80@yahoo.com
-- Theatre teacher, Summer in the Parks

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You will receive a Zip file containing a Word document.

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Click here to go to the Classics in the Classroom page and see how a Master Artist Teacher can work with your class on this story.

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