Read and Retell With a Reader’s Theater Resource

 The Itsy Bitsy Spider is a classic children’s nursery rhyme, but rarely does anyone see it performed. This lesson helps students practice their reading and performance skills and improve their social skills and dramatic arts skills.

This is a simple but fun activity for students to do with a group or individually. The template allows students to create an Itsy Bitsy Spider mask or stick puppet so that they can retell the story in different ways. To use:

• Print out the masks and cut apart the character components.
• Let students use the pieces to put on a dramatic reading or reader’s theater presentation of the nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
• Students write their own short story about the Itsy Bitsy Spider using our template response activity.

 Students will love creating their own Itsy Bitsy Spider mask or puppet and will enjoy retelling this classic nursery rhyme in a new way!

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your reading lessons. 

In addition to individual student work time, use this reader’s theater resource to enhance learning through guided reading groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

Help students who need help understanding the concepts by 

• having students work in pairs to perform the dramatic reading and share it with other groups.
• Preread the text with struggling readers to grasp the passage better.

Additionally, provide access to previous assignments and posters and anchor charts for students to recall past lessons.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

• Encourage fast finishers to write an additional play and perform a show using the templates and puppets provided.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time: