Fun, Easy Character Education Resources for Elementary School

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Character Matters
.
An Easy to Use
Character Education Play
for Elementary School

(14 teacher reviews)

Grades 1-4
25 minutes
$39.95
(order ANY 2 Bad Wolf plays and
the price drops to $30 each)

In Stock.

* Read the first 1/3 of the script
* Listen to song samples
* Vocabulary from the show

Includes illustrated script, teachers
guide, and audio CD. The CD has all
the songs recorded twice: first with
singing, so you and your students can
learn the songs, and then without
voices so your students can perform
without us singing along.

Enter Quantity and Click the
Add to Cart Button:

Character Matters Book/CD $39.95 (order ANY two plays and the price drops to $30 each)

(Wait! Two of you are planning on doing the play together? You've gotta click here!)

Character Matters Sheet Music $9.95

If 3 or more teachers
are doing a play:
Character Matters Site License $70.00

(What's the Bad Wolf Site License and why would I want one?)

AS A FREE BONUS, you'll receive a coupon for up to three 15-minute phone consultations with composer Ron Fink. Ron will be prepared to discuss casting, helping your students be loud enough, or other directing problems you might have.

Teacher Reviews:

"This is a great play because the content of it is so important in our everyday classroom experiences. I received many accolades from parents and administration---which, of course, was wonderful for my teacher ego. However, as many times as people told me what a great teacher I was for putting on this amazing musical (my fourth one in a year!), I told them that you guys are the genius behind all of this. I feel guilty getting all the praise, when you make it so easy for me and my kids to shine. The biggest compliment that I have gotten from parents regarding your plays, is the equal distribution of parts -- everyone is a STAR -- no one ever outshines another!!!!

"My favorite part is the adult humor that is integrated into your scripts. Got big laughs when the prince said, "Why do I have to be the 'handsome prince', why can't I be known as the 'artist formerly known as prince'- prince?" Naturally, the kids had no idea about the significance of the line. This being my 4th play, my colleagues are getting very intrigued and wonder how I do it. I've told them how user friendly your plays are. Good news...I've had several teachers who are willing to come over to the dark side with me:) I've given out your catalogue and I think they're just about ready to give it a go!"
---Meredith Fisher, 2nd grade, Evergreen Comm. Charter School, Ashbrook, NC

Read More Teacher Reviews

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Casting:

Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Use as many Princesses, Mice, Friends, etc. as desired;
one student can easily play several roles. Note that all roles
can be played by either boys or girls; see our comments on
page 35 of the Teacher's Guide.

Read the Script:

This is the first one-third of the script:CHARACTERS:

Rapunzel
Prince
Witch
Little Red Riding Hood
Wolf
Princesses
Papa Bear, Momma Bear, Baby Bear
Goldilocks
3 Little Pigs
Cinderella
Cinderella's mice
Humpty Dumpty
Dumpty's Friend
Magic Mirrors
Jack
Giant
and a CHORUS comprised of all students who are not playing roles on stage at the time.

(Entire CLASS faces the audience and sings:)

Song 1

HALF CLASS:                    
We've got a show 
A story that features 
Fairy tale folk 
And fairy tale creatures.

OTHER HALF of CLASS: 
Trying to live 
And deal with each other 
Like you and me 
They soon will discover

ENTIRE CLASS: 
Character matters 
You must care how you act 
Character matters 
As a matter of fact 
Character matters 
'Cause you are what you choose 
Character matters 
It's one thing you can't lose.

HALF CLASS: 
Jack stole the goose

OTHER HALF: 
I think he needs mentoring

HALF CLASS: 
Goldilocks, no!

OTHER HALF:
She's breaking and entering

HALF CLASS: 
Poor Little Red

OTHER HALF: 
We're gonna need tissues

HALF CLASS: 
Wolf's gonna lie

OTHER HALF:
He clearly has issues.

ENTIRE CLASS: 
Character matters 
You must care how you act 
Character matters 
As a matter of fact 
Character matters 
Cause you are what you choose 
Character matters 
It�s one thing you can�t lose.

     (STUDENTS sit in a large semi-circle around stage, facing the audience. 
     RAPUNZEL, PRINCE, and WITCH walk to the front and address the audience.)

RAPUNZEL: Hello. I'm Rapunzel. From the fairy tale.

PRINCE: And I'm a handsome prince.

WITCH: And I'm an evil witch. We're here today to moderate the monthly 
meeting of the Fairy Tale Advice Council.

PRINCE: Each month the Council gathers to give advice to fairy tale characters.

RAPUNZEL: That's right. Everyone finds themselves wondering how to act 
or what to do in certain situations.

WITCH: Even those of us in folk stories.

PRINCE: Take me, for example. Why am I always the "handsome" prince? 
Why can't I be the "brilliant" prince? Or the "fantastically athletic" prince? 
Or the "artist formerly known as prince" prince? It�s frustrating.

RAPUNZEL: I'm sorry you feel that way. But you really are quite handsome.

PRINCE: Yes, that's true.

WITCH: And now it's time for the meeting of the council. Who's first on the list?

PRINCE (reading from clipboard): First up today is Little Red Riding Hood.

     (LITTLE RED, her FRIENDS, and the WOLF come to the front of the stage.)

WITCH: So, Little Red, what seems to be the problem?

LITTLE RED: My friends and I caught Mr. Wolf trying to eat my grandmother.

PRINCE (to WOLF): Is that true?

WOLF: I can't help it. It's my job.

 FRIEND #1: How could you do that?

WOLF: I was thinking I would start with her toes.

FRIEND #2: That's not what we mean. You know it's wrong to eat people.

 LITTLE RED: Especially beloved grandmothers.

WOLF: Eating people is wrong? Why?

FRIEND #1: Haven't you ever heard of the golden rule?

WOLF: Is that like the infield fly rule?

LITTLE RED and FRIENDS: No!

Song 2

LITTLE RED and FRIENDS:

Stop stop stop Mr. Wolfie 
Think before you act 
Stop stop stop Mr. Wolfie 
Don�t make grandma your snack.

Think think think Mr. Wolfie 
Walk in grandma�s shoes 
How how how would you like it 
If grandma swallowed YOU?

LITTLE RED, FRIENDS, and CHORUS: 
The golden rule The golden rule 
Oh it's a very useful tool 
To figure out what you're to do 
The golden rule The golden rule 
At work and play at home and school 
Treat others like you want them to treat you.

LITTLE RED and FRIENDS: 
Woh woh woh Mr. Wolfie 
Don't it get your goat? 
When when when people see you 
As just a nice fur coat?

Think think think Mr. Wolfie 
Walk in grandma's shoes 
How how how would you like it 
If grandma swallowed YOU?

LITTLE RED, FRIENDS, and CHORUS: 
The golden rule The golden rule 
Oh it's a very useful tool 
To figure out what you're to do 
The golden rule The golden rule 
At work and play at home and school 
Treat others like you want them to treat you.

     (THEY exit. RAPUNZEL, PRINCE, and WITCH come forward.)

RAPUNZEL: So, Prince. Who's next on the list?

     (A PRINCESS jumps up with two other PRINCESSES, raising hand, shouts:)

PRINCESS #1: Oooh, ooh! Take us, take us!

WITCH: And who are you?

PRINCESS #2: We're princesses!

PRINCE (looking at his clipboard): Hmmn. Nope, I'm sorry. It's not your turn.

PRINCESS #3: Pleeeeeeeeeease!

RAPUNZEL: Sorry, my dear. Be patient. Everybody will get a chance.

PRINCESSES: But we're PRINCESSES!

     (THEY sit down)

PRINCE: Next up are Papa Bear, Momma Bear, Baby Bear, and Goldilocks.

     (THEY come up to the front of the stage)

WITCH: So how are things in the woods?

BABY BEAR: Terrible. We caught HER  (points to Goldilocks) 
eating my food and squishing my chair and sleeping in my bed.

MOMMA BEAR: She was so cute all tucked up in the covers.

BABY BEAR: She was drooling on my pillow!

GOLDILOCKS: I'm really sorry. I was lost. It was cold. 
And everything of yours was JUST RIGHT.

PAPA BEAR: We�ve been telling Baby Bear that he needs to learn forgiveness.

Song 3

PAPA and MOMMA BEARS:          
You've gotta forgive her 
You can't bear a grudge

BABY BEAR: 
She at all my porridge 
She at all my fudge!

PAPA and MOMMA BEARS: 
You've gotta forgive her 
And move on ahead

BABY BEAR: 
I'd rather stay angry 
And eat her instead.

GOLDILOCKS: 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
I'm so sorry 
Lie, lie, lie, lie 
I made a mistake 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
Can you forgive me? 
Please give me a break.

PAPA and MOMMA BEAR: 
You gotta forgive her 
Forget about lunch

BABY BEAR: 
But look in the parlor 
My CHAIR is all crunched!

PAPA and MOMMA BEAR: 
You gotta forgive her 
And stop seeing red

BABY BEAR:
 I'd rather stay angry 
And sit on her head.

GOLDILOCKS: 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
I'm so sorry 
Lie, lie, lie, lie 
I made a mistake 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
Can you forgive me? 
Please give me a break.

GOLDILOCKS and CHORUS 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
I'm so sorry 
Lie, lie, lie, lie 
I made a mistake 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
Can you forgive me? 
Please give me a break.

BABY BEAR: 
I gotta forgive her 
She's filled with regret 
I know she is sorry 
Forgive and forget

ALL THREE BEARS and CHORUS: 
We learned a good lesson 
Forgivingness rocks 
We gotta forgive her 
And change all the locks 
We gotta forgive her 
Forgive Goldilocks.

GOLDILOCKS: (BEARS sing background "oooh") 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie
I'm so sorry 
Lie, lie, lie, lie 
I made a mistake 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
Can you forgive me? 
Please give me a break.

GOLDILOCKS, BEARS, CHORUS: 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
I'm so sorry 
Lie, lie, lie, lie 
I made a mistake 
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie 
Can you forgive me?
Please give me a break.

     (THEY exit. RAPUNZEL, PRINCE, and WITCH come forward.)

PRINCE (reading off clipboard): Okay. Three Little Pigs, you�re up.

     (THEY come forward, along with the WOLF---the same wolf as in Little Red)

PIG #1 (to PIG #3): I'm telling you, you're taking this house-building thing way too seriously.

PIG #2 (to PIG #3): Yeah. Mellow out, man.

PIG #3: Am I the only responsible pig around here? 
Look at this wolf. (points to Wolf) Don't you think he wants to eat us? 
Don't you think we need a nice, strong house made out of bricks to keep him out?

WITCH: Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. (to Wolf) 
But aren't you the same wolf who was trying to eat Little Red�s grandmother?

WOLF: Well...yes. What�s your point?

RAPUNZEL: Her point is that we thought you had learned a lesson about this sort 
of thing, about the Golden Rule.

WOLF: Oh I did. Really. I'm just filling in for the Wolf in this story...he's got a cough 
and isn't able to huff and puff today.

PRINCE: You're a sub?

WOLF: Sure. You know, helping out a friend in need. I thought you'd be proud.

PIG #3: Does that mean you're not going to try to eat us?

WOLF: Oh, no. I'm still going to give it my best. Try hard. Persevere. 
I'm kind of a role model, don't you think?

PIG #3 (to other Pigs): See?

PIGS #1 and #2: Relax!

Song 4

PIG #1:                  
Not bricks 
Not bricks 
They're way too heavy, dude 
Use straw
Use straw 
We'll finish fast then grab some food.
We'll grab some food.

PIG #2: 
Not bricks 
Not bricks 
That's too much work you fool 
Use sticks 
Use sticks 
We'll finish fast then hit the pool. 
We'll hit the pool.

PIG #3: 
Oh, I've got to do what I think's right 
Straw and sticks are just too light 
Only bricks are strong enough 
To withstand Wolfie's huff and puff 
So call me names but I won't bite 
I've got to do 
Got to do what I think's right.

WOLF:
Not bricks 
Not bricks 
They're way too strong and tough 
Not bricks 
Not bricks 
I guess I'll leave now in a huff. 
Leave in a huff.

PIGS and CHORUS: 
Oh, I've got to do what I think's right 
Straw and sticks are just too light 
Only bricks are strong enough 
To withstand Wolfie�s huff and puff 
So call me names but I won't bite
 I've got to do
Got to do what I think's right.

(This concludes the first one- third of the script.)

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mentoring
moderate (verb)
beloved
grudge
parlor
perseverance
Gucci
Dior
genes
poise
fowl
royal

breaking and entering
infield fly rule
"get your goat"
"see red"
vernal equinox
a "good egg"

Key Terms and Concepts:

The Golden Rule
(treat others as you want them to treat you; put yourself in another's shoes)

Having the courage to do do what you think is right

Difference and tolerance: don't judge a book by its cover

Patience
Regret and forgiveness
Responsibility
Role Models
Kindness and caring
Listening
Honesty
Dealing with anger and bullies
Thinking ahead

Song List:

Click on the song name to hear samples in mp3 format. Please note that internet song samples have low fidelity and rest assured that the CDs we sell sound much better. Problems hearing the music? Visit our Audio Help page.

1. "Character Matters"
2. "The Golden Rule"
3. "You've Gotta Forgive Her"
4. "Not Bricks"
5. "Count to Ten"
6. "It Wasn't Me"
7. "Be Honest"
8. "Difference"
9. "Show Some Kindness"
10. "Character Matters" (reprise)

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More Teacher Reviews:

"I have done many of your plays but I have to say this one is my favorite.
The humor, music and script made it a show everyone enjoyed. Love it,
love it, love it! It was great!"
---Melissa Deck, Teacher (2nd grade) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School, Kenner, LA

"Just had to tell you what a smash hit Character Matters was.
I have never had this many compliments on a performance (20 years).
You guys are great."
--- Marcia Bridges, Teacher (music) Odyssey Elementary, Everett, WA

"What a great show! What a super way to end the year! My class and I
had such fun putting it together. I was amazed at how quickly the children
learned the songs! The variety of music styles didn't go unnoticed by them
and I enjoyed watching their movements as they heard the music for the first
time. I couldn't have been more proud of them then I was today. (I wish I
had discovered you sooner.)"
---Carla Zimmerman, Teacher (2nd grade), Fermanagh Elementary, Miffletown, PA

"I thought this play was well worth the money. I was able to use the lessons
from the play during the day to get my students to use their character."
---Bridgette Rezba, Teacher (1st grade), Virden Elementary, Virden, IL

"Character Matters' was very well received by the entire school. My
students received loads of praise, fan mail and compliments! Woo-hoo!"
---Nance Contreras, Teacher (5th grade), Lincrest School, Yuba City, CA

"This year's first graders seemed to have a lot of trouble with moral issues. When I came across 'Character Matters' I knew it was just the perfect show for us. The kids loved it and learned a lot.The parents were wowed. I had at least 20 parents, grandparents, and friends come up to me after the show and say how amazed they were that six and seven year olds could do a show of this quality."
---Linda LaPlante, Teacher (1st grade), Glenmoor Elementary, Fremont, CA

"We liked it very much. The humor throughout the play and the directions
were terrific! Parents are asking me to do one next year too. It has been a
great experience for everyone!"
---Sean Albro, Teacher (5th grade) Bert Karrer Elementary, Marion, TX

"Kids loved it---as well as parents. Never imagined we would do a musical!
Fabulous response. Liked the way we could view 'chunks' of plays on your
website."
---Jan Grine, Teacher (4th/5th), Glendale Elementary, Baltimore, MD

"An excellent show and wonderful way to have students teach students.
Our 5th and 6tyh grade Safety Patrol performed for the entire school, had a
great time working on the performance and had the students spellbound."
---Dona Cogan, Teacher (5th/6th grade) Ocean Gate Elementary, Ocean Gate, NJ

"Loved it---so did the kids. Huge hit at assembly. An easy way to teach.
Kids hummed the melodies at recess, in line, etc for weeks."
---Shirley Deedon, Teacher (6th grade), Valley Presbyterian School, North Hills, CA

"It was a wonderful success! I had 75 actors and a lot of help. It was the
first show for the drama club and we were able to include everyone! The
parents and faculty couldn't believe how enjoyable and 'professional' the
show was. The positive response was overwhelming."
---Beth Dennett, Teacher (1st-5th), Lake Avenue School, Saratoga Springs, NY

"It was a school favorite! We put on three different shows and all were packed! The script is lively and funny -- they especially love the wolf. This was my third year doing this one and kids from lower grades can't wiat to be in my class so they can participate. Good work guys!"
--Kerrie Wisneski, Teacher (4th/5th grade), Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Visalia, CA

"It was a hit and we had a blast. Character Traits is part of our second grade curriculum and the children learned more through this play than through any other technique we've used."
--Carole Gallo and Brenda McWilliams, Teachers (2nd grade -- regular and special education), Heath Brook Elementary, Tewksbury, MA

Are Two of You Planning to Put the Play on Together?

If you ask us, we always suggest having just one class put on a play. We think each kid is
more involved, and we think it's easier for you to deal with a smaller number of students.

But lots of teachers disagree with us. They've been happily doing the
plays together for years.

In fact, Amy Anderson, the teacher who does four musicals a year
(and she talks about this on our home page) thinks two classes together is the way to go.

Then what do I need to purchase? Think of a musical play like a library book.
Only one teacher may "check out" (i.e. put on) the play at a time. If another teacher wants
to produce the music play that you purchased in a separate production and at a later date,
you may loan out your original plan and student copies.

Your "library" needs two copies of the play for two teachers to put on the play at the
same time. If a teacher wants her class to put on the play with your class, she needs
to buy her own copy of the play. For three or more teachers to produce a play together,
purchase three copies for your "library" and Bad Wolf extends a Site License for all the
teachers and classes at your school.

But why can't I just make extra copies of the play? If copies are made for
a class other than the purchasing teacher's, it's an infringement of U.S. copyright law.
Yikes! Bad Wolf likes to toe the line where Uncle Sam is concerned, so we offer a
discount on the purchase of multiple copies of the play.

If you are 2 teachers putting on the play together................................$60
* Includes 2 copies of the book and CD (save almost $20 off of buying
them separately) so each of you has a CD and book to work with.

* Includes the right to reproduce the script for the students in both of
your individual classes.

Questions?

Call or email Ron Fink at (888) 827-8661 or ron@badwolfpress.com

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