Designed especially for younger
students, Friendly Neighborhood Helpers introduces students to the many helpful people in
their community. Kids learn through simple songs about firefighters, mail carriers,
grocers, dentists and many more who work every day to make their neighborhood a better
place to live.
CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 11-40 students.
Use as many Mail Carriers, Fire Fighters, etc. as desired. One student can easily play
several roles if needed. Note that all roles can be played by either boys or girls; see
our comments on page 31 of the Teacher's Guide. The Storyteller will be played by many
students (who may also play the role of a neighborhood helper.) |
Storytellers (many students share the role)
Crossing Guard
Fire Fighters
Dentists
Fruit Grocer
Vegetable Grocer
Dairy Grocer
Mail Carriers
Chefs
Plumbers
Kid Garbage Truck Fans
Veterinarian
Librarian
Recycler
and a CHORUS comprised of all students who are not playing roles on stage at the time
(STUDENTS face the audience in small groups. There might be a large banner across the top
of the backdrop that clearly reads “Friendly Neighborhood Helpers.”)
CLASS :
Song 1
You bring the mail
You find us books
You put out fires
You catch the crooks
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
You’ve checked our teeth
Since we were tots
You fix the drain
You give us shots.
PART of CLASS (shouts): Ouch!
CLASS:
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
We thank you.
Here’s our show
Starring you
Folks will know
All that you do.
Here’s our show
Starring you
Folks will know
All that you do.
You bring the mail
You find us books
You put out fires
You catch the crooks
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
You’ve checked our teeth
Since we were tots
You fix the drain
You give us shots.
PART of CLASS (shouts): Ouch!
CLASS:
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
We thank you.
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
(CLASS exits/sits down. STORYTELLERS take turns throughout the show. Storyteller lines may
be divided among as many students as desired.)
STORYTELLER: Welcome to our show.
STORYTELLER: Today we are going to count down our top ten friendly neighborhood helpers.
STORYTELLER: Starting it off at number 10—up three from last year’s
countdown—is the Crossing Guard.
(CROSSING GUARD step ups and faces audience)
CROSSING GUARD:
Song 2
I look left
I look right
Not a car in sight.
Oh I look long
I look hard
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the boss when you cross the street
I’m the dude when you move your feet
I’m the king of the boulevard
I’m the crossing guard.
(spoken): Okay, everybody, it’s safe to walk across. Keep moving, Kim, you can tie
shoes once you get across.
I look up
I look down
Not a car around.
Oh I look near
I look far
I’m the crossing guard.
CROSSING GUARD and CHORUS:
I’m the boss when you cross the street
I’m the dude when you move your feet
I’m the king of the boulevard
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the crossing guard.
(CROSSING GUARD exits.)
STORYTELLER: Number nine on our list is an important neighborhood helper. STORYTELLER:
These are the people to call when we see smoke or flames. STORYTELLER: Here are the fire
fighters.
(FIRE FIGHTERS enter)
FIRE FIGHTERS: :
Song 3
Who fights the fires and puts them out?
We do. We do.
Who pulls folks from a burning house?
We do. We do.
Who drives a truck that’s big and red?
Who wears a helmet on our head?
We do. We do.
CHORUS: Who fights the fires and puts them out?
FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.
CHORUS: Who pulls folks from a burning house?
FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.
CHORUS: Who drives a truck that’s big and red?
Who wears a helmet on our head?
FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.
Never play with fire
Or you might get burned
This is one big lesson
We all hope you’ve learned.
Who answers calls in nothing flat?
We do. We do.
Who climbs a tree to get your cat?
We do. We do.
Who likes water more than frogs?
Who likes hydrants more than dogs?
We do. We do.
We do, we do, we do, we do, we do.
(FIRE FIGHTERS exit.)
STORYTELLER: And now it’s time for number eight. And the winner is…
GARBAGE TRUCK FANS (shout): The garbage truck!
STORYTELLER: What?
GARBAGE TRUCK FANS (shout): The garbage truck! We LOVE the garbage truck.
STORYTELLER: No. I’m sorry. The garbage truck is NOT on our list.
STORYTELLER: Number eight in our countdown are the Dentists.
(DENTISTS enter)
DENTISTS :
Song 4
We are all dentists
Oh that is the truth
We are all dentists
We love ev’ry tooth.
We like enamel
That’s strong as it comes
We are all dentists
We dream about gums.
Open wide
Open wider
We adore
Each incisor.
Open wide
Open wider
We adore molars too!
We are all dentists
We hate tooth decay
We are all dentists
So brush twice a day.
Brush in small circles
And never across
We are all dentists
We love a good floss.
DENTISTS and CHORUS:
Open wide
Open wider
We adore
Each incisor.
Open wide
Open wider
We adore molars too!
We adore molars too!
(THEY exit.)
STORYTELLER: Number seven on our list brings us fruit, vegetables, and milk.
STORYTELLER: Grocers are the people who make sure that good food is available every day.
STORYTELLER: Without them, we would get VERY hungry!
STORY TELLER: Up from number 13, here are the Grocers.
(GROCERS enter)
FRUIT GROCER: :
Song 5
I’m in charge of fruit at the grocery store
CHORUS:
Boysenberry fig and cherry, boysenberry woh woh woh
FRUIT GROCER:
Here’s a nectarine and I’ve got a lot more
CHORUS:
Boysenberry fig and cherry, boysenberry woh woh woh
FRUIT GROCER:
If you feel a little glum…
Try a plum.
VEGGIE GROCER:
I’m the veggie gal at the grocery store
CHORUS:
Rutabaga baked potato, rutabaga woh woh woh
VEGGIE GROCER:
Here’s an artichoke and I’ve got a lot more
CHORUS:
Rutabaga baked potato, rutabaga woh woh woh
VEGGIE GROCER:
If you’re ever in a jam…
Try a yam.
VEGGIE GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store Grocery store
So many places here to explore
ONE STUDENT (shouts): Clean up on aisle four!
CHORUS:
Grocery store.
DAIRY GROCER:
I’m the dairy guy at the grocery store
CHORUS:
Milk and butter from the udder, milk and butter woh woh woh
DAIRY GROCER:
Here’s some whipping cream and I’ve got a lot more
CHORUS:
Milk and butter from the udder, milk and butter woh woh woh
DAIRY GROCER:
If you’re ever in a squeeze…
Try some cheese.
CHORUS and GROCERS:
Grocery store
Grocery store
So many places here to explore
SEVERAL STUDENTS (shout): Clean up on aisle four!
GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store.
(GROCERS do the Grocery Store Dance during instrumental)
GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store
Grocery store
So many places here to explore
ONE STUDENT (shouts): Clean up on aisle four!
GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store.
Song List
Click on the song name to hear samples in
mp3 format. Please note that internet song samples have very low fidelity and rest assured
that the CDs we sell sound much better. Problems hearing the music? Visit our Audio Help page.
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| Vocabulary Terms From Friendly Neighborhood Helpers |
boulevard
hydrant
enamel
adore
incisor
molar
decay
boysenberry
nectarine
rutabaga
artichoke
yam
|
udder
catalogue
sleet
ton
baste
broil
grinding
mend
perk
sift
scrap |
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
throughout
divided
desired
exaggerated
bout |
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Teacher
Reviews:
To submit your own review, just e-mail it to ron@badwolfpress.com
Be sure to include your school name and what grade you teach.
"Friendly Neighborhood Helpers is the first play I've done---with
three teachers and sixty students. The play allows for flexibility, which is great. You
can do it with a small group or a large group. Community is a first-grade standard so it
fit perfectly with our curriculum. We loved the catchy tunes and simple dialogue. It was
perfect for first grade. We loved it and plan on doing more next year!"
---Amy Trayer, Teacher (1st grade), Payne Elementary, San Jose, CA
"You helped me provide a wonderful opportunity for my students. It
was so easy and well organized. The songs and script were fun for the kids. I would tell
any teacher to give it a try. Everything is well prepared and my audience loved it!"
---Toni Day, Teacher (1-2nd grades), Eastlawn Elementary, Burnettsville, IN.
"I loved it! It fit perfectly in our curriculum. The children loved
it too. I really enjoyed doing your plays!"
---Melissa Farrell, Teacher (1-2nd grades), Peaslee School, Northboro, MA.
"The play was easy to put together and the parts and songs were
easy for the students to learn."
---Deborah D. Daley, Teacher (1st), Mayfield Elementary, Lapeer, MI.
"Pretty neat!"
---Brenda Choe, Teacher (2nd grade) Wilton Place Elementary, Los Angeles, CA
"I love that you provide plays that correlate to the curriculum.
The community helpers play is lively, clever and funny too. My students loved it!"
---Cynthia Booker, Teacher (2nd grade) Kaegebein Elementary, Grand Island, NY
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Two of You are 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.
* Free bonus: We'll throw in our famed
"Earthworms on Parade" CD.
Y'know, that's the one with the six
goofiest songs about earthworms ever
written ($9.95 value.)
* 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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