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The Incredible Westward Movement

An Easy-to-Use Contemporary History Play
for Elementary and Middle School

Grades 3-7
25 minutes
$39.95
(2 or more Book/CD sets @ $30 each)

In Stock.

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.

And if you ever have any trouble or questions, you can contact us at any time for help.


	All you need for one class: Book/CD - $39.95 (Order any 2 plays and the price drops to $30 each) 2 teachers doing a play together? For 3 or more teachers: Site License - $70.00 What's this? More cool stuff: Sheet Music - $9.95 Replacement CD - $9.95 Or order by phone, fax or PO

Play Description
Teacher Reviews
Read the Script
Listen to the Songs
Vocabulary & Education Standards

This 25 minute musical play can be done as a complete play, skits, read-aloud, or you can just sing songs. The rush west is brought to life through characters and song. No music or drama experience needed. Grades 2-7.

Why folks went west
Daniel Boone
The Louisiana Purchase
Sacajawea with Louis and Clark
The Trail of Tears
The Oregon Trail
California Gold Rush
Farmers on the Prairie
Transcontinental Railroad
And of course, the exciting adventures of The Delivery Girl, who introduces them all.

The Incredible Westward Movement is a great complement to your curriculum resources in elementary and middle school history.

"It was fun! We loved the songs and the best part was using our creativity to make the play come to life with props, constumes, and actions. Performing was a great highlight in our year! I found the play a great enrichment to our studies - Everyone was a part of a great play and felt terrific about it. We always had something to do as a time filler -sing!"

---Amy Piazzola, Teacher, (1st-5th grade), Numa School, Fallon, NZ

"It was truly incredible! I read about the IWM in your booklet and got some of the first scripts hot off the press. It fit in so well with our curriculum and the boys absolutely loved it. Parents told us again and again that it was the best kids' play they had ever seen. We loved the songs and the script. It was great how the play had so many parts, allowing all of the kids to have significant (and our case multiple) rolls to play. Everyone was a star!"

--- Kim Iorillo, Teacher (3rd grade), Brunswick School, Greenwich, CT

"Great! The easy-to-follow script, catchy songs, and added humor make the production a delight for all (students, teachers, and parents!)"

--- Lisa Boothe, Teacher (3rd/5th grade), Carl Hankey School, Mission Viejo, CA

"The Incredible Westward Movement is a great history program, with easy scenes and lots of characters. What a way to learn and remember history. You can't get the songs out of your head. Personalities shine through music: everyone gets a chance to be on stage."

---Jane Bishop, Teacher (4th grade), Broadwater School, Helena, MT

"There were many big parts and enough for everyone, but no 'star' parts. The music was wonderful! The students loved it. The whole process was a great learning experience."

---Robin Twombley, Teacher (K-6th grades), Roxbury Village School, Roxbury, VT

"The music is catchy, so the kids never forgot the lyrics. They learned key concepts while having fun. I can't wait until the next one! I teach the kids in the gifted program in my system. Some love to be center-stage while others have no desire to perform solo. These plays allow me to give them opportunities to participate at a level at which each chld is comfortable."

---Shelia Cain, Teacher, (1st-2nd grade, Gifted and Talented), Petham Elementary, Petham, GA

Casting

Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Use as many Explorers, Discovery Guys, etc. as desired;
one student can also play more than one role. Note that all
roles can be played by either boys or girls; see our comments
on page 35 of the Teacher's Guide .

Script

This is the first one-third of the script:

CHARACTERS:

Delivery Girl(s)
Daniel Boone and Explorers
Porter
James Monroe
Thomas Jefferson
St. Louis Man
Corps of Discovery Guys
Sacajawea
Cherokee
Wagon Family
49ers
Prairie Children
Union Pacific Crew
Central Pacific Crew
Chorus (made up of all students not playing roles at the time)

(KIDS move quickly back and forth across the stage, entering and exiting.
THEY carry suitcases, dufflebags, etc.—in general they look like they’re
in a hurry and going some place. A DELIVERY GIRL enters with a
package. SHE tries to stop several people walking by, but they move
swiftly past.)

DELIVERY GIRL (to one person): Excuse me, I was wondering…
(to another person)
Pardon me, I’m looking for…
(to a third person)
Hey, do you know where I can find…
(looking frustrated, SHE stops and shouts very loudly to no one
in particular)
Has anybody here seen Daniel Boone?!
(EVERYONE stops and stares; people finally notice her)

PERSON #1: Daniel Boone? He’s been gone for weeks.

DELIVERY GIRL: But I’ve got a package for him, special delivery.
Here, listen.
(SHE shakes box very hard—rattling can be heard)
I think it’s cookies.

PERSON #2: Well he’s long gone by now.

DELIVERY GIRL: But where did he go?

PERSON #1: Where’d he go? Why he went where
EVERYBODY’S going.

DELIVERY GIRL: Where IS everybody going?

ENTIRE CLASS: West!

DELIVERY GIRL: West?

Song 1 - Listen now!

CLASS (sings):
Now so many people are leaving town
The dust is thick as fog

STUDENTS #1 and #2:
There goes my boss, there goes Aunt Jane

STUDENT #3:
And hey there goes my dog!

STUDENT #4:
I’m trying to find a good place to farm
Where we can start anew

CLASS:
Now all the country’s westward bound

STUDENT #3:
My cat is packing too!

CLASS:
We’re going West
Going West
Can’t you see?
Destiny
Is manifest
’Cause everyone is going West.

STUDENT #5:
I look for adventure and space to roam

STUDENT #6:
I’m running from my debts

STUDENT #7:
I’m looking for a pot of gold

STUDENT #3:
I’m looking for my pets.

STUDENT #8:
Does anyone know the best place to go?
Or which route you should take?

STUDENT #9:
Has anybody checked a map?

STUDENT #3:
Has someone seen my snake?

CLASS (screams): Aaach!
We’re going West
Going West
Can’t you see?
Destiny
Is manifest
’Cause everyone is going West
’Cause everyone is going West
’Cause everyone is going West.

(CLASS exits. DANIEL BOONE walks in, carrying an ax and wearing
his famous coonskin cap. He stops, looks all around, seems pleased and
stops for a moment. He takes off his cap and starts talking to it. At this
point a student can mark on the map the move west towards Louisville:
see page 34.)

DANIEL BOONE: Well, Betsy, it looks like we’ve finally found some
true wilderness. It’s getting’ so there just ain’t a decent spot that isn’t all
clogged up with civilization. I think you and me can set up camp here and
find some peace and quiet.

DELIVERY GIRL (entering a few seconds later, excited): Daniel Boone!
Daniel Boone! I’ve been looking all over the Appalachians for you.

DANIEL (quickly putting cap back on; to DELIVERY GIRL): Who
are you?

DELIVERY GIRL: I’ve got a box for you.

DANIEL: How’d you find me? I’ve been tryin’ to avoid folks like you.

DELIVERY GIRL: I just followed your trail—you really ought to take
a bath.

DANIEL: I did. Just three months ago.
(Taking off cap and talking to it.)
Must be you, Betsy.
(Putting back on cap)
That does it. Time to move on—it’s getting crowded around here.

Song 2 - Listen now!

Oh I discovered yesterday
There’s neighbors 50 miles away

It’s hard to breathe, I’ve gotta flee
A man can’t get no privacy.

I find some place not on the map
To hunt some deer and set some traps

I turn around, what do I find?
A swarm of people right behind!

(At the word “SWARM,” several WILDERNESS EXPLORERS enter,
dressed just like DANIEL BOONE)

DANIEL:
Gotta get a move on

EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on

DANIEL:
Gotta get a move on

EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on

DANIEL:
Leave me be or else I just might snap.
Gotta get a move on

EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on

DANIEL:
Gotta get a move on

EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on

DANIEL:
It’s just me and my old coonskin cap.

Kentucky’s just too cramped for me
There’re hundreds now in Tennessee
And every time I settle down
Some folks decide to build a town!
(More EXPLORERS could enter here)

DANIEL: Gotta get a move on