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The Rumpus
in the Rain Forest

1st through 5th grades
35 minutes
$39.95 (2 or more Book/CD sets @ $30 each)

Scroll down to see the list of characters and the first several pages of the script.  (You might want to print it out.)

Listen to samples of the songs!

What do teachers say about this play?

Click here for vocabulary terms from Rumpus In The Rainforest.

Buy The Show

Enter Quantity and click the Add to Cart Button

All you need for one class to do a play:
  Rain Forest Book/CD
(Wait! Two of you are planning on doing the play together? You've gotta click here!)

  Rain Forest Sheet Music $9.95

If 3 or more teachers are doing a play:
  Rain Forest Site License $70.00
(Whats the Bad Wolf Super Site License and why would I want one?)

Order by phone, fax or purchase order.
Check our 100% risk-free guarantee!


National Education Standards

Fulfills National Arts Standard 3 for Dance, 1 and 8 for music, and 2, 3, and 5 for Theater.

Fulfills National Science Standard C for K-4.

Fulfills National Science Standard C for 5-8.

Fulfills National Social Studies Standards 1 and 10.

Frog in the rain forest desperately wants to get off the jungle floor and see the sky---but who will help him climb above the canopy? The Jaguar loves the jungle floor, the Sloth family keeps falling asleep, and the Howler Monkeys have gone nuts. The Boas offer to slither up a tree, but can you really ever trust a boa? Meanwhile, two bungling Explorers stumble by in search of the Lost Ancient City of Choco- late.  No wonder the jungle is going crazy. And have you ever seen so many ants? Rumpus in the Rain Forest gives students a musical tour of the various levels of the jungle and reinforces in fun fashion the importance of the rain forests.

CHARACTERS:

FLEXIBLE CASTING:     
From 8-40 students.
Use as many Sloths, Monkeys, Ants, etc. as desired; one student can also play more than one role. Note that roles are not gender-specific; see our comments on page 30 of the Teacher's Guide.

Frog
Toucan
Jaguar
Sloth Family
Boas
Explorers
Howler Monkeys
Army Ants
Shaman
Storytellers
and a Chorus made up of all students who are not playing roles at the time.


(CHORUS is seated on floor. FROG enters, staring longingly up towards the sky.)

STORYTELLER: Once, not very long ago, in the Amazon rainforest, there lived a frog. This is his story-the story of a frog with an impossible dream that came true.

STORYTELLER: The leaves are so thick in parts of the forest that less than ten percent of the sunlight reaches the jungle floor. Creatures may spend their whole lives without ever seeing the sun. There, on a log, lives the frog with his dream.


FROG:     
         Song 1

Just once I gotta see the sky
Just once above the trees
Just once I gotta get up high
Just once beyond the leaves.

Just once I wanna have some fun
I've got to get a plan
Just once I wanna feel the sun
Just once I wanna tan.

CHORUS:

He's tried leaping like a lizard
He's tried jumps of every sort
But he's stopping all that hopping
'Cause he's a hundred feet too short!

FROG:

Just once I wanna leave my log
To see if skies are blue
Just once I wanna be a frog
Who casts a shadow too.

Just once I gotta see the sky
Just once above the trees
Just once I gotta get up high
Just once beyond the leaves.

CHORUS:

He's tried leaping like a lizard
He's tried jumps of every sort
But he's stopping all that hopping
'Cause he's a hundred feet too short!

(TOUCAN enters, wing/arm in a sling)

STORYTELLER: The Frog's friend the Toucan has stopped by to see what Frog was singing about. Toucan hurt his wing the day before-and it still hurts.

FROG: Hello, Toucan. Can you fly me up to see the sky above the trees?

TOUCAN: I can't-my wing doesn't work. Every time I try to fly I just buzz around in a circle until I get dizzy.

FROG: Then how will I ever get up to the sky?

TOUCAN: Here comes the Jaguar. Maybe he will give you a lift up the tree.

(JAGUAR enters)

FROG: Hello, Jaguar. Can you take me up to see the sky above the trees?

JAGUAR: Don't be silly! Why would you ever want to go up there?

I'm a cool cool cat                                        
Song 2
This is where it is at
Here on the jungle floor.

Where the plants smell sweet
And there's critters to eat
Here on the jungle floor.

Who needs more?
Who needs more?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?
Tell me, man, what are you looking for?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?

There are bugs to trounce
Oh it's so fun to pounce
Here on the jungle floor.

It's so dark and damp
What a great place to camp
Here on the jungle floor.

CHORUS and JAGUAR:

Who needs more?
Who needs more?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?
Tell me, man, what are you looking for?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?

I'm a cool cool cat
This is where it is at
Here on the jungle floor.

Where the plants smell sweet
And there's critters to eat
Here on the jungle floor.

(JAGUAR exits)

STORYTELLER: The Frog was disappointed, but still determined. He spotted a family of sloths up in the branches of the tree.

FROG: Hello, Sloths. Can you take me up to see the sky above the trees?

SLOTHS:

I'm a sloth                                   
Song 3
I would help you up this tree
I'm a sloth
But I'm lazy as can be
I'm a sloth
So before I can agree to your request....[a good pause]
...I need to rest.

(SLOTHS fall asleep).

FROG: Hey, wake up!

SLOTHS:

I'm a sloth
I'd be down there in a blink
I'm a sloth
But I'm just too tired to think
I'm a sloth
Why just yesterday I blinked and ate some sap...
...I need a nap.

Did you see that?
DId you see that?
I'm getting set to go
Did you see that?
DId you see that?
I just moved a toe.

(THEY fall asleep again.)

TOUCAN: Hey you guys, wake up!
SLOTHS and CHORUS:

I'm a sloth
I'd come bounding in a blur
I'm a sloth
But I find it hard to stir
I'm a sloth
I've got algae in my fur two inches deep... ...I need some sleep.

(SLOTHS exit)

Song List

To hear a Real Audio song sample, click on the titles that are underlined. To hear the same samples with Windows Media Player, click on "Windows Media" near the name of the song. 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.

1. "Just Once"
2. "Who Needs More?"
3. "I’m a Sloth"
4. "Don’t Dither"
5. "Rumpus in the Rainforest"
6. "Cacao Bean"
7. "Up in the Canopy"
8. "Marching"
9. "The Forest is a Pharmacy"
10."If a Toucan Can/Rumpus in the Rainforest"
1.
2.  Windows Media
3. Windows Media
4.  Windows Media
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. Windows Media

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Vocabulary from Rumpus In The Rainforest

critters
trounce
pounce
dither
slinking
fracas
ruckus
cavorting
motherload
vault
maraschino cherry
chums

clout
eagerness
pharmacy

Rainforest Terms
jungle floor
sap
algae
weasel
wild pig
hawk

cacao bean

flora
canopy
shaman
bulb

Vocabulary From Stage Directions
longingly
furiously
shrieking

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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.

"It was a smash hit. You claimed it would be easy to do a musical, and you were right. The two school performances went so well that we took the show on the road to two nursing homes, which we hope now to make an annual tradition. We enjoyed the experience so much we convinced our third grade to do one your plays, too."
---Sara Belyea, Teacher (2nd grade), Rutgers Preparatory School, Somerset, NY

"We performed 'Rumpus in the Rain Forest' for the whole school. We loved the dialogue, the songs, and everything else. The paresnts were impressed, and the students in the audience loved it! A few of them told me, 'I wish MY teacher did plays with us!' This was a perfect culmination to our rainforest unit."
---Margaret Bergamin, Teacher (1st/2nd grades) Sundance Elementary, San Diego, CA

"At first I was a little nervous about the quantity of songs the children had to learn but they had no problem at all. I thought the way the play was written, the way the music was performed and the general tips that were given in the book were wonderful. Everyone loved the show and couldnt say enough about how well the children performed it."
---Ms. Patak, Teacher (2nd grade) Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School, Jamaica, NY

"The songs were easy to learn.  I could adapt the parts to fit the number of students in my class.  The songs could be sung as solos or multiple students could sing.  Costumes and stage props could be simple or as elaborate as you wanted.  All students, regardless of their actual part, felt like an important memeber, and some students who struggle academically were able to really shine throughout the play."
---Amy Hill, Teacher, (3rd grade), Wayne Elementary, Wayne, NE

"Songs were easy for the kids to learn, and the costume suggestions were wonderful.  It added a demension for students to explore the arts.  It was an opportunity for students that are not strong academically to excell in the arts .  I was able to see a side of students that is often hidden in a desk - acting.  It was a connection from science to geography to music; it is wholistic learning."
---Hilde Cline, Teacher, (3rd grade), Vine Street Elementary, Aberdeen, MS

"The children loved the show. We loved the music. I think it was great for my kids' self-esteem. They will remember doing the play---and the parents loved it."
---Mary Skreik, Teacher (2nd grade), Washburn Elementary, Washburn, WI

"It was a unique experience that cleverly wove the messages and concepts through word and song.  You would have been so proud of our children as they worked with me during recess to develop the unique choreography that added to the splendor of your creation.  Children realized it was OK to let their inhibitions go.  Many discovered a hidden talent for song, acting and dance.  Everyone had so much fun working in the multilevel experience.  We all laughed a great deal!"
---Jane Aikens, Teacher, (5th-8th grade), St. Maria Goretti School, Schiller Park, IL

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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.

But if you're gonna go this route, we want each of you to have your own copy of the Book/CD set.
There are three very good reasons:

  1. Each of you will start with a real book and CD, on heavy-weight paper with an easy-flip binding.
    And your disc will have all the track numbers clearly marked for each song both with and without
    singing. The numbering alone will save you real time and frustration.

  2. 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. A $9.95 value.

  3. Last but not least, you'll not be breaking any copyright rules.

One of our Book/CD sets costs $39.95, but if you purchase two, the price drops to $30 each.
So the second play is only $20!

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