| Dr. Emma loves to measure weather
(rumor has it that she owns 74 weather vanes). The Weather Show is the tale of
Emma's exciting adventure across the land and through weather of every sort in search of a
very special barometer. She faces all kinds of climatic obstacles (most of whom
sing!)---threatening clouds, competing air masses, the Wind sisters, and a shower of cats
and dogs. With the help of Ralph the Weather Dog and Groundhog who loves tongue twisters,
she learns the significance of the water cycle, how weather makes the earth habitable, and
how the elements of weather are all connected. We think the show is a wonderful
introduction to the study of water and weather, and works great with your science
curriculum. CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 11-40 students.
Use as many Water Drops, Wind Sisters, members of Warm Air Mass, etc. as desired. Students
can also play more than one role---the Storytellers, for example, can be played by any
student not in character at the moment in the script. Note that roles are not
gender-specific: any part can be played by a girl or a boy with a few simple change of
names and pronouns. See p.30 of the Teacher's Guide. |
Dr. Emma
Cats and Dogs
Ralph the Weather Dog
Water Drops
Wind Sisters
Shouter
Warm Air Mass
Cold Air Mass
Announcer
Analyst
Mr. Bolt
Storytellers (as many as desired)
and a Chorus made up of all
students who are not playing roles at the time.
ENTIRE CLASS (sings) :
Song 1
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
(The CLASS freezes as the music stops and the phone rings.
EMMA enters, picks up phone.)
EMMA: Hello? Oh, hi Mr. Bolt!
STORYTELLER (stepping forward, as we see HER continue to speak, looking very excited and
happy. STORYTELLER points to EMMA): This is Dr. Emma. She loves to measure the weather.
She's talking to Mr. Bolt, an antique dealer. He has a very old barometer-just what she
wants for her collection.
EMMA (excitedly): Oh no, don't sell it to anyone else! I'll come over right away. Thanks,
Mr. Bolt. Bye.
(to audience)
The case is silver, with fancy designs! It's a really old barometer! And Mr. Bolt will
sell it to me if I can get to his store by 2:00 this afternoon. That gives me...
(SHE looks at watch)
...four hours. Great. Did I mention the case was silver?
(As the CLASS continues the song, we see EMMA dashing around excitedly trying to put on
her coat---she puts it on all wrong several times---, maybe emptying a piggy bank, hunting
for an umbrella. NOTE: EMMA has several spoken lines during the song which are not on the
rehearsal tape)
CLASS (individual STUDENTS take turns---it is important to hear individual voices):
STUDENT A:
Dr. Emma's greatest pleasure
Is running out to measure
Snow and rain and wind that come her way.
STUDENT B:
She has lots of dials and meters
She measures pounds and liters
Checks the weather every day.
EMMA (spoken): I've got to get going!
STUDENT C:
There're balloons that she sends sailing
Ev'ry time that it starts hailing
She's got 16 weather vanes.
EMMA: Where's my umbrella?
STUDENT D:
But for all her careful tracking
There's just one thing she's lacking
One device she must obtain.
ENTIRE CLASS:
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
(NOTE: a few members of the CHORUS sing the "echoed"
words in parentheses)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest (a quest)
Oh yes (oh yes)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
EMMA: There's no time to lose-I've
waited years for this barometer.
STUDENT E:
Is it colder, is it hotter?
In summer you will spot her
Taking notes in sunlight and shade.
STUDENT F:
When snow comes most folks hate it
She's out to calibrate it
Fahrenheit and centigrade.
ENTIRE CLASS:
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest (a quest)
Oh yes (oh yes)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest for the ancient
Dr. Emma's greatest pleasure
Is running out to measure
Quest (a quest)
A Quest (a quest)
Oh yes (oh yes)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
STORYTELLER: Emma has four hours to walk a few blocks from her apartment in Manhattan to
Mr. Bolt's antique store.
(EMMA is strolling across the stage)
But suddenly it starts to rain-and it's no ordinary rain.
(A bunch of stuffed toys-dogs and cats-are tossed onto the stage just before CATS and DOGS
enter.)
CATS and DOGS :
Song
2
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
See the Saint Bernard splash down
Raining-Watch out for that basset hound.
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
Pouring labradors so hard
Raining-Beagles flooding out the yard.
A shower now of kitties
Oh no, oh no
A shower now of German shepherds
And oodles of poodles in puddles wherever you go!
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
Can't you smell that wet sharpei?
Raining-Raining cats and dogs all day.
(CATS and DOGS do the Cat and Dog Dance, or THEY can hold the stuffed animals and
"dance" them around)
CATS and DOGS and CHORUS:
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
See the Saint Bernard splash down
Raining-Watch out for that basset hound.
Watch out for that basset hound.
Raining-watch out for that basset hound.
(CATS and DOGS exit. From the side of stage enters RALPH the WEATHER DOG.)
STORYTELLER: Emma is stuck for an hour waiting for the downpour to stop. When it does,
Ralph the Weather Dog appears, having come down in the storm.
RALPH (to EMMA): Whew, that was some nasty cumulo-nimbus. You got a towel?
EMMA: No, I don't. Could you move? I'm in a terrible hurry.
RALPH: Well excoooooose me. I'm drenching wet, I've been chased out of the sky by
lightning, and I need a fire hydrant, if you know what I mean. I ought to bite you.
EMMA: I'm sorry.
RALPH: Well, you're lucky I'm in a good mood.
EMMA: If you'd like to come with me, I'm heading to a store where I'm sure my friend
Mr.Bolt will have a towel.
RALPH: Has the lightning stopped? I hate lightning.
EMMA: There's no lightning. But please, we've got to hurry. I've already lost an hour
waiting out the storm.
CHORUS and EMMA
:
Song
3
Oh no
So slow
Three hours
To go
Three hours for the ancient barometer.
Oh no (oh no)
So slow (so slow)
Three hours (three hours)
To go (to go)
Three hours for the ancient barometer.
STORYTELLER: Ralph is happy to tag along in search of a towel. In fact, he says he knows a
short-cut, and leads the way.
STORYTELLER: Unfortunately Ralph's not too good with New York streets. Soon they are lost
and come to a street flooded with water. Emma is worried-there's no way to get across.
(WATER DROPS enter and kneel in front of RALPH and EMMA)
EMMA: What'll we do now?
RALPH: Don't look at me, I can't even dog-paddle.
EMMA: Well if you hadn't stopped to sniff every light post.
RALPH: I'm a dog. Sue me. Hey, maybe these water drops can help.
WATER DROP #1 (to EMMA): Sure we can, but we need a little respect.
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.
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| Vocabulary
Terms From The Weather Show |
antique
meter
liter
lacking
obtain
calibrate
“raining cats and dogs”
Saint Bernard
basset hound
labrador
beagle
German
shepherd
sharpei
dogpaddle
Mets
appointment
hibernate
fuss
guff |
sass
grudge match
flank
foreboding
ominous
jolt
volt
flee
trend
conclusion
feat
chuck
tongue-twister
iridescently
Weather
Terms
barometer
atmospheric
pressure
hail
weather vane |
fahrenheit
centigrade
cumulo nimbus
evaporation
stormcloud
precipitation
gusty
hurricane
typhoon
thermometer
isobar
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
dashing
individual
kneel
distinguish
affectionately |
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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.
"I loved
the length of the play and the tape having both music with lyrics and music with out
lyrics. It had great songs, and was easy to adapt to the different numbers of class
sizes. It was a great community building activity, good for developing
performance/public speaking skills. It is confidence building, and a fun way to
support/extend learning."
---Judy Nachlas, Teacher, (4th grade), Christiansburg Elementary, Christiansburg, VA
"My second grade class just completed a production of 'The Weather Show' and it was a
smashing success. I knew we had a winner when they started choosing to rehearse
during their free choice time. I especially appreciate the way you build success
into your accompaniemnt. The musical cues, the well-timed pause, the accessible
pitch range, etc. All of these things make for a masterful production that the
children wil remember for a lifetime. The individual success stories could take up
another page, but I wanted you to know how much I apprectiate what you do for kids (and
teachers too). Thank you ver much."
Linda McCutcheon, Teacher, (2nd grade), Patterson Road School, Santa Maria, CA 93455
"Awesome!
My children are still singing about air masses! Chrildren became familiar and comfortable
with new scientific vocabulary. If you can read and press play---you've
got it made!"
---Jackie Dooley, Teacher (3rd grade), Bond Elementary, Assumption, IL
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