• 15-minute musical play for grades 1-4
  • Includes the script, teacher's guide, and audio recording (which contains a vocal and instrumental version of each song)
  • Simple to do - no music or drama experience needed!

Once it was winter all the time... Summer was trapped in a bag inside a tipi at the snow's edge (a very, very long long way from here). This Native American tale tells how Coyote brings summer to the world and earns his famous gift of trickery as a reward. This delightful story from the Crow Nation is a wonderful way to introduce students to Native American cultures and folk tales from around the world.

Please scroll down to read the script, listen to the songs, read reviews, and get all the details about the play (plot, curriculum/content, educational standards, and vocabulary).

Item # Description Availability Qty Break Price Quantity
PLAY - For individual teachers or directors
Order 1 copy of play for each teacher/director who will be using it. Includes permission to print/photocopy for all participating actors. Mix and match 2 or more plays to get them for $35 each.
COYO-PL-DIG
Downloadable Version of Play
- You will receive a PDF and MP3 files
Download 1
2+
$45.00
$35.00
COYO-PL-PRI
Printed Version of Play
- You will receive a Spiral-Bound Book and Audio CD
In Stock 1
2+
$45.00
$35.00
COYO-PL-DUO
Duo Version - Download AND Printed Book
- You will receive 1) a PDF and MP3 files, and 2) a Spiral-Bound Book and Audio CD
In Stock 1
2+
$55.00
$45.00
SITE LICENSE VERSION OF PLAY - For whole schools or grade levels
Order 1 site license per school/site. Includes permission to print/photocopy for all participating students AND teachers. Why a site license? Because it's cheaper than ordering 3+ individual copies of the play.
COYO-SL-DIG
Downloadable Version of Site License
- You will receive a PDF and MP3 files
Download 1 $90.00
COYO-SL-PRI
Printed Version of Site License
- You will receive 3 copies of the Spiral-Bound Book and Audio CD
In Stock 1 $90.00
Extra/Replacement Audio Recordings
COYO-AU-DIG
Downloadable Audio Files
- You will receive a ZIP file containing individual MP3s
Download 1 $12.00
COYO-AU-PRI
Audio CD
In Stock 1 - 9
10+
$12.00
$6.00
COYO-AU-DUO
Downloadable Audio Files (MP3) + Audio CD
In Stock 1 $20.00
Sheet Music
COYO-MU-DIG
Downloadable Sheet Music (PDF)
Download 1 $12.00
COYO-MU-PRI
Printed Sheet Music
In Stock 1 $12.00
COYO-MU-DUO
Downloadable Sheet Music (PDF) + Printed Sheet Music
In Stock 1 $20.00
Need more information about pricing or licensing? Click the Q&A tab below!

$0.00



Coyote Steals the Summer is a great complement to your resources in elementary language arts, multicultural studies, and folk tale/trickster curriculum. And, like all of our plays, this show can be used to improve reading, vocabulary, reading comprehension, performance and music skills, class camaraderie and teamwork, and numerous social skills (read about it!) -- all while enabling students to be part of a truly fun and creative experience they will never forget!


Publication Information

Author: Ron Fink (Composer) and John Heath (Book and Lyrics)
ISBN: 978-1-886588-09-7
© 1997 Bad Wolf Press, LLC

Song Samples

Full Song List

1. "If You Steal Summer"
2. "We Are Old Oaks"
3. "We Can Help"
4. "A Long Way to the Tipi Folk"
5. "M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i"
6. "Ending Sequence"


Casting

Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Use as many Sky Spirits, Oak Trees, 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.

Script

This is the first one-third of the script:

CHARACTERS:

Storytellers
Sky Spirits
Coyote
Oak Trees
Rabbits
Foxes
Eagles
Tipi Folk
Chorus (comprised of all students who are not playing their role
on stage at that moment)

STORYTELLER 1: Once it was winter all the time. Most of the earth
was covered with snow, and the animals were cold and hungry.

STORYTELLER 2: The Sky Spirits knew that summer was kept locked
up in a bag at the edge of the snow.

STORYTELLER 3: They needed someone to bring summer to the world,
and so they turned to Coyote for help.

(We see the COYOTE enter, shivering, walking slowly. After a few
moments, from the side of the stage we hear the SKY SPIRITS:)

SKY SPIRITS: Coyote, oh Coyote!

COYOTE: Who's there?

SKY SPIRITS: We are the sky spirits. This eternal winter must end.
Will you help us?

COYOTE: What can I do?

SKY SPIRITS: You must steal summer.

COYOTE: Steal summer? I'm tired of being cold, but that sounds hard!

SKY SPIRITS (entering): Yes, but think what great honor you will earn.

  Song 1 - Listen now!

SKY SPIRITS:
If you steal summer
Think how famous you will be
You'll be known as clever and smart
You'll turn sneakiness into an art.

COYOTE: I don't know if I can...

SKY SPIRITS:
If you steal summer
Think how honored you will be
You'll be respected for tricks that you play
We guarantee fame is coming your way!

You will be the stuff of legend
You're gonna have such fame
Everyone'll want your autograph
Everyone'll know your name.

CHORUS:
Coyote! Coyote!

SKY SPIRITS: Everyone will sing
Coyote! Coyote!
It's got that certain ring.
Coyote! Coyote!
Everyone will sing
Coyote! Coyote!
It's got that certain ring.

COYOTE: Well, I guess maybe I could...

SKY SPIRITS:
If you steal summer
Think how famous you will be
You'll be known as clever and smart
You'll turn sneakiness into an art.

SKY SPIRITS and CHORUS:
You will be the stuff of legend
You're gonna have such fame
Everyone'll want your autograph
Everyone'll know your name.

Coyote! Coyote!
Everyone will sing
Coyote! Coyote!
It's got that certain ring.
Coyote! Coyote!
Everyone will sing
Coyote! Coyote!
It's got that certain ring.
It's got that certain ring.

COYOTE: Yes, I'll do it! I can't wait to be clever!

SKY SPIRITS: Then you must go to the far edge of the forest. There
live the Tipi Folk, the people who keep the summer tied to one of the
poles of their tipi. Good luck. They are very clever, and no one has ever
been able to steal summer from them. (exit)

COYOTE: I can't wait to try my tricks on them.

OAKS (entering): On who?

COYOTE: Who said that?

OAKS: We did, the oak trees. We're so tired of it being winter all the time.
Are you really going to steal summer? Are you that clever? Could it be that
we will feel the warm sunshine on our bark?

Song 2

OAKS:
We are old oaks but we're shaking with glee
You won't discover a happier tree
Please steal the summer as fast as you can
Tell us the details of your clever plan.
Tell us the details of your clever plan.

COYOTE (Spoken-trying hard to think): Um...

OAKS (excited): Yeah?

COYOTE: Um...

OAKS: Yeah?

COYOTE (trying to explain): I'm thinking about it.

OAKS (disappointed): Oh.

OAKS:
We are old oaks and we still have some hope
Let's pray coyote here isn't a dope
You bring the sun and then we'll make the shade
Tell us exactly what plans you have made.
Tell us exactly what plans you have made.

COYOTE (still trying hard to think): Um...

OAKS (excited): Yeah?

COYOTE: Um...

OAKS: Yeah?

COYOTE (desperate): Give me some more time.

OAKS (disappointed): Oh.

OAKS and CHORUS:
We are old oaks and things don't look so good
Go ahead chop us down use us for wood
Build a big campfire for all of the folk
Our dreams of summer have gone up in smoke.
Our dreams of summer have gone up in smoke.

(RABBITS, FOXES, and EAGLES enter, all shivering)

RABBITS, FOXES, EAGLES: Why do you look so glum, Coyote?

COYOTE: Oh, hello animals. I'm supposed to steal summer, but I have
no idea how. Would you help me?

RABBITS, FOXES, EAGLES: We'd love to help. Will you let us? We're
so cold and tired of it being winter all the time. Wouldn't it be great to
have summer!

  Song 3 - Listen now!

RABBITS :
We are white rabbits
We're dreaming of summer
When snow doesn't cover the ground.

Our ears will be flopping
As we go out hopping
For carrots that grow all year 'round.

FOXES:
We are brown foxes
We're dreaming of summer
We'll lie in the sun all we can
We'll sit by the ocean
And pile on the lotion
We'll sip lemonade and get tan.

FOXES and RABBITS:
We can help
We can help
Tell us what to do.
We can help
We can help
We want summer too.

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

Overall Customer Rating:
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Customer Reviews: 3


Rating:
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Pros:
  • Music
  • fun
  • engaging
Cons:
Coyote Steals the Summer

This was fun and super easy to follow. The students were able to learn the songs quickly. They made up their own actions to the songs.

Auburn, CA

Rating:
review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star

Pros:
  • great for 4th grade
  • Native Americans
Cons:
Great musical to go with Native American unit

I have done several Bad Wolf Press musicals with my classes over the years and love them all. This is the 3rd time I am doing Coyote Steals the Summer with my 4th graders and it is the perfect culmination to our study of CA Natives and the legends they tell. My students learn the songs and dialogue so quickly and show such enthusiasm for the music. We love presenting our musicals to other classes and student's families, and everyone who watches just raves about them.

Brookline, MA

Rating:
review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star

Pros:
Cons:
Great Show!!

Coyote---great show, catchy tunes.... great for reader's theater. My students really enjoyed it. The CD is very catchy too!



Additional Comments and Reviews:

"I love this show. The music is so singable and the story is fun. When kids leave for middle school they often say one of the things they remember the most was being in a play or performing on stage. The kids love this. It helps them develop confidence and self-worth. And the parents love it."

---Rebecca Anderson, Teacher (K-3), Abia Judd Elementary, Prescott, AZ


"My students loved it -- they wanted to perform over and over. I really appreciate the way your shows reinforce ideas and concepts that we are studying. We do thematic based units at my school, and so many of the topics are done in your play. There is nothing disappointing about about any of your work in my opinion. Just keep doing more!"

---Ann Burk, Teacher (1st grade), Montana City School, Montana City, MT


"Coyote Steals the Summer was easy to learn. The students picked up on the songs quickly. The language and story line made sense to them. It had a really cute lesson. It tied nicely into our Aboriginal and Science curriculum. I also liked that it was a nice short play, which made it easy to find time to practice throughout the day.

"Doing a play helps the students become more confident and outgoing. They learn how to read different forms of text. It is important that students know how to present themselves in front of an audience. It helps with their speech, vocabulary and language. The students are excited to be a part of something big in the school and to present in front of their parents and peers."

---Melissa Vissner, Teacher (1st-2nd grade), Cormorant Lake School, Cormorant, Manitoba, Canada


"All the students were involved on the stage---everyone had a part. The children enjoyed performing and are still singing the songs on bus trips. They had fun."

---June Dudding, Teacher (1st grade), Margaret Leary Elementary, Butte, MT

Common Core and Other National Standards

Language Arts

  • Common Core Reading Standards for Literature: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
  • Common Core Reading Standards: Foundational Skills:
    • K and 1st: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Word Recognition
    • 2nd: Phonics and Word Recognition
    • 3rd, 4th, 5th: Phonics and Word Recognition, Fluency
  • Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
  • Common Core Language Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
  • Common Core Standard 10: Range, Quality & Complexity: Range of Text Types for K-5th

History/Social Studies

National Core Arts Standards


Vocabulary

eternal
guarantee
tipi
bark
glee
glum
regal
“throwing curves”
crucial
astonished

Number of questions: 0

Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Wolf Products and Licensing

How does your pricing and licensing work?

A: In short: each teacher/director using the play should have a copy of it. That's it! Your purchase gives you the right to use the play with as many classes as you wish, to photocopy the script for your actors, and to put on as many performances as you wish. This one-time purchase gives you a lifetime license. See below for more information on site licenses (for 3+ teachers or whole schools).

Q: What comes in the package?

A: Every musical play comes with the script and a 12-page Teacher's Guide that provides lots of tips and advice for using the play from start to finish. It also includes the audio recording for the play, which has all the songs both WITH and WITHOUT vocals. Sheet music is NOT included with the basic package, but it is available for $12. Extra/replacement CDs are also available for $12.

Every non-musical play comes with the script and the 12-page Teacher's Guide.

Q: I'm just one teacher putting on a play. If I use the play with multiple classes, do I have to purchase multiple licenses?

A: No! Your purchase gives you a lifetime license to be used with as many actors and classes as you wish. If other teachers/directors wish to use the play as well, they will need to purchase their own licenses.

Q: Do I need to purchase scripts for students?

A: No! Your purchase includes permission to photocopy the script for your actors.

Q: What is a "site license"? How do I know if I need one?

A site license is the economical choice when a whole school or grade level wants to put on the same play. Instead of each teacher/director having to purchase a script, the school/site can purchase a site license. This comes with three copies of the play (or one digital download) and permission to make copies for any additional participating teachers, as well as all the actors. You do NOT need to purchase both a site license and individual copies of the play; just buy one or the other.

Q: I understand that I can get two or more scripts for $35 each. Do they have to be the same play?

Nope! The discount applies whether you are purchasing multiple copies of the same show or single copies of multiple shows.

Q: What is the difference between the printed and digital versions? Which one should I get?

There is no difference in terms of content. The printed version of a musical play comes with an audio CD in a plastic sleeve in the back of the book. The digital version comes with two downloadable files: the script (PDF format) and the songs (individual MP3 files compressed in ZIP format). The advantage of the digital version is that you will not pay shipping and you can start using it instantly. Please read the question following this one about the technical requirements for digital files.

Non-musical plays are available in the form of a printed book or a PDF file.

Q: What are the technical requirements for the digital version?

  1. You will need to have Adobe Reader (free) or another software application that can open PDF files.
  2. You will need to be able to open ZIP files. The vast majority of computers should be able to do this without difficulty. If you wish to download the music directly to your phone or tablet, you will need to download an app that will open ZIP files. Many free ones are available.
  3. You will need to have some kind of audio player (such as iTunes or Windows Media Player) that will play MP3 files.

Advanced technical knowledge is not required; but please note that we do not have the ability to offer technical support for issues related to digital files. If you are unsure, it is probably best to stick with the printed version.

Q: What is your return/exchange policy?

A: Bad Wolf proudly offers a 100% guarantee. You can always exchange a product for another or get a full refund. No time limits, no questions.

Q: Is it OK if I edit the script?

A: Yes! Consider the play to be a jumping-off point. You are always welcome to change or omit anything that doesn't work for your class, administration, or parents. You are welcome to rewrite lyrics, lines, or jokes -- or add your own! (The kids love doing this, by the way.)

Q: How long does shipping take?

A: We say that you should allow for one week within the U.S., but most orders are shipped the same day and arrive 1-3 days later. International orders usually take around two weeks to arrive.

Q: Do I need to pay any performance royalties?

A: As long as your admission price is less than $5 per ticket, you never need to pay performance royalties with a Bad Wolf show. If you decide to charge more than $5 a ticket, or if you are using one of our plays for a PAID workshop, camp, assembly, etc., pay only a low 1-2% royalty on gross revenues. See our royalty page to view the rates and pay.