Earthworms Make America Great is a great complement to your curriculum
resources in primary grade life science and environmental education. 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: 978-1-886588-47-9
© 2009 Bad Wolf Press, LLC
Song Samples
Full Song List
1. Earthworms Make America Great
2. Eight Foot Worm
3. The Little Earthworm that Could
4. All My Worms Is Gone
5. Earthworms Have Heart
6. Earthworms on Parade
7. Love to Dance
8. Eating Dirt
9. Earthworms Make America Great (reprise)
Casting
Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Script
This is the first one-third of the script:
SINGERS:
Each song in this show is sung by the entire cast. (In one song, a couple
individual singers sing back and forth with the rest of the class.) However,
the songs can easily be divided up among the students if that is desired.
STORY-TELLERS:
Each scene in the show is introduced with a very brief bit of dialogue
involving three student actors. We have numbered these parts 1-27, but
students may of course take more than one part. And since each "part" has
two lines in a scene, more student actors could be used as well by using
up
to six storytellers in each scene.
(ENTIRE CLASS enters as music starts to play. They face the audience.
Across
the back of classroom/stage is a giant poster that spells out EARTHWORM.
During the performance, the Student who announces the next letter can
first
go up to the poster and point out the letter. Or the Student can wear
a
cardboard sign around his or her neck with the letter written in big
print.
Or Students can wear T-shirts with the appropriate letter inscribed across
the front. You can fade out the music when the students are set up.)
STUDENT 1 (to audience): E is for "Earthworms."
STUDENT 2: There are over four thousand species of earthworm.
STUDENT 3: There are probably more earthworms by weight under the ground
than livestock above it.
STUDENT 1: That's a lot of earthworms.
STUDENT 2: I had no idea.
STUDENT 3: Yep. Earthworms make America great.
Song 1 -
Listen now!
CLASS:
So much is great about this land
The mountains, plains, and desert sand
America is flying high
With Uncle Sam and apple pie.
But the things that really make her
Are the worms in every acre...
Earthworms make America great
Earthworms!
Earthworms make America great.
They make the soil for me and you
I think they bleed red, white, and blue
No, they're not fuzzy, warm and cute
But when they crawl by, I salute.
No bald eagle, bear or turtle
Makes our fruited plains so fertile...
Earthworms make America great
Earthworms!
Earthworms make America great.
Look up at the flag
Proud as you can be
Its lovely stripes:
They're earthworms,
Earthworms flying free!
Earthworms make America great
Earthworms!
Earthworms make America great.
STUDENT 4: A is for "Australia."
STUDENT 5 (to #4): What's have to do with earthworms?
STUDENT 6: They have eight-foot earthworms in Australia.
STUDENT 4: And a Giant Earthworm Museum.
STUDENT 5: Giant earthworms?
STUDENT 6: Yep. And you should see the fish they catch with them.
(Spreads arms wide apart to show how big the fish is.)
Song 2 -
Listen now!
CLASS:
Down, down, down in Australia
With the kangaroos
They've got a creature who's been making news.
There, there, there with the wombat
And koala bear
They've got an earthworm that will make you stare.
One foot
Two foot
Three foot
Four
I hope that's all but I think there's more.
Five foot
Six foot
Seven foot
Eight
And foot worm and it¹s learning to skate.
An eight foot worm learning to skate.
Down, down, down in Australia
With the platypus
They've got an earthworm who's as big as us.
There, there, there all the robins
Have a heart attack
Pulling an earthworm that can pull right back.
One foot
Two foot
Three foot
Four
I hope that's all but I think there's more.
Five foot
Six foot
Seven foot
Eight
And foot worm and it's learning to skate.
An eight foot worm learning to skate.
Here it comes!
One foot
Two foot
Three foot
Four
I hope that's all but I think there's more.
Five foot
Six foot
Seven foot
Eight
And foot worm and it¹s learning to skate.
An eight foot worm learning to skate.
STUDENT 7: R is for "R you crazy?"
STUDENT 8 (to #7): That's not a real R.
STUDENT 9: Tell that to Betty.
STUDENT 7: Earthworms move very slowly, contracting their muscles to
shorten and lengthen their bodies.
STUDENT 8: What's that got to do with Betty?
STUDENT 9: Gather 'round, children, and hear the tale.
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
"The play was so fabulous. The kids loved the songs and were so
excited to perform for
their families. The information aligned with our science unit about worms.
We had so
much fun!"
---Teresa Vitelli, Teacher (kindergarten), Brookhaven Elementary, Brookhaven,
CA
"The lines were given to 5 and 6 year olds and most had them memorized
in a week.
They did a great job. The blues song was their favorite and they really
hammed it up."
---Jenny Eyler, Teacher (primary students ages 3-6), North Fork Community
Montessori School, Hotchkiss, CO
Common Core and Other National Standards
Science
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
National Core Arts Standards
Vocabulary
species
platypus
surveys
aerate
compost
assert
wombat
"the blues"
fertile
"traveling shoes"
thrive
shrewd
hurtle
"fruited plains"
refrain
"no jive"
moldy
devour
livestock
contracting
grammar
"to vamp"
two-step
topsoil
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?
- You will need to have Adobe Reader (free) or another software application that can open PDF files.
- 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.
- 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.