Friendly Neighborhood Helpers is a great complement to your curriculum
resources
in elementary school social studies. 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: 978-1-886588-26-4
© 2002 Bad Wolf Press, LLC
Song Samples
Full Song List
1. Friendly Neighborhood Helpers
2. I'm the Crossing Guard
3. We Do
4. We Are All Dentists
5. Grocery Store
6. We Carry the Mail
7. We Are Chefs
8. The Plumbers Again
9. The Lovely Garbage Truck
10. I'm Gonna Be
11. Friendly Neighborhood Helpers (reprise)
Casting
Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Use as many Mail Carriers, Fire Fighters, etc. as desired.
One student can easily play several roles if needed. Note that all roles
can be played by either boys or girls. The Storyteller will be played by many students
(who may also play the role of a neighborhood helper).
Script
This is the first one-third of the script:
CHARACTERS:
Storytellers (many students share the role)
Crossing Guard
Fire Fighters
Dentists
Fruit Grocer
Vegetable Grocer
Dairy Grocer
Mail Carriers
Chefs
Plumbers
Kid Garbage Truck Fans
Veterinarian
Librarian
Recycler
and a CHORUS comprised of all students who are not playing roles on stage
at the time
(STUDENTS face the audience in small groups. There might be a large
banner across the
top of the backdrop that clearly reads “Friendly Neighborhood Helpers.”)
Song 1 -
Listen now!
CLASS :
You bring the mail
You find us books
You put out fires
You catch the crooks
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
You’ve checked our teeth
Since we were tots
You fix the drain
You give us shots.
PART of CLASS (shouts): Ouch!
CLASS:
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
We thank you.
Here’s our show
Starring you
Folks will know
All that you do.
Here’s our show
Starring you
Folks will know
All that you do.
You bring the mail
You find us books
You put out fires
You catch the crooks
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
You’ve checked our teeth
Since we were tots
You fix the drain
You give us shots.
PART of CLASS (shouts): Ouch!
CLASS:
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
We thank you.
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
(CLASS exits/sits down. STORYTELLERS take turns throughout the show.
Storyteller
lines may be divided among as many students as desired.)
STORYTELLER: Welcome to our show.
STORYTELLER: Today we are going to count down our top ten friendly neighborhood
helpers.
STORYTELLER: Starting it off at number 10—up three from last year’s
countdown—is
the Crossing Guard.
(CROSSING GUARD step ups and faces audience)
Song 2
CROSSING GUARD:
I look left
I look right
Not a car in sight.
Oh I look long
I look hard
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the boss when you cross the street
I’m the dude when you move your feet
I’m the king of the boulevard
I’m the crossing guard.
(spoken): Okay, everybody, it’s safe to walk across. Keep moving,
Kim, you can tie
shoes once you get across.
I look up
I look down
Not a car around.
Oh I look near
I look far
I’m the crossing guard.
CROSSING GUARD and CHORUS:
I’m the boss when you cross the street
I’m the dude when you move your feet
I’m the king of the boulevard
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the crossing guard.
(CROSSING GUARD exits.)
STORYTELLER: Number nine on our list is an important neighborhood helper.
STORYTELLER: These are the people to call when we see smoke or flames.
STORYTELLER: Here are the fire fighters.
(FIRE FIGHTERS enter)
Song 3 -
Listen now!
FIRE FIGHTERS: :
Who fights the fires and puts them out?
We do. We do.
Who pulls folks from a burning house?
We do. We do.
Who drives a truck that’s big and red?
Who wears a helmet on our head?
We do. We do.
CHORUS: Who fights the fires and puts them out?
FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.
CHORUS: Who pulls folks from a burning house?
FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.
CHORUS: Who drives a truck that’s big and red?
Who wears a helmet on our head?
FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.
Never play with fire
Or you might get burned
This is one big lesson
We all hope you’ve learned.
Who answers calls in nothing flat?
We do. We do.
Who climbs a tree to get your cat?
We do. We do.
Who likes water more than frogs?
Who likes hydrants more than dogs?
We do. We do.
We do, we do, we do, we do, we do.
(FIRE FIGHTERS exit.)
STORYTELLER: And now it’s time for number eight. And the winner
is…
GARBAGE TRUCK FANS (shout): The garbage truck!
STORYTELLER: What?
GARBAGE TRUCK FANS (shout): The garbage truck! We LOVE the
garbage truck.
STORYTELLER: No. I’m sorry. The garbage truck is NOT on our list.
STORYTELLER: Number eight in our countdown are the Dentists.
(DENTISTS enter)
Song 4
DENTISTS :
We are all dentists
Oh that is the truth
We are all dentists
We love ev’ry tooth.
We like enamel
That’s strong as it comes
We are all dentists
We dream about gums.
Open wide
Open wider
We adore
Each incisor.
Open wide
Open wider
We adore molars too!
We are all dentists
We hate tooth decay
We are all dentists
So brush twice a day.
Brush in small circles
And never across
We are all dentists
We love a good floss.
DENTISTS and CHORUS:
Open wide
Open wider
We adore
Each incisor.
Open wide
Open wider
We adore molars too!
We adore molars too!
(THEY exit.)
STORYTELLER: Number seven on our list brings us fruit, vegetables, and
milk.
STORYTELLER: Grocers are the people who make sure that good food is
available
every day.
STORYTELLER: Without them, we would get VERY hungry!
STORY TELLER: Up from number 13, here are the Grocers.
(GROCERS enter)
Song 5 -
Listen now!
FRUIT GROCER:
I’m in charge of fruit at the grocery store
CHORUS:
Boysenberry fig and cherry, boysenberry woh woh woh
FRUIT GROCER:
Here’s a nectarine and I’ve got a lot more
CHORUS:
Boysenberry fig and cherry, boysenberry woh woh woh
FRUIT GROCER:
If you feel a little glum…
Try a plum.
VEGGIE GROCER:
I’m the veggie gal at the grocery store
CHORUS:
Rutabaga baked potato, rutabaga woh woh woh
VEGGIE GROCER:
Here’s an artichoke and I’ve got a lot more
CHORUS:
Rutabaga baked potato, rutabaga woh woh woh
VEGGIE GROCER:
If you’re ever in a jam…
Try a yam.
VEGGIE GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store Grocery store
So many places here to explore
ONE STUDENT (shouts): Clean up on aisle four!
CHORUS:
Grocery store.
DAIRY GROCER:
I’m the dairy guy at the grocery store
CHORUS:
Milk and butter from the udder, milk and butter woh woh woh
DAIRY GROCER:
Here’s some whipping cream and I’ve got a lot more
CHORUS:
Milk and butter from the udder, milk and butter woh woh woh
DAIRY GROCER:
If you’re ever in a squeeze…
Try some cheese.
CHORUS and GROCERS:
Grocery store
Grocery store
So many places here to explore
SEVERAL STUDENTS (shout): Clean up on aisle four!
GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store.
(GROCERS do the Grocery Store Dance during instrumental)
GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store
Grocery store
So many places here to explore
ONE STUDENT (shouts): Clean up on aisle four!
GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store.
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
"Friendly Neighborhood Helpers is the first play I've done---with
three teachers and sixty students. The play allows for flexibility, which
is great. You can do it with a small group or a large group. Community
is a first-grade standard so it fit perfectly with our curriculum. We
loved the catchy tunes and simple dialogue. It was perfect for first
grade. We loved it and plan on doing more next year!"
---Amy Trayer, Teacher (1st grade), Payne Elementary, San Jose, CA
"You helped me provide a wonderful opportunity for my students.
It was so easy and
well organized. The songs and script were fun for the kids. I would tell
any teacher to
give it a try. Everything is well prepared and my audience loved it!"
---Toni Day, Teacher (1st-2nd grades), Eastlawn Elementary, Burnettsville,
IN
"The third grade class that I'm working with performed for the
whole school
yesterday. They were awesome!!! Their teacher was thrilled, they were
thrilled,
and the audience was blown away. The teacher remarked that Neighborhood
Helpers was great for her class. The mostly-music format works so well
at
this level."
---Rich Howell, Founder, EnRiching Education, Nevada City, CA
"I loved it! It fit perfectly in our curriculum. The children loved
it too. I really enjoyed
doing your plays!"
---Melissa Farrell, Teacher (1st-2nd grades), Peaslee School, Northboro,
MA
"The play was easy to put together and the parts and songs were
easy for the students
to learn."
---Deborah D. Daley, Teacher (1st grade), Mayfield Elementary, Lapeer, MI
"I love that you provide plays that correlate to the curriculum.
The community helpers
play is lively, clever and funny too. My students loved it!"
---Cynthia Booker, Teacher (2nd grade), Kaegebein Elementary, Grand Island,
NY
"Pretty neat!"
---Brenda Choe, Teacher (2nd grade), Wilton Place Elementary, Los Angeles,
CA
Common Core and Other National Standards
History/Social Studies
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
boulevard
hydrant
enamel
adore
incisor
molar
decay
boysenberry
nectarine
rutabaga
artichoke
yam
udder
catalogue
sleet
ton
baste
broil
grinding
mend
perk
sift
scrap
Vocabulary From Stage Directions
throughout
divided
desired
exaggerated
bout
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).
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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.
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lyrics, lines, or jokes -- or add your own! (The kids love doing this, by the way.)
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