"Pirates from Grammar Island" Musical Play by Bad Wolf Press
Bestseller!
    • 25-minute musical play for grades 2-6
    • 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!

    Sure, they're pirates, but you won't believe what buried treasure they're looking for. With a map in one hand and a dictionary in the other, these brigands scour uncharted waters for grammatical gold: complete sentences, parts of speech, contractions, subject-verb agreement, and correct punctuation and capitalization.

    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.
    PIRA-PL-DIG
    Downloadable Version of Play
    - You will receive a PDF and MP3 files
    Download 1
    2+
    $45.00
    $35.00
    PIRA-PL-PRI
    Printed Version of Play
    - You will receive a Spiral-Bound Book and Audio CD
    In Stock 1
    2+
    $45.00
    $35.00
    PIRA-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.
    PIRA-SL-DIG
    Downloadable Version of Site License
    - You will receive a PDF and MP3 files
    Download 1 $90.00
    PIRA-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
    PIRA-AU-DIG
    Downloadable Audio Files
    - You will receive a ZIP file containing individual MP3s
    Download 1 $12.00
    PIRA-AU-PRI
    Audio CD
    In Stock 1 - 9
    10+
    $12.00
    $6.00
    PIRA-AU-DUO
    Downloadable Audio Files (MP3) + Audio CD
    In Stock 1 $20.00
    Sheet Music
    PIRA-MU-DIG
    Downloadable Sheet Music (PDF)
    Download 1 $12.00
    PIRA-MU-PRI
    Printed Sheet Music
    In Stock 1 $8.00
    PIRA-MU-DUO
    Downloadable Sheet Music (PDF) + Printed Sheet Music
    In Stock 1 $16.00

    $0.00



    Pirates is a great way to energize your language arts curriculum. Your students will love instead of hate antonyms. No more confusing or confounding synonyms. They'll sell their cell phones and exchange them for homophones. They'll know declarative sentences. How can they ever fail again to identify interrogative sentences? They'll thrive on exclamatory sentences! Go ahead, let our Pirates from Grammar Island teach them imperatives!

    The play is chock-full of information, clever song lyrics, and of course silly jokes that all reinforce the 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!

    Key Concepts

    Pirates covers the basic aspects of grammar:

    • parts of speech
    • types of sentences
    • subject-verb agreement
    • capitalization
    • synonyms and antonyms
    • types of pronouns

    For a simpler show about grammar, see Grammarosaurus.


    Publication Information

    Author: Ron Fink (Composer) and John Heath (Book and Lyrics)
    ISBN: 978-1-886588-38-7
    © 2006 Bad Wolf Press, LLC

    Song Samples

    Full Song List

    1. Pirates from Grammar Island
    2. The Sentence Song
    3. He's an Antonym
    4. It's a Curse
    5. Capitalize
    6. We Were Punctuation Pirates
    7. Parts of Speech
    8. Hunting for Some Verbs
    9. I'm the Queen of Pronouns
    10. Pirates from Grammar Island (Reprise)


    Casting

    Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
    Use as many Punctuation Pirates, Scouts, Sentence Keepers, etc. as desired.
    One stucent can easily play several roles if needed, and individual roles can be
    doubled up. Note that all roles can be played by either boys or girls; see our
    comments on page 35 of the Teacher's Guide.

    Script

    This is the first one-third of the script:

    CHARACTERS:

    Captain Comma
    Shmitty
    Downing
    Keepers of Sentences:
    Declarative
    Interrogative
    Imperative
    Exclamatory
    Collector of Synonyms
    Collector of Antonyms
    Crewmen
    Officials from the Capital Capital
    Punctuation Pirates
    Adverb Librarian
    Advective Librarian
    Scouts
    Queen
    Servant
    and a CHORUS comprised of all students who are not playing roles on stage at the time

    (Entire CLASS faces audience and sings:)

      Song 1 - Listen now!

    CLASS:
    We're gathered here today for you
    To tell a pirate tale
    And we may have the strangest crew
    That ever has set sail.

    While other pirates search for gold
    To fill their treasure chest
    The heroes of our story have
    Good Grammar as their quest!

    They're Pirates from Grammar Island
    Pirates from Grammar Island
    They will fuss and they will fume
    'til everyone knows who from whom
    Pirates from Grammar Island.

    They don't say "Arrrg" or "That's me ship"
    They don't ask "Who ye be?"
    The subjects of their sentences
    And all their verbs agree.

    They're out to save all synonyms
    And they love homophones
    And every double negative
    They send to Davy Jones!

    They're Pirates from Grammar Island
    Pirates from Grammar Island
    They will fuss and they will fume
    'til everyone knows who from whom
    Pirates from Grammar Island.
    They will fuss and they will fume
    'til everyone knows who from whom...
    (EVERYONE gasps for air)
    Pirates from Grammar Island.

    (CLASS takes its place.CAPTAIN COMMA, SHMITTY,
    and DOWNING enter or step forward; CAPTAIN holds a
    treasure map:)

    SHMITTY: Captain Comma, sir,why did you put ashore here?

    CAPTAIN: We're doing what us Pirates from Grammar Island
    always do. Here look.

    (CAPTAIN points to spot on the treasure map. THEY ALL
    look at it.)

    DOWNING (looking): Wow. The treasure map says this place is
    loaded with grammar.

    SHMITTY: (pointing to map again): And right here, on this
    X, we'll find all eight parts of speech.

    CAPTAIN: Exactly.

    (FOUR GUARDIANS of SENTENCES enter. They wear
    signs that read: DECLARATIVE, EXCLAMATORY,
    IMPERATIVE, and INTERROGATIVE.

    DOWNING: Hey, look, someone's coming.

    DECLARATIVE: We are the Keepers of the four main kinds
    of sentences. I guard Declarative sentences, sentences
    that makes a statement. And this is the Keeper of
    Interrogatives.

    INTERROGATIVE (to PIRATES): Who are you? Where did you
    come from?
    (pulls a photo out of pocket)
    Would you like to see a picture of my pet moose?

    IMPERATIVE: Stop asking questions!

    DECLARATIVE (gesturing to IMPERATIVE): That's the
    Keeper of Imperatives. He gives commands.

    EXCLAMATORY: I can't stand it! I'm always last! This stinks!

    DECLARATIVE (gesturing to EXCLAMATORY): And this is the
    Keeper of Exclamations...he's filled with strong feelings.

    SHMITTY: So, what do you all do?

    IMPERATIVE: Tell them!

    EXCLAMATORY: Ooh, I can't wait!

    INTERROGATIVE: Can I go first?

    DECLARATIVE: You certainly may.

    INTERROGATIVE:

      Song 2 - Listen now!

    What can I say?
    Where do I start?
    Don¹t you like my question mark?

    Why is there air?
    Why is it cold?
    Why do I sound two years old?

    ALL FOUR:
    The declaratives make a statement
    Exclamations shout at you
    Interrogatives ask a question...but
    Imperatives are saucy
    They're commanding and they're bossy
    Just telling you what to do.

    EXCAMATORY:
    This is so fun!
    I'm feeling proud!
    Holy smokes I sure am loud!

    I gotta shout!
    I gotta scream!
    Think I had too much caffeine!

    ALL FOUR and CHORUS:
    The declaratives make a statement
    Exclamations shout at you
    Interrogatives ask a question...but
    Imperatives are saucy
    They're commanding and they're bossy
    Just telling you what to do.

    IMPERATIVES:
    Clean up your room!
    Finish your food!
    Sit up straight and don't be rude!

    Stand over there!
    Pick up your clothes!
    Don¹t put carrots in your nose!

    ALL FOUR and CHORUS:
    The declaratives make a statement
    Exclamations shout at you
    Interrogatives ask a question...but
    Imperatives are saucy
    They're commanding and they're bossy
    Just telling you what to do.
    Just telling you what to do.

    CAPTAIN (to SHMITTY and DOWNING): I'll take these
    Keepers to our ship. On Grammar Island we need all
    four kinds of sentences.You two start searching
    for those parts of speech.

    (SENTENCES and CAPTAIN exit.)

    DOWNING: How are we supposed to do that?

    SHMITTY: Here come a couple locals. Let's ask them.

    (COLLECTORS enter)

    DOWNING (to COLLECTORS): Hi there, we're Pirates
    from Grammar Island.

    SYNONYM: Welcome. I¹m a Collector of Synonyms.

    DOWNING: I LOVE synonym. Especially synonym toast.
    And those synonym rolls with the icing? Theyre the best.

    SYNONYM: Synonyms, not cinnamon. Words that mean the
    same thing. Identical. Alike. Parallel.

    SHMITTY: Well, maybe you can tell us what it's like
    around here.

    SYNONYM: It's a friendly land. Neighborly. Amicable.

    ANTONYM: And hostile, angry, malcontent.

    SYNONYM: Just ignore him. He's a Collector of
    Antonyms. Let me tell you about our land.

      Song 3 - Listen now!

    SYNONYM:
    It's burning and it's torrid
    It's sweltering and hot

    ANTONYM:
    It's freezing something horrid
    It's cold in every spot.

    SYNONYM:
    Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
    He's an antonym.

    It's waterless and arid
    It's withered up and dry

    ANTONYM:
    So wet you cannot bare it
    I wouldn't tell a lie.

    SYNONYM:
    Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
    He's an antonym.
    Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
    He's an antonym.

    BOTH:
    Synonyms all mean the same
    But antonyms just don't

    SYNONYM:
    When I say yes, of course you will

    ANTONYM:
    I'm here to say you won't!

    SYNONYM and HALF OF CHORUS:
    The land is high and soaring

    ANTONYM and OTHER HALF OF CHORUS:
    The land is rather low

    SYNONYM and HALF OF CHORUS:
    The wind is loud and roaring

    ANTONYM and OTHER HALF OF CHORUS:
    So quiet when it blows.

    SYNONYM and COMPLETE CHORUS:

    Don't don' listen to him...he's an antonym
    He's an antonym.
    Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
    He's an antonym.
    Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
    He's an antonym.

    (COLLECTORS exit. CAPTAIN enters, in a hurry,
    with THREE CREWMEN following.)

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

    Overall Customer Rating:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Customer Reviews: 6


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

    Pros:
    Cons:
    My kiddos love this!

    This is my 2nd time purchasing this!!!I have used it in the past as the play, and this year, just simply learning the songs to help my kids as an extra support for their learning. It has been awesome to have their Gen Ed teachers tell me that while the kids are doing grammar worksheets, she can hear them singing the songs, to help them get through it! I would recommend this play to everyone!!!

    Pleasant Hill, CA

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

    Pros:
    • Great for grade 3!
    • Very catchy tunes.
    Cons:
    Pirates From Grammar Island is Awesome!

    I did this play in 4 weeks with my 3rd graders in Summer school. They were engaged and motivated. We didn’t have time to memorize all the dialogue so they had their scripts but their parents we so impressed that their shy students and reluctant readers were on stage giving it their best. Awesome!

    Washington state

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

    Pros:
    Cons:
    One of my students best memories

    I have done Pirates of Grammar Island 3 different years. The students learn the songs during the year. I pick one song for a month and we learn the concepts that month. All the students learn all the songs so at the end of the year they are ready for solos, duets or what ever. I love that the cd allows the students sing with the words and it has just the music. The kids gain confidence in public speaking and performance. We always have our play at the end of the school year. It is a beautiful celebration of the school year. They are well written and fun

    Maple Glen, PA

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

    Pros:
    • Build community and confidence
    Cons:
    • None
    Pirates From Grammar Island

    I have been using Bad Wolf Press products for ten years with rave reviews from parents and fellow teachers. This year my second grade class practiced their parts and joyously sang together until March 12th. When our school closed for Covid-19, we thought our play was cancelled. But, I purchased the downloadable version of the play, and I was able to share it with parents and students. We practiced our lines during our online meetings, but we couldn't sing together because of the sound delay issues. Instead, I asked each parent to make a video of their child saying their lines and singing their parts of the songs. I even recorded the kids lip-syncing the final song! I put the 120 video links together and made a movie. The premiere of "Pirates From Grammar Island-Covid Edition" was June 11, 2020. The families loved it, and my fellow teachers were happy to see their former students. Thank you for helping me bring my class together in a wonderful way!

    Brookline, MA

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

    Pros:
    Cons:
    Great songs with punctuation

    My second graders enjoyed this play. Some of it was advanced. Catchy tunes, great for introducing concepts of parts of speech and reviewing grammar/punctuation. I like the idea that pirates were included--made it more fun.


    Singapore

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

    Pros:
    • Catchy Tunes; Great Stories
    Cons:
    Character Matters/Pirates From Grammar Island

    I have been using classroom musicals from Bad Wolf Press for almost 15 years ever since I went to their workshop at the International Reading Association Convention! This year my students in Singapore loved performing in Pirates From Grammar Island and Character Matters (my 7th time!) living and breathing their characters and singing songs throughout the year! The tunes are catchy and movements come naturally-in the end my third graders choreographed the shows on their own! Thanks Bad Wolf Press!!
    review image  


    Additional Comments and Reviews:

    "My third grade class just performed Pirates from Grammar Island to a packed house. It was magic! Even more important than the children having fun, they learned about grammar in a fun manner. I used the play as a means to review before our standardized testing. It was wonderful to hear the children humming as they completed their assessments!"

    ---Arlee Hall, Teacher (3rd grade), Suburu School, Bakersfield, CA


    "Incredible! Every play has been a smashing success, but this one was by far the best yet! Fourteen eight- and nine-year-olds fearlessly belting out songs and owning the stage. Seamless transitions. Wild standing ovations. The class just accepted an invitation to reprise their performance at a community arts festival next month, maybe in front of several hundred people. And they're absolutely confident about it."

    ---Jay Garret-Larsen, Teacher (3rd grade), The Well School, Peterborough NH


    "This year my middle school students performed Pirates from Grammar Island. Through this experience they gained an understanding of grammatical concepts that no worksheets could ever have given them. Your plays have reminded me of the importance of hands on learning."

    ---Bonnie Hauschka, Teacher (3rd-6th grade) Cantwell School, Cantwell, AK


    "Pirates was an instant hit from the first reading of the script--pirates are popular with all age groups. I also found it engaging my students for some otherwise dull language arts topics. After internalizing the songs, they would come up and quote or sing from the script each time they found an example in their reading or language study."

    ---Debbie Lindemann, Teacher (3rd grade), Rancho School, Livermore, CA


    "The grammar songs really hit the mark in terms of teaching students important skills. The combination of humor and concepts really reaches the students. We LOVE the plays!"

    ---Wendy Ulrich, Teacher (4th grade), Joe K. Bryant Elementary, Anna, TX


    "They loved it and so did the parents. It's been over a month since our last performance and they are still singing the songs...which means they remember the grammar rules! Sucn a plus!"

    ---Bev Knox, Teacher (4th grade), Ryan Park School, Angola, IN


    "I loved it. The kids really liked the songs. It was just the right length and everyone was able to have a small part. I would recommend this play to any upper elementary group."

    ---Lisa Mannering, Teacher (7th grade remediation English), Pioneer Jr/Sr. High School, Royal Center, IN


    "The humor was very appropriate for this age. It made it easy to learn lines and the songs were catchy, allowing students to really remember them easily and apply them to lessons as well."

    ---Joanna Simmons, Teacher (3rd grade), Gallup Hill School, Ledyard, CT


    "This is my 7th year directing a show. It has become a highlight of 2nd grade and a wonderful memory for the students. Each year older students begin to ask me what show we are doing, and when. My students perform each number with gusto. When they are having so much fun, and learning too, how can it fail?"

    ---Helena Signore, Teacher (2nd grade), Holy Trinity School, Comstock Park, MI


    "My third graders are doing Pirates from Grammar Island this year, and they could not be more delighted, as are their classroom teachers. I actually had one parent say to me, 'Well, if that's the way I'd learned grammar, I'd still remember it!' Our faculty and our students are big Bad Wolf fans! "

    ---Lisa Feazell, Teacher (music), Deer Creek Elementary, Cedar Park, TX


    "Fun and witty script! Since my curriculum does not have any explicit grammar lessons, Pirates fit in very well as a read-aloud during reading workshop while opening the door for teaching grammar."

    ---Kristina Cevallos, Teacher (5th grade), Riffa Views International School, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Common Core and Other National Standards

    Language Arts

    Pirates from Grammar Island was written specifically to teach the Common Core Language Standards:

    National Core Arts Standards


    Vocabulary

    synonyms
    apostrophe
    comma
    colon
    adverb
    verb
    declarative
    rhetorical question
    antonyms
    homophones
    parenthesis
    articles
    semicolon
    noun
    interjection
    interrogative
    contractions
    capital letters
    punctuation
    adjective
    conjunction
    exclamatory
    double negatives
    proper nouns
    dangling participle
    possessives
    pronoun
    preposition
    imperative

    General Vocabulary:
    crew
    quest
    fume
    horrid
    supersize
    purloin
    splendid
    ponder
    Davy Jones
    locals
    saucy
    arid
    italicize
    plunder
    scout
    rebel
    caffeine
    amicable
    cinnamon
    soaring
    hoard
    trolling
    brutal
    parallel
    torrid
    hostile
    gawk
    scour
    eBay
    doomed
    malcontent
    fuss
    sweltering
    capital
    Bahamas
    sea-way
    disastrous
    King James
    President McKinley
    Captain Kirk
    withered up
    "put ashore"
    "walk the plank"
    "out to sea"
    "money in the bank"

    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.