• 15-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!

Five mythical creatures have transferred to a new school. They're excited to be there, but terrified to take tests! With the help of their teacher, new classmates, and some exciting visitors, the newcomers will learn everything they need to know to relax, focus, and succeed.

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

$0.00



We at Bad Wolf aren’t big fans of test-mania, but we know it’s here to stay and you teachers have to prepare your students for some quality time with their number two pencils. This show reviews some time-proven techniques to get your kids relaxed and ready for testing -- both regular tests throughout the year and also year-end standardized tests. Shorter than most of our shows, Test-Taking Strategies gives your students something helpful and fun to do while not taking time away from last-minute curriculum-crunching. It's also a great show to use to start the year off on the right foot!

Key Concepts

  • Invest in your health: eat healthy foods, wear comfortable clothes, and get a good night’s sleep
  • Come to class every day, listen and focus, be prepared by bringing the right materials
  • General test strategies: Read the whole question, look for key words, answer the questions you know first and come back to the harder ones, check your work
  • Strategies for multiple-choice questions: answer every question, try out every answer, eliminate answers that you know are wrong
  • Suggestions for dealing with test anxiety: breathe, think positive, count to ten, take a break
  • An important reminder that “you are not your score”!

Test-Taking Strategies actually makes the whole test-taking experience a wee bit fun. 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: John Heath and Lisa Adams (Book and Lyrics) and Mike Fishell (Composer)
ISBN: 978-1-886588-57-8
© 2013 Bad Wolf Press, LLC

Song Samples


Casting

This is the first third of the script.

FLEXIBLE CASTING:
From 11-40 students. Use as many Leprechauns, Students, Trolls, etc. in each scene as desired. We have cleverly given the students unisex names; feel free to change these or have students use their own names. One student 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.

CHARACTERS

MRS. M, the teacher
UNICORN
MERMAID
GNOME
GENIE
STUDENTS (in groups of three, by scene)
Jesse, Terry, Dana
Riley, Jordan, Jamie
Morgan, Quinn, Sam
Chris, Alex, Taylor
Jude, Chandler, Casey
LEPRECHAUNS
TROLLS

and a CHORUS composed of all students who are not playing roles on stage at the time.

(CLASS enters. STUDENTS mill around until MRS. M enters with
UNICORN, MERMAID, GNOME, and GENIE.)

MRS. M: Okay, settle down, everyone. Take your seats.
(STUDENTS sit down. UNICORN, MERMAID, GNOME, and GENIE remain standing next to MRS. M.)
We have five new students joining our class this semester. They’ve just transferred from the Grimm Academy of Mythical Creatures.
(SHE points to each as she introduces them)
This is Unicorn, Gnome, Genie, Mermaid, and...
(SHE pauses, looking around)
...where’s Troll? Has anyone seen Troll?

GENIE: Last I saw he was trying to eat the maintenance guy.

MRS. M: Oh no! That’s terrible.

MERMAID: I know. He’s supposed to be cutting down on snacks.

MRS. M: Class! Please make our new friends feel at home. I’ll be back as soon as I can -- I have to go save Mr. Peterson.
(SHE dashes out.)

JESSE (to Mythical Creatures): So, how come you guys all transferred?

GNOME: Our old school caught on fire.

UNICORN: Yeah. Dragon got the hiccups one day -- what a mess.

GNOME: He singed my hat.

GENIE: Not this again.

GNOME: I LOVED that hat. It was a family heirloom!

GENIE (shaking his head): Gnomes and their hats.

TERRY (rubbing eyes): I don’t want to be rude or anything, but I thought you mythical creatures were, well, mythical!

MERMAID: We get that a lot. But here we are.

UNICORN: And we’re REALLY looking forward to school.

GENIE: Yeah. We love learning.

DANA: You’re in luck. We have great teachers here. And great parents! (grins at audience)

GNOME: There’s just one thing.
(elbows MERMAID)
You say it.

MERMAID: Um, well. We’ve heard a bunch of rumors about...
(elbows UNICORN)
You say it.

UNICORN: Why me? Well, it’s just that we’ve heard that in your schools you have to...
(elbows GENIE)
You say it.

GENIE: Fine! I’ll say it! (asks CLASS) We’re not going to have to take any TESTS, are we?

ENTIRE CLASS: Tests?

  Song 1 - Listen to a clip now!

CLASS:
Though life may be a mystery
There are things that are a guarantee
And one of them all students could have guessed...
There’s gonna be a test.

There’re certain things you know are true
The grass is green; the sky is blue
As certain as the sun sets in the west...
There’s gonna be a test.

Here comes a test
There goes a quiz
That’s just how this school-thing is
But don’t stress out
And don’t be scared
You just gotta be prepared!

So if you ever feel perplexed
’Cause you don’t know what’s coming next
There’s still one thing to count on, I suggest...
There’s gonna be a test.
There’s gonna be a test.
There’s gonna be a test.

(THEY sit down/exit.)

GNOME: Wait. Are you telling me there’s gonna be a TEST?

GENIE: They just sang an entire song about it.

GNOME: I know! THAT came out of nowhere, didn’t it?

MERMAID: At least they didn’t ask ME to sing. Ever since that Disney film, people think all mermaids can sing.

RILEY: You don’t sing?

MERMAID: Just in the shower.

JORDAN: Mermaids take showers? Isn’t that sort of redundant?

MERMAID: I take showers in the mornings to wake up. I like to stay up all night doing homework at the last minute. Then I drink 45 caffeinated beverages in the morning to get ready.

JAMIE: How’s that working out for you?

MERMAID: I don’t know -- for some reason, school is kind of a blur to me.

RILEY: We used to do the same sort of thing to study for tests.

JORDAN: But it turns out that’s not a very good way to succeed.

JAMIE: Yeah. You’ve got to get yourself physically prepared if you want your mind to work well.

  Song 2 - Listen to a clip now!

RILEY, JORDAN, JAMIE:
We thought that missing school was fine
We’d stay up late to study
But on the test we didn’t shine
We’ve never felt so cruddy! 

Eat healthy foods
Wear comfy clothes
Get to bed on time.
Invest in yourself
Invest in your health
So you’ll be at your prime.
  
We thought that candy would be great
Before the test got rolling
But then we couldn’t concentrate
So now we are extolling...

STUDENTS and CHORUS:
Eat healthy foods
Wear comfy clothes
Get to bed on time.
Invest in yourself
Invest in your health
So you’ll be at your prime.

We didn’t give our clothes a thought
He was cold and she was hot
We could have silenced the naysayers
If only we had dressed in layers!

Eat healthy foods
Wear comfy clothes
Get to bed on time.
Invest in yourself
Invest in your health
So you’ll be at your prime.
Invest in yourself
Invest in your health
So you’ll be at your prime.

(THEY exit/sit down.)

MERMAID: That’s really helpful advice. I never thought of dressing in layers. In fact, I never thought of dressing at all. (shivers) It’s freezing in here!

GNOME: Well, I’d give you my HAT, but...

GENIE: Never mind about your hat. Here, Mermaid, have a poncho. (HE rubs lamp and produces a poncho)

MERMAID: Hey, thanks! (spinning around) It even goes great with my tail.

MRS. M (bursts into the room): Everything okay in here?

MORGAN: Just fine, Mrs. M. Any luck with the Troll?

MRS. M: He’s the least of my worries. Now it’s Leprechauns.

QUINN: Leprechauns?

MRS. M: Three of them. We found them in shop class making wooden shoes.

GENIE: Well, good for them! I guess they got that Dutch contract.

UNICORN: They did? That’s surprising. After that disaster in Australia I figured they’d never work again.

SAM: What happened?

UNICORN: They made such unattractive boots there that when people saw them they just said “ugg.”

MERMAID: I wonder what ever happened to all those things?

MRS. M: I have to go help lure the Leprechauns out of the kitchen -- apparently they’ve been diving into the pot of soup looking for gold. Carry on!
(exits)

GNOME: Troll is smart -- if they don’t find him he won’t have to take any tests. I’ve gotta hide! (tries hiding in silly places on stage)

GENIE: I’m not worried. You saw that poncho business! I’m just going to rub my own lamp and use some genie magic to do the test.

MORGAN: That would be great, but it’s not allowed.

GENIE: What do you mean? Why not?

QUINN: Well, it’s kind of like cheating.

GENIE: Of COURSE it’s like cheating. That’s the whole point!

SAM: Sorry, you’re going to have to prepare for the test like the rest of us. You just have to put a little thought into it.

MORGAN: Yeah. Make sure you’re in your seat in plenty of time before the test starts, and that you have whatever tools you are allowed -- like scratch paper, eraser, calculator...

GENIE: Lamp?

MORGAN: No lamp.

GENIE: Poncho?

QUINN: Sure, it’s a good way to dress in layers like we talked about.

GENIE: (frustrated) You sure I can’t use just a little magic?

SAM: Don’t worry -- you can do this! If you have any questions before the test, you can always ask the teacher. Mrs. M always gives us a couple of sample test questions so that we know what’s coming.

GENIE: And that’s all that I’ll need?

(This concludes the first third of the script.)


"What a wonderful motivator! Your writers did an excellent job with what we always try to instill in the students about test-taking strategies. Everyone loved the show! Wonderful songs (that I am still singing in my head) and great life skills advice!"

---Rosalynn G. Gutierrez, Trautmann Elementary, Laredo, TX


"We LOVED doing the Test-Taking Strategies play this year! I will certainly do it every year. Not only are the strategies helpful, but the fun we had was a nice change during our lessons and reviews."

---Suzanne Schiavoni, Teacher (4th grade), Tanglewood Elementary School, South Glens Falls, NY

Common Core and Other National Standards

Health

Language Arts

National Core Arts Standards


Vocabulary

maintenancesingedheirloomperplexedredundant
caffeinatedbeveragescruddycomfyprime
extollingnaysayersponchocontractego
luremythicslickhocus-pocusutensils
heedspeckreggaeprecisescornfully
strategyanxietyHarpieshumiliatingdeliberately
reciterhubarbmemoircloutconfess
finessehecticsporting"in a knot""dress in layers"

 

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.