Key Terms
barometer
atmospheric
pressure
hail
weather vane
fahrenheit
centigrade
cumulo nimbus
evaporation
stormcloud
precipitation
gusty
hurricane
typhoon
thermometer
isobar
The Weather Show is a great complement to your
curriculum resources in elementary school science. 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: 978-1-886588-19-6
© 1997, 2000 Bad Wolf Press, LLC
Song Samples
Full Song List
1. "A Quest"
2. "A Quest" (cont.)
3. "Raining Cats and Dogs"
4. "Oh No" (a)
5. "We Go Up"
6. "You Go Where We Blow"
7. "Oh No" (b)
8. "If I See My Shadow"
9. "Warm/Cold Air Mass"
10. "Warm/Cold Air Mass" (cont.)
11. "Oh No" (c)
12. "Lightning Likes Me"
13. "Oh No" (d)
14. "We Are a Rainbow"
15. "Nothing Beats Barometers"
Casting
Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Use as many Water Drops, Wind Sisters, members of
Warm Air Mass, etc. as desired. Students can also play
more than one role---the Storytellers, for example, can be
played by any student not in character at the moment in
the script. Note that roles are not gender-specific: any part
can be played by a girl or a boy with a few simple change
of names and pronouns.
Script
This is the first one-third of the script:
CHARACTERS:
Dr. Emma
Cats and Dogs
Ralph the Weather Dog
Water Drops
Wind Sisters
Shouter
Warm Air Mass
Cold Air Mass
Announcer
Analyst
Mr. Bolt
Storytellers (as many as desired)
and a Chorus made up of all students who are not playing roles at the
time.
Song 1
ENTIRE CLASS (sings):
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
(The CLASS freezes as the music stops and the phone rings.
EMMA enters, picks up phone.)
EMMA: Hello? Oh, hi Mr. Bolt!
STORYTELLER (stepping forward, as we see HER continue to speak,
looking very excited and happy. STORYTELLER points to EMMA):
This is Dr. Emma. She loves to measure the weather. She's talking to
Mr. Bolt, an antique dealer. He has a very old barometer--just what she
wants for her collection.
EMMA (excitedly): Oh no, don't sell it to anyone else! I'll come over
right
away. Thanks, Mr. Bolt. Bye.
(to audience)
The case is silver, with fancy designs! It's a really old barometer!
And
Mr. Bolt will sell it to me if I can get to his store by 2:00 this afternoon.
That gives me...
(SHE looks at watch)
...four hours. Great. Did I mention the case was silver?
(As the CLASS continues the song, we see EMMA dashing around
excitedly trying to put on her coat---she puts it on all wrong several
times---
maybe emptying a piggy bank, hunting for an umbrella. NOTE: EMMA
has several spoken lines during the song which are not on the rehearsal
tape)
Song 2 -
Listen now!
CLASS (individual STUDENTS take turns---it is important to hear
individual voices):
STUDENT A:
Dr. Emma's greatest pleasure
Is running out to measure
Snow and rain and wind that come her way.
STUDENT B:
She has lots of dials and meters
She measures pounds and liters
Checks the weather every day.
EMMA (spoken): I've got to get going!
STUDENT C:
There're balloons that she sends sailing
Ev'ry time that it starts hailing
She's got 16 weather vanes.
EMMA: Where's my umbrella?
STUDENT D:
But for all her careful tracking
There's just one thing she's lacking
One device she must obtain.
ENTIRE CLASS:
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
(NOTE: a few members of the CHORUS sing the "echoed"
words in parentheses)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest (a quest)
Oh yes (oh yes)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
EMMA: There's no time to lose-I've
waited years for this barometer.
STUDENT E:
Is it colder, is it hotter?
In summer you will spot her
Taking notes in sunlight and shade.
STUDENT F:
When snow comes most folks hate it
She's out to calibrate it
Fahrenheit and centigrade.
ENTIRE CLASS:
A Quest
A Quest
Oh yes
A Quest
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest (a quest)
Oh yes (oh yes)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest for the ancient
Dr. Emma's greatest pleasure
Is running out to measure
Quest (a quest)
A Quest (a quest)
Oh yes (oh yes)
A Quest (a quest)
A Quest for the ancient barometer.
STORYTELLER: Emma has four hours to walk a few blocks from her
apartment in Manhattan to Mr. Bolt's antique store.
(EMMA is strolling across the stage)
But suddenly it starts to rain-and it's no ordinary rain.
(A bunch of stuffed toys-dogs and cats-are tossed onto the stage just
before CATS and DOGS enter.)
Song 3 -
Listen now!
CATS and DOGS:
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
See the Saint Bernard splash down
Raining-Watch out for that basset hound.
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
Pouring labradors so hard
Raining-Beagles flooding out the yard.
A shower now of kitties
Oh no, oh no
A shower now of German shepherds
And oodles of poodles in puddles wherever you go!
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
Can't you smell that wet sharpei?
Raining-Raining cats and dogs all day.
(CATS and DOGS do the Cat and Dog Dance, or THEY can hold the
stuffed animals and "dance" them around)
CATS and DOGS and CHORUS:
Raining, raining
Raining cats and dogs
See the Saint Bernard splash down
Raining-Watch out for that basset hound.
Watch out for that basset hound.
Raining-watch out for that basset hound.
(CATS and DOGS exit. From the side of stage enters RALPH the
WEATHER DOG.)
STORYTELLER: Emma is stuck for an hour waiting for the downpour
to stop. When it does, Ralph the Weather Dog appears, having come
down in the storm.
RALPH (to EMMA): Whew, that was some nasty cumulo-nimbus. You
got a towel?
EMMA: No, I don't. Could you move? I'm in a terrible hurry.
RALPH: Well excoooooose me. I'm drenching wet, I've been chased out
of the sky by lightning, and I need a fire hydrant, if you know what
I mean. I
ought to bite you.
EMMA: I'm sorry.
RALPH: Well, you're lucky I'm in a good mood.
EMMA: If you'd like to come with me, I'm heading to a store where I'm
sure my friend Mr.Bolt will have a towel.
RALPH: Has the lightning stopped? I hate lightning.
EMMA: There's no lightning. But please, we've got to hurry. I've already
lost an hour waiting out the storm.
Song 4
CHORUS and EMMA :
Oh no
So slow
Three hours
To go
Three hours for the ancient barometer.
Oh no (oh no)
So slow (so slow)
Three hours (three hours)
To go (to go)
Three hours for the ancient barometer.
STORYTELLER: Ralph is happy to tag along in search of a towel. In
fact, he says he knows a short-cut, and leads the way.
STORYTELLER: Unfortunately Ralph's not too good with New York
streets. Soon they are lost and come to a street flooded with water.
Emma is worried-there's no way to get across.
(WATER DROPS enter and kneel in front of RALPH and EMMA)
EMMA: What'll we do now?
RALPH: Don't look at me, I can't even dog-paddle.
EMMA: Well if you hadn't stopped to sniff every light post.
RALPH: I'm a dog. Sue me. Hey, maybe these water drops can help.
WATER DROP #1 (to EMMA): Sure we can, but we need a little respect.
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
Additional Comments and Reviews:
"My second grade class just completed a production of The Weather
Show and it was a smashing success. I knew we had a winner when they started
choosing to rehearse during their free choice time. I especially appreciate
the way you build success into your accompaniment. The musical cues, the
well-timed pause, the accessible pitch range, etc. All of these things
make for a masterful production that the children wil remember for a lifetime.
The individual success stories could take up another page, but I wanted
you to know how much I appreciate what you do for kids (and teachers too).
Thank you very much."
---Linda McCutcheon, Teacher (2nd grade), Patterson Road School, Santa
Maria, CA
"Kids loved it, parents loved it, administration loved it, and I loved the fact that EVERY instructional standard for teaching weather was in it.
The music was easy for kids to learn, and the script did a good job incorporating content vocabulary. What a great way to teach content standards
while engaging kids and entertaining others!
Doing plays is a fun way to integrate content with the arts and use learning styles that may not always be addressed in the classroom."
---Rose Bulau, Teacher (4th grade), Kelly Mill Elementary School, Cumming, GA
"The Weather Show is a great way to meet common core standards. The students love doing these plays. They are learning a lot of wonderful
information and having a great time doing it!"
---Kim Falls, Teacher (2nd grade), Tucker Valley School, Hambleton, WV
"I loved the length of the play and the CD having both music
with lyrics and music
without lyrics. It had great songs, and was easy to adapt to the different
numbers
of class sizes. It was a great community building activity, good for
developing
performance/public speaking skills. It is confidence building, and a
fun way to
support/extend learning."
---Judy Nachlas, Teacher (4th grade), Christiansburg Elementary, Christiansburg,
VA
"Awesome! My children are still singing about air masses! Children
became familiar
and comfortable with new scientific vocabulary. If you can read and press
play---you've got it made!"
---Jackie Dooley, Teacher (3rd grade), Bond Elementary, Assumption, IL
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
antique
meter
liter
lacking
obtain
calibrate
“raining cats and dogs”
Saint Bernard
basset hound
labrador
beagle
German
shepherd
sharpei
dogpaddle
Mets
appointment
hibernate
fuss
guff
sass
grudge match
flank
foreboding
ominous
jolt
volt
flee
trend
conclusion
feat
chuck
tongue-twister
iridescently
Vocabulary From Stage Directions
dashing
individual
kneel
distinguish
affectionately
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.