Where's the Boss?
A Scripted Play About the Iditarod

Brief Description

Objectives

• understand the concept of teamwork shared by mushers and their sled dogs by reading Where's the Boss? by Lois Harter.
• perform a "Reader's Theater" version of Where's the Boss?, adapted by teacher Cassandra Wilson with the permission of the author. (Reader's Theater is when children read the script with expression rather than memorizing their parts. This is a good activity for students who are shy, for English learners, and for those with learning disabilities.)
• make hats and sets for the Reader's Theater production.
• read with expression.

Keywords

Materials Needed

• a copy of the book Where's the Boss? by Lois Harter
• copies of the Where's the Boss? Reader's Theater script and its accompanying lesson plan
• materials for making sets and props, as needed

Lesson Plan

Cassandra Wilson, a fourth-grade teacher at Applegate Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, was the 2003 Teacher on the Trail (TOTT). Wilson has adapted the children's book Where's the Boss? into a Reader's Theater script with parts for 10 students.

You might begin the lesson by reading Where's the Boss? to students; then arrange your class into two groups and have each prepare to perform the play.

See Cassandra Wilson's copies of the Where's the Boss? Reader's Theater script and its accompanying lesson plan. You might also read an article about a performance of the play by Wilson's students.

Extend the Lesson
Videotape students' performance of this Reader's Theater play. Make several copies of the video to send home on a rotating basis, so students can share the play with their families.

Assessment

Students write a journal entry to describe how they felt about being part of the Reader's Theater play, and what they learned about working as a team from the story and from being part of a group that put on the production.

Lesson Plan Source

Iditarod.com

National Standards

FINE ARTS: Theatre

GRADES K - 4
NA-T.K-4.2 Acting By Assuming Roles and Interacting In Improvisations
NA-T.K-4.3 Designing by Visualizing and Arranging Environments for Classroom Dramatizations
NA-T.K-4.4 Directing By Planning Classroom Dramatizations
NA-T.K-4.5 Researching By Finding Information to Support Classroom Dramatizations

GRADES 5 - 8
NA-T.5-8.2 Acting By Assuming Roles and Interacting In Improvisations
NA-T.5-8.3 Designing by Visualizing and Arranging Environments for Classroom Dramatizations
NA-T.5-8.4 Directing By Planning Classroom Dramatizations
NA-T.5-8.5 Researching By Finding Information to Support Classroom Dramatizations

GRADES K - 4
NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
NA-VA.K-4.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

GRADES 5 - 8
NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
NA-VA.5-8.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.1 Reading for Perspective
NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.5 Communication Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.9 Multicultural Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills

See more lessons in this week's Lesson Planning article Iditarod Brrrreathes Life Into Tired Curriculum (Brrrr!).

View additional lesson plans in the following articles from our archives:
* The Iditarod: The Last Great Race
* Iditarod Activities Across the Grades