Causes of the Civil War

Act out the story of Abolitionist John Brown as he raises a small army of men in the hopes of starting a slave revolt. Brown sends his men to Harper’s Ferry to take over the United States arsenal, but the president sends the military to put down the uprising, ultimately capturing Brown and convicting him of treason. The six roles in this script match different reading levels, enabling teachers to use differentiation and English language learner strategies in their instruction. These strategies allow all students to engage in the same activity, regardless of their current reading level. All students can feel successful and can gain confidence in their reading fluency. Students can also practice reading aloud, interacting cooperatively, and using expressive voices and gestures while performing the story together. An accompanying poem and song give readers additional resources to practice fluency in an engaging way. This dynamic script is the perfect tool for a classroom of varied readers!