{"id":2772,"date":"2011-07-27T00:10:46","date_gmt":"2011-07-27T04:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=2772"},"modified":"2011-07-24T23:06:29","modified_gmt":"2011-07-25T03:06:29","slug":"no-worms-were-harmed-in-the-writing-of-this-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2011\/07\/no-worms-were-harmed-in-the-writing-of-this-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"No Worms Were Harmed in the Writing of this Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I love how readers\u2019 theater lets an audience experience a story in an entirely new, participatory way. Thomas Rockwell\u2019s 1973 novel How to Eat Fried Worms<\/em> is truly timeless, and was the inspiration behind two successful readers\u2019 theater programs for elementary school children I\u2019ve hosted for libraries.<\/p>\n

Readers\u2019 theater can be as involved and \u201crehearsed\u201d\u009d as you want to make it, but I typically approach it very casually. The kids get their scripts when they arrive for the program, and we keep props and costumes extremely minimal. If it\u2019s a small group, we run through the scenes multiple times until everyone gets a turn on stage. For bigger groups, I make sure to add more participatory elements so even the audience feels like they are part of the show. (Think Rocky Horror Picture Show<\/em> type of audience interaction, except G rated!)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a rundown of my How to Eat Fried Worms<\/em> program\u2026<\/p>\n

Mad Libs are a fun way to break the ice at a program and buy a little time waiting for any late comers. We did a wormy Mad Lib that had the kids simultaneously laughing and gagging.<\/p>\n

For the readers theater, I used the book How to Eat Fried Worms and Other Plays<\/em> by Thomas Rockwell. This is not the actual novel, but a play adaptation. (ISBN 0440034981) If you aren\u2019t able to ILL it, Amazon is currently selling some used copies<\/a>. I didn\u2019t have the time for the kids to perform the entire play, so instead I took three scenes and made some minor edits. Props and costumes needed were few in number and simple. For a middle of the night scene, I used a mat and a pillow as a bed. I had Billy\u2019s (the main character) parents dress for bed by throwing old bathrobes over their street clothes. If you can\u2019t get your hands on a certain prop, have the kids \u201cpretend.\u201d\u009d For example, one scene involves a cake. I\u00a0had a stuffed toy cake we used. If you don\u2019t, an imaginary, invisible one works just as well. Don\u2019t sweat it too much. The only prop I think is a must is fake worms, and those can be easily found at any store that sells fishing supplies and bait. You can also find them at costume and party stores during Halloween season, or simply use gummy worms.<\/p>\n

Obviously, fried worms had to be on the menu for an event like this. Thankfully it\u2019s not necessary to harm (or injest) any actual worms. Many wormy substitutes exist:<\/p>\n