DESERT SCRIPTS
By Lois Walker
(NOTE: Lois Walker is a part-time docent at The Living Desert in Palm Desert, California. The following scripts were inspired by her training and experiences there. To visit The Living Desert website, please click HERE).
All scripts are $14.95 except for special packages and collections. For more information about pricing, ordering, and discounts, please click HERE.
If you wish to order a script(s) from this catalog page, record script title(s) and identification number(s), then click HERE for our online order form. Fill out form for immediate emailing or print for faxing or mailing.
You may also telephone your order: 604-925-1989 or 760-674-1728. If you find your script is not listed on the order form, simply e-mail Lois at lois@scriptsforschools.com
PLEASE, SCROLL DOWN FOR SCRIPT TITLES AND PLOT DESCRIPTIONS
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D-1/P-21 THE DESERT CRITTERS' DINNER 1
For Lower Primary Readers.
DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: This version involves a mixture of desert animals. North American desert: Packrat, Black-Tailed Jackrabbit. African desert: Warthog, Camel
A little girl meets a packrat who wants to come to breakfast, a jackrabbit who wants to come to lunch, a warthog who wants to come to tea, and a camel who wants to come to dinner. She's delighted, but can't find a menu to please them. They turn down bacon, hot dogs, and cold cuts, then fall asleep all over her yard. She is finally able to awaken and feed them properly when she learns what the word HERBIVORE means.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-2/P-32 THE DESERT CRITTERS' DINNER 2
For Lower Primary Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: This version involves only North American Desert animals. Packrat, Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Desert Ground Squirrel, Chuckwalla
Same basic plot as above. A little girl meets a packrat who wants to come to breakfast, a jackrabbit who wants to come to lunch, a ground squirrel who wants to come to tea, and a chuckwalla who wants to come to dinner. She's delighted, but can't find a menu to please them. They turn down bacon, hot dogs, and cold cuts, then fall asleep all over her yard. She is finally able to awaken and feed them properly when she learns what the word HERBIVORE means.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-3/I-72 THE CRAZY DESERT CRITTERS 1
For Intermediate Readers.
AFRICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: This version involves only African Desert animals. Meerkat, Warthog, Camel, Fennec Fox, Sand Cat.
This story-in-rhyme includes a silly old man and a pizza eating boy who know a lot about meerkats, warthogs, camels, fennic foxes, and sand cats. As the old man describes each animal, the boy reacts as follows: surprised, amazed, dumbfounded, bewildered, and astonished! The whole experience turns out to be a bad dream, and the boy promises never again to eat pizza before he goes to sleep!
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-4/I-73 THE CRAZY DESERT CRITTERS 2
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: This version involves only North American Desert animals. Side-Blotched Lizard, Round-Tailed Squirrel, Tortoise, Reptile, Kit Fox, Bobcat.
Same basic plot as above. This story-in-rhyme includes a silly old man and a pizza eating boy who know a lot about side-blotched lizards, round-tailed squirrels, tortoises or reptiles, kit foxes, and bobcats. As the old man describes each animal, the boy reacts as follows: surprised, amazed, dumbfounded, bewildered, and astonished. The whole experience turns out to be a bad dream, and the boy promises never again to eat pizza before he goes to sleep!
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-5/I-71 THIS SAGUARO IS FINE
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Gila Woodpecker, White Winged Dove, "boots" for nesting, Harris Hawks, Packrats, Millipedes and Termites.
The Saguaro Cactus, the state flower of Arizona, is composed of a tall, thick, fluted, columnar stem, 18 to 24 inches in diameter, often with several large arm-like branches curving upward. The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old. During its lifetime, the Saguaro serves as a home to a number of dessert animals and is sometimes referred to as a "critter hotel". This story tells the Saguaro story using rhythm, rhyme, and a repetitive chorus. An excerpt:
Soon these cactus nesters,
The dove and the woodpecker,
Share the space with Harris Hawks,
Standing triple-decker.
Packrats come and then they go
With passage of time
And all agree on one thing
This saguaro is fine!
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-6/I-74 IF I LIVED IN AFRICA
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Wild dog, Warthog, Meerkat, Cheetah, Camel, Antelope
If I lived in Africa, would I be a wild dog, a warthog, a meerkat, a cheetah, a camel, an antelope? Nope. The second I chose one, I think of another wonderful animal, and then I change my mind. In this rhyming story, my indecision finally leads to the inevitable:
There are oh so many animals
But I think you'll agree
That if I lived in Africa,
I'd just be me!
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-7/I-76 A TORTOISE, OF COURSE
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: The Gopher Tortoise
What's that moving on the land, almost invisible in the sand, close to the ground, patiently plodding, treading slowly, tenderly bobbing, bald head weaving, bouncing, nodding? See? What can it be?
It's a tortoise, tortoise, of course.
Of course a tortoise, it isn't horse.
And right on course, a desert force
Is the tortoise, of course!
This story takes a poetic look at a desert tortoise slowly moving across the sand of a North American desert.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-8/I-75 THE PACKRAT'S HOME
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Desert Packrat
Dropped a dime in the desert, popped a button in the sand. Lost a marble near a cactus, and I'm sure you understand - these things are gone forever. They're not just out on loan. Now piled with chunks of cholla, ARE A PACKRAT'S HOME! This rhyming story continues on to describe how the tiny packrat builds his desert home from "found objects." Should readers be concerned about their bikes, their computers, their family cars? Will they too, mixed with cholla, be a packrat's home?
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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THE SWEET MESQUITE PORRIDGE POT
D-10/P-40 Primary Reader Version.
D-10/I-95 Intermediate Reader Version.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Rain Shadow Desert, Cactus, Creosote bush, Mesquite Pods, Mesquite Tree, Mountain Ridge, Rocky Gorge, Canyon, Foothills, wash, Flatlands, Palm Tree, Ironwood Tree, Cottonwood Tree
A re-telling of a traditional fairytale: A poor hungry girl, living high in the mountains, goes out to pick mesquite pods. There an old woman gives her a magic cooking pot. The pot is controlled by chanting a short magical poem and cooks "sweet mesquite porridge" on command. The girl's mother forgets the magical rhyme and the pot ends up creating havoc for local villagers in the Rain Shadow Desert below. To this day, no one in the village will ever eat mesquite porridge again.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-11/I-96 MISERY'S SAGUARO
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, OR WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Sonoran Desert, Saguaro Cactus, Cabana, long poles made from the wooden ribs of saguaro skeletons, Red Pulp, Prickly Pear Jelly, Saguaro Seed Bread, Harris Hawks, Vulture, Burrowing Owl, Coati
Set in the Sonoran Desert: An old woman named Misery owns one prized possession: a magnificent saguaro planted by her great-great grandmother. The cactus, however, does not make Misery happy. Village children steal the saguaro fruit and ignore her when she warns, "Go on home and let me be. Stay away from Misery!" In the end, the saguaro, an enchanted visitor, and a granted wish help Misery outsmart both the children and a mysterious messenger when he, too, tries to steal some fruit.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-12/I-97 THE TRICKSY DESERT MOUNTAIN ELVES
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Colorado Desert, Coachella Valley, Santa Rosa, San Jacinto, and San Bernardino mountains, Brittlebush, Duendes, Tamales.
Re-telling of a traditional fairytale. Set in the Coachella Valley. An innkeeper and his very capable wife find their inn invaded by invisible Tricksy Desert Mountain Elves. Knowing that the elves love to eat tamales and never, ever eat breakfast, helps the pair outsmart their unwanted guests. A cheese pie baked in a jar lid, a chicken casserole baked in an eggshell, and a tamale steamed in a sewing thimble are part of the plan.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-13/I-98 THE FAST SKIPPIN' CACTUS POT
For Lower Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Javelinas, Cabana, Collared Peccary, Barrel Cactus, Coyote, Mesquite Pods, barn Owl, Wash, Canyon, Pinoie, Packrat, Miden, Cactus Candy, Sahara
Another re-telling of a traditional fairytale: Back in the days when "javelinas could whistle and pots could talk," a poor hungry husband and wife trade their skinny peccary for a cooking pot made from a hollowed-out barrel cactus and are finally blessed with good fortune. The magical pot skips off to find adventure, and tricks a coyote, a barn owl, and a packrat into parting with their most prized possessions.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-14/I-99 THE GREAT-GILA, WACKY-WOODPECKER WAR
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Fringed Toed Lizard, Rainforest, Ironwood Tree, Jumping Cholla, Big Horn Sheep, Coyotes, Coatis, Quail, Vultures, Owls, Red-Tailed Hawks, Mourning Doves, Thrasher, Pinyon Nuts, Saguaro Fruit, Chuckwalla
Once upon a time, a desert woman chased a fringe-toed lizard into a hole her garden. She then tried to dig him out, and dug up a pot of gold instead. Sounds simple enough, but the plot thickens as greedy kinfolk descend from far and near hoping to get their hands on the treasure. There is no solution but to declare a Great-Gila, Wacky- Woodpecker War. You've got to read this re-telling of a traditional folk tale to believe it!
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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D-15/I-100 THE DESERT BOY WHO WAS ALWAYS HUNGRY!
For Intermediate Readers.
NORTH AMERICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Adobe House, Cactus Spine, Cabana, Zebra-Tailed Lizard, Desert Tortoise, Gila Monster, Desert Iguana, Giant Chuckwalla, Oasis, Pupfish
Set in the desert. This traditional swallowing tale tells of a boy who lives in a tiny cabana with his grandmother. One day, grandmother is so busy sewing with her cactus-spine needle that she forgets to prepare any food. The boy sets forth in search of food and ends up swallowing a number of desert reptiles including a zebra-tailed lizard, a desert tortoise, a gila monster, a desert iguana, and a giant chuckwalla. The story is resolved with the help of grandmother's needle and in a truly magical way.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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GRANDMA AND THE ANKOLE BULL
D-16/P-41 Primary Reader Version.
D-16/I-101 Intermediate Reader Version.
AFRICAN DESERT ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND WORDS FEATURED IN THIS STORY: Sahara Desert, Village Watutu, Ankole bull, Desert Tortoise, Napana, Warthog, Spotted Hyena, Camel, Meerkat
An African grandmother and her grandson travel across the Sahara desert to the Village Watutu. They bring with them an Ankole bull who not only has the largest horns anyone has ever seen, but also the loudest "moo" anyone has ever heard. The bull's ear-shattering moo frightens the boy and keeps him awake at night. Grandma has a solution. She'll put the desert tortoise in bed with the boy so he "won't be alone and he won't be afraid." When this plan doesn't work, a warthog, spotted hyena, and camel are added to the mix. But it's the meerkat who finally solves the problem and allows everyone in the village to fall fast asleep.
Sample pages upon request. E-mail lois@scriptsforschools.com
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