The Crowded, The Noisy House House 8B

Extensions 20 minutes

On Stage

Tell students that you are going to read “The Crowded, Noisy House” again, and students will act out the story. Ask students what characters will be needed. (man, wife, the grandmother, five children, rabbi, a goat, a cow, and a goose) Designate students to be the various characters. You may have multiple animals to increase active participation.

Ask students what settings will be needed. (inside house, rabbi’s house, and outside of house) Designate locations in the classroom for the various settings.

Encourage the “characters” to listen carefully to know what actions to use and where to go, e.g., talking to the rabbi. (You may wish to set up a table and chair where the rabbi can sit.) Also, talk about using facial expressions to show how the characters are feeling, e.g., the man being distraught.

You may also have the characters create some of their own dialogue, such as the man telling the rabbi the problem. Also, pause after the various animals are brought into the house and have them make their sounds all at once.