Reading a Playscript
Grade 5 - Reading - On Level
Read this first
The Recycling Club Debate
CAST OF CHARACTERS: Simone, the president of the school recycling club. Jamal, a classmate who doubts the club's plan will work. Ms. Patel, the club's teacher advisor.
SETTING: The story takes place in a classroom and, later, in the school hallway.
SCENE ONE: A classroom, during a recycling club meeting after school.
Simone stands at the front, pointing to a hand-drawn poster.
SIMONE: If we place bins in every hallway, recycling will go up.
JAMAL: People will still throw trash in them. It won't make a difference.
Ms. Patel looks up from grading papers at the back table.
MS. PATEL: Why not try it for two weeks and see what happens?
SIMONE: That's a great idea. We can count what's collected each week.
JAMAL: Fine, I'll help set up the bins, but I still doubt it.
Simone hangs a labeled sign above each new recycling bin.
SIMONE: Clear labels should help people know what goes where.
SCENE TWO: The school hallway, two weeks later, after school.
Simone and Jamal check the recycling bins, now nearly full.
JAMAL: I have to admit, way more people are recycling than I expected.
SIMONE: The clear labels really seemed to help people sort correctly.
Ms. Patel joins them, holding a printed chart of the results.
MS. PATEL: Recycling went up by half compared to last month.
JAMAL: I guess I was wrong. This plan actually worked.
SIMONE: I'm just glad you gave it an honest try.
What is this playscript mostly about?
- staying friends even after losing a fair competition
- welcoming a new student with kindness
- telling the truth even when it feels difficult
- testing an idea honestly instead of just arguing about it
How many characters are in the cast list?
- 4
- 2
- 5
- 3
Which character is described as "the president of the school recycling club"?
- Yuki
- Derek
- Simone
- Camille
Where does Scene One take place?
- a classroom, during a recycling club meeting after school
- the school cafeteria, during a club fair
- the principal's office, the next morning
- the school hallway, two weeks later, after school
Where does Scene Two take place?
- a classroom, during a recycling club meeting after school
- the school hallway, two weeks later, after school
- the school cafeteria, during a club fair
- the principal's office, the next morning
What does a stage direction show happening in Scene One?
- hangs a labeled sign above each new recycling bin
- sits quietly at an empty desk, looking around the unfamiliar room
- stands nervously in front of the class, holding a note card
- accidentally bumps the case, and a trophy topples and cracks
What problem comes up in this playscript?
- Yuki was running for class president against a close friend
- Jamal doubted that new recycling bins would make a difference
- Camille felt nervous and alone on her first day
- Derek broke a trophy by accident and was afraid to admit it
How is the problem in this playscript resolved?
- he told the coach the truth and was not punished for the accident
- they tested the plan for two weeks and recycling increased
- Marcus won, and his friend agreed to help with his plan anyway
- Ben invited her to sit with his friends at lunch
Who says, "I guess I was wrong. This plan actually worked."?
- Ben
- Simone
- Jamal
- Ms. Patel
What does the word "doubts" mean in this playscript?
- looks at closely and carefully
- does not feel sure something will work
- watching over and being in charge of something
- not known or recognized