Read Aloud Plays: Hawthorne's The Birthmark Gothic Reader's Theater

A classic "mad scientist" short story comes to life! Build fluency and meet Common Core Standards with this adaption of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Gothic masterpiece, The Birthmark. It includes comprehension and vocabulary activities and keys. This compelling classroom play was originally published in the Jan. 2013 issue of Scholastic's Scope magazine, so you can trust it meets a high standard. Whether for reader's theater or stage performance, this six page play has parts for seven actors and is best suited for grades 5 - 8 (you can see it performed by fifth graders on the "Podcasts" page at readaloudplays.com). It tells the story of a noted scientist who becomes obsessed with a small, hand-shaped birthmark on his otherwise perfect bride. His effort to remove it pits science against nature and turns him into something of a "mad scientist." Fully reproducible: original purchaser licensed to print a full class set for classroom use. Happy directing!