Classic plays performed by elementary school students: recommended works roundup

Urashima Taro

Senior Class Urashima Taro Play My Movie.wmv

Old folktales are back in the spotlight thanks to AU’s commercials, and one of the most iconic among them is surely Urashima Taro.

Everyone knows the plot: Urashima Taro rescues a turtle, is taken by it to the Dragon Palace where he enjoys a delightful time, and when he returns to his world, many years have passed and no one he knows remains.

He opens the forbidden treasure box and instantly turns into an old man.

Still, a play that blends fantasy with a moral is enjoyable no matter how many times you see it.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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The North Wind and the Sun

Senior Class Presentation: The North Wind and the Sun

This is one of Aesop’s fables that everyone has heard at least once.

It is widely known for the lesson that things go more smoothly when you are tolerant rather than strict.

Since the story allows for some creative freedom, it might be nice to create an original play based on it.

Watching and comparing different versions—like a play by Class A and one by Class B—could be a fresh experience.

Using a screen to show a gigantic sun or a fierce wind is one option.

Incorporating projection mapping would make the production even more wonderful.

If you add creative staging, it’s especially recommended for upper elementary and middle school students.

Rapunzel on the Tower

The Disney animated adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale Rapunzel.

It’s a classic, easy-to-follow Disney princess story, so I think it’s a good, approachable choice.

The setting—like the tower—makes the situations easy to grasp, and creating stage props is sure to be fun.

The Three Little Pigs

120201 Asahi Kindergarten, Sakura Class (Junior), Play: “The Three Little Pigs”

It was an old piece of folklore, but it became famous after Disney used it as the subject of an animated film in 1933.

You can also read the lesson: “If you’re going to make something, it’s better to build it well rather than make a flimsy version.” Since there aren’t many characters, try increasing the number of wolves or villains to balance out the cast.

It’s fine to adapt the straw house into something like a cardboard house, too.

Because it’s a short story, you can insert a scene that shows the three siblings getting along well.

As long as you can highlight how cute the little pig roles are, it should be perfectly doable even for first graders!

The Rolling Rice Ball

The Rolling Rice Ball

It’s a famous folktale also known as “The Rice Cake-Pounding Mice” and “Mouse Pure Land.” “Pure Land”? That sounds like a tricky word, doesn’t it? There’s a well-known song that repeats the words from Omusubi Kororin, so it might be fun to arrange it like a musical centered around that song.

In the biggest highlight—the scene where you choose either the big chest or the small chest—you can use a spotlight to create a sense of excitement! You can have as many mice as you like, so it’s a great recommendation for a school performance with lots of students.

The story is simple, so it might even be suitable for children around preschool age!