These social-emotional learning plays are listed in order of cast size. The SEL themes addressed in each play are listed in the descriptions.
An Imaginary Friend
2 characters. 2M. 7 pages. A short play about an imaginary friendship by Martha Patterson.
Themes: Gratitude, Empathy.
The Gift of the Magi
2 characters, flexible casting. 6 pages. Modern re-telling of the classic story by O’Henry. Siblings learn about the spirit of giving. Adapted by Jennifer Reif.
Themes: Kindness.
Cloud 9.45B
3 characters; 1F, 2M; 10 pages in length. Approximately 10-15 minutes running time. A comedy for young performers written by Sarah Thewlis.
Themes: Creativity.
The Spotted Skink
3+ Characters, Flexible Casting. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Clever and witty script about two young people trying to save their town by claiming they’ve discovered an endangered species. Will they go to any length to convince people?
Themes: Perseverance, Honesty.
Birds of a Feather
4 characters, any gender. Approximately 5 minutes running time. Adorable short play by Debra A. Cole about beauty coming from within.
Themes: Appreciating Differences, Empathy.
A Golden Peace of Mind
4 characters, 1M, 1F, 2 any gender. Approximately 7 minutes running time. Short play that teaches the value of believing in yourself!
Themes: Believing in Yourself, Courage, Perseverance.
Canine Connection
4 characters, (3 speaking, 1 non-speaking) Gender flexible. All characters are dogs. Approximately 8 minutes running time. Hilarious play where dogs run a radio call-in show. Perfect for middle and high school.
Themes: Conflict Resolution.
Share the Burden
4 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Short play based on an African trickster tale by Debra A. Cole.
Themes: Cooperation, Perseverance, Integrity.
Stinky Bird Play Script
4 characters; 3M; 1F. 10 pages in length. Approximately 10-20 minutes running time. A comedy for young performers written by Seth Freeman.
Themes: Respect, Empathy, Kindness, Courage, Honesty.
The Adventures of Don Marcos Sebastian Guevara Fantastico
4 Characters. Approximately 30 minutes running time. An unlikely pair teams up to defeat the school bullies in this playful script. Perfect for elementary, middle school, or school assemblies.
Themes: Kindness, Respect, Empathy, Cooperation, Perseverance, Courage, Honesty, Creativity.
Red Shoes
5 characters. 4F, 1M. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Short play about a girl who finds herself in an unfortunate situation, yet finds her strength to overcome adversity.
Themes: Perseverance, Courage.
Roofus and Ryan
5 characters, any gender. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Short play about resilience.
Themes: Resilience.
The Honorable Woodsman
5 characters, 1M, 2F, 2 any gender. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Play adaptation of a Jean La Fontaine fable.
Themes: Honesty, Integrity.
The Tiny Little Giant
5 characters, 1M, 1F, 3 either. Approximately 10 minutes running time. A short play by Debra A. Cole about embracing our differences.
Themes: Appreciating Differences, Empathy, Courage.
Lunch Time
5 characters, 4F, 1 any gender. Approximately 7 minutes running time. A family of bunnies outwits a wily fox.
Themes: Cooperation/Helping Others.
The Allergens
5 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 5 minutes long. Short play by Debra A. Cole, in which allergy-causing foods bemoan their fate.
Themes: Empathy.
Super Me
A bullied teen gets unexpected help from his/her superhero alter-ego. 5 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 10 minutes running time.
Themes: Courage, Empathy.
The Missing Unicorn Play Script
5 characters. 1M, 4F; 4 pages long. Approximately 5 minutes running time. A magical comedy written by Evan Baughfman.
Themes: Kindness, Accepting differences, Forgiveness.
Why Crocodile is so Snappy-Play Script
5 characters. Flexible casting; 6 pages long. Approximately 5 minutes running time. A comedy about the crocodile written by Evan Baughfman.
Themes: Honesty, Kindness.
Gold Gone
5 characters. 5 characters. 5 pages long. Royalty-free play for elementary and middle school students in which a mean-spirited prince tries to marry five princesses all at once. Perfect for school performances.
Themes: Honesty.
He Who Speaks Play Script
5 characters; 1F, 1M, 3 Either; 12 pages in length. Approximately 10-15 minutes running time. A drama for children and teens written by Starry Krueger.
Themes: Responsibility, Perseverance, Courage.
The Fisherman and His Wife Play Script
5+ characters; Flexible cast. 9 pages in length. Approximately 10 minutes running time. An Brothers Grimm fairy-tale adapted by Janea Dahl.
Themes: Gratitude.
The Little Red Hen Play Script
5-22 characters, for ages 6-10. Ten-minute play based on a popular European folk-tale.
Themes: Perseverance, Cooperation.
Dog, Cat, and the Red Bird Play Script
6 characters. Flexible cast; 3 pages in length. Approximately 1-5 minutes running time. A short play for children about acceptance by Shaneisha Dodson.
Themes: Kindness, Accepting Others.
PANDAmonium
6 characters, 3F, 3M. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Short play by Debra A. Cole that addresses racism and diversity in a non-threatening way.
Themes: Respect, Empathy, Accepting Differences.
Cutting the Strings
6 characters, flexible gender. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Play adaptation of a Burmese folk tale. Students play life-sized puppets!
Themes: Kindness.
Bubble Wrap Princess
6 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Funny fairy tale play about overprotective parents.
Themes: Courage, Believing in Yourself.
Monster Under the Bed
6 characters, 3F, 3M. Approximately 10 minutes running time. A little girl fears there is a monster under her bed.
Themes: Courage, Empathy.
The Wishing Pond
6 characters, 1F, 5 any gender. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Short play based on an African American folk tale.
Themes: Believing in Yourself, Courage.
Room in the Forest
6 characters. Approximately 20 minutes running time. Engaging play about the relationship between humans and wildlife.
Themes: Kindness, Compassion for all living creatures.
The Pizza Man’s Problem-Play Script
6 characters, 4 M, 2 F. (Mechanic could be female.) Approximately 7 minutes long. Best for ages 8-11. A funny play about a pizza man who cannot make pizza.
Themes: Perseverance.
The King’s New Child Play Script
6 characters. 2M, 2F, 2 Either; Flexible casting. 6 pages long. Approximately 5-10 minutes running time. A fantasy written by Evan Baughfman.
Themes: Perseverance and Kindness.
The Village Witch
7 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 12 minutes long. Short play by Debra A. Cole about a witch who has cursed the village.
Themes: Kindness, Empathy.
Boogie Shoes
7 characters, any gender. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Adaptation of a Japanese folk tale.
Themes: Perseverance, Positivity.
The Narrator War Play Script
7 characters. 5M, 2F. 8 pages in length. Approximately 5-10 minutes running time. A fairy tale mash-up written by Mariah Beachboard.
Themes: Cooperation, Creativity.
Rainbowland
7+characters. Approximately 10 minutes running time. Colorful characters like fairies, knights, witches, and butterflies share a message of kindness. Leading narration makes it easy for young children to perform. Written by Jennifer Reif.
Themes: Kindness, Cooperation.
Sally the Stone-Play Script
7+ characters. 2M, 4F, 5 Either; Flexible casting; 7 pages in length. Approximately 10 minutes running time. A play about kindness written by Sally Schnarr and Ken Urso.
Themes: Kindness, Empathy.
Dolphins and Grolphins and the Keys to Success
7+ characters, flexible casting. Approximately 10 minutes long. Comedy play about dolphins teaching the keys to happiness and success. Perfect for elementary students and SEL, Social Emotional Learning.
Themes: Cooperation, Responsibility, Respect, Personal Best, Honesty, Perseverance, Kindness, and Good Judgment.
Onion Boy
8 characters, 3M, 3F, 2 ANY. Approximately ten minutes running time. A comedic new fairy tale play by Debra A. Cole with the theme of kindness.
Themes: Kindness, Empathy.
Bumpy Ride
8 characters, flexible gender casting. Approximately 6 minutes running time. A moose needs help on her way to work, but various animals refuse to come to her aid.
Themes: Cooperation, Empathy.
Breathe
8 characters, 1M, 1F, 6 flexible gender. Approximately 10 minutes running time.
Themes: Coping with Anxiety, Empathy.
The Misadventures of Frog Girl Play Script
8 characters; 2F, 6 Either; 20 pages in length. Approximately 15-20 minutes running time. A comedy for children written by Carlos Perez.
Themes: Kindness, Not being conceited, Self-Acceptance.
Canary, Cockroach, Phoenix
8+ characters; 6F, 1M, 1+ Either; 35 pages in length. Approximately 30-40 minutes running time. A musical drama for children written by Starry Krueger. (5 credits)
Themes: Responsibility, Perseverance, Courage.
Winnie the Pooh and a Library Too
9 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 20 minutes long. Winnie the Pooh and his friends help Piglet learn to read. Perfect for elementary and middle school. Focus on SEL (Social-Emotional Learning)
Themes: Courage, Perseverance, Cooperation, Responsibility, Gratitude.
Why The Bullfrog Croaks
9 characters. Flexible casting; 7 pages in length. Approximately 10 minutes running time. An comedy for children about humility written by Karleen Hayden.
Themes: Kindness, Being Humble.
Stella the Umbrella
9+ characters, flexible casting. Approximately 15 minutes long. When Stella the Umbrella begins changing colors for no apparent reason, her friend Uta helps her stand up to bullies and discover her true colors. This play addresses themes of diversity, bullying, acceptance, cliques, forgiveness, and friendship, all in a whimsical setting with unique and endearing characters.
Themes: Diversity, Bullying, Acceptance, Cliques, Forgiveness, and Friendship
The Kids and The Fairy Tree
9+ characters. 4F, 4M, 1+ Either; Flexible casting; 11 pages in length. Approximately 10-15 minutes running time. A comedy for children about teamwork written by Daniel Guyton.
Themes: Cooperation, Kindness.
The Moon Dream
10+ characters, flexible casting. Approximately 15 minutes long. A dog dreams of going to the moon. Original script by Laura Rohrman and her young students.
Themes: Perseverance, Courage, Cooperation.
The Emperor’s New Clothes
10-12 characters. 10 pages in length. Approximately 10-15 minutes running time. Comical playscript of The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Themes: Honesty, Courage.
Benjamin the Hiding Bunny
10+ Characters. Cast size and gender breakdown are flexible. Leading narration and animal characters make this a perfect play for young children. Inspired by stories of Beatrix Potter. Approximately 15 minutes running time.
Themes: Kindness, Conflict Resolution, Respect, Empathy, Cooperation.
Peter Pan and the Lost Girl
10+ characters, flexible casting. Approximately 15 minutes long. Peter Pan meets Little Red Riding Hood in this short play by Willow Rowe. Fun for all ages.
Themes: Perseverance.
Rainbow Crow Play Script
4 minutes long. Parts for 10-14 actors. Best suited for ages 6-10. By Laura Rohrman.
Themes: Courage and Empathy.
The Pied Piper’s Odd Business
11 characters, flexible casting. Approximately 12 minutes long. Fun and twisted version of the classic story of The Pied Piper.
Themes: Honesty.
Dorothy’s Adventure in the Magical Kingdom of Oz
2+ characters. Approximately 10 minutes running time.
Themes: Responsibility, Perseverance, Courage, Goal-Setting.
Kid Superheroes on the Rise
13+ characters, flexible casting. Approximately 20 minutes long. Comedy adventure script about kid superheroes who use their imaginations and work together to fight bad guys.
Themes: Cooperation, Kindness, Creativity.
The Adventures of Christina and Viperina
14+ characters; 5M, 4F; 5 Either; 39 pages in length. Approximately 30-45 minutes running time. A comedy for children and teens written by Carlos Perez.
Themes in Hunting for a Friend: Kindness, Understanding, Accepting Differences.
Themes in The Magical Key: Honesty, Kindness, Understanding, Perseverance.
Dolly the Polka Dotted Lama and the Mackindoo Zoo
15+ characters of any gender. Approximately 20 minutes running time. Dolly has a hard time fitting in because she looks different, but it is her uniqueness that ultimately saves the day. Comedy for all ages by Chuck Novatka.
Themes: Kindness, Empathy, Accepting Differences, Honesty.
How the Beetle Got Her Colors-Play Script
19+ characters; 2M, 1F, 16 Either; Flexible casting; 36 pages in length. Approximately 45 minutes running time. A musical play about Latin folktales written by Carlos Perez.
Themes: Kindness, Politeness, Learning About Other Cultures.
Henry the Monster-Bullying Play Script
25-35 minutes running time. Parts for 20 actors, flexible cast. Ages 8-12. A play that teaches students to accept each other’s differences. (5 credits)
Themes: Kindness, Empathy.
The Ugly Duckling Play Script
16 pages total (7-page script). Parts for 25+ actors. Includes extension activities, study guide and more. For ages nine and up. (3 credits)
Themes: Kindness, Empathy, Respect.
