Illustration of magical sloth with wand and wings
Hannah McCaffery (sloth); Shutterstock.com (Background, Book)
Play,

Happily Ever After

You are about to act out two fairy tales. 

By Meg Richardson & Molly Bradley
From the September 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will identify what makes both of these plays fairy tales.

Complexity Factors
  • Levels of Meaning
    These two plays will teach students about the genre of fairy tales and which attributes of fairy tales each of these plays has.
  • Structure
    The first play has three chronological scenes. The second play has four chronological scenes.
  • Language
    The language is mostly simple and conversational.
  • Knowledge Demands
    Basic knowledge about fairy tales would be helpful.
Featured Skill: Genre,
Other Key Skills: main idea, key details, summarizing, plot, cause and effect, problem and solution, how a character changes, text features, interpreting text, vocabulary, opinion writing, explanatory writing, narrative writing, speaking, listening, read with accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
Standards
  • Common Core
    RL.3.1, RL.3.2, RL.3.3, RL.3.4, RL.3.7, RL.3.9, RL.3.10, W.3.1, W.3.2, W.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.2, L.3.4, L.3.6, RF.3.4
  • TEKS Grade 3
    1a, 1c, 3a, 3b, 4, 6a, 6c, 6e, 6g, 6i, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7g, 8b, 8c, 9a, 9c, 10a, 12b, 12d

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You are about to act out two fairy tales. 

Here’s what you’ll find in most fairy tales. By Laine Falk

1. A Special Beginning and Ending

Many fairy tales start with “Once upon a time.” That means the stories happened a long time ago or in an imaginary world. They often end with “And they lived happily ever after!”

2. Royal Characters

You may meet royal characters like kings, queens, princes, or princesses in fairy tales. They usually live in a castle. 

3. Magic

You can also find magic in fairy tales. Characters often include fairies or animals that can talk. These characters usually act like humans or cast magic spells.

Think and Read: Genre

As you read the plays, think about what makes each one a fairy tale.

The Frog Prince

Will a princess keep her promise to a slimy frog?

By Meg Richardson

Art by Alex Patrick

Characters

Choose the character you will play.

Storytellers 1, 2  (S1, S2)

Princess

Class (to be read by the whole class)

Frog and Prince (played by the same actor)

King 

Queen

Scene 1

S1: Once upon a time, there was a princess. 

S2: She had a beautiful golden ball. One day, she was playing with it near a pond. 

Princess (singing): La la, I love my golden ball. 

S1: She throws her ball in the air and . . . 

Class: Splash!

S2: . . . it lands in the pond.

Princess: Oh no! 

Frog: Ribbit. I might be able to get it for you . . . 

Princess: Oh, thank you!

Frog (pausing): . . . but then you must do three favors for me. 

Princess: What are they? 

Frog: You must let me share a meal with you, let me stay in your palace, and be my friend.

Princess: I guess so. 

Frog: Ribbit! Off I go.  

S1: Frog swims deep down in the pond. 

Class: Glub, glub, glub.

Frog: I got it!

Class: Ta-da! 

Princess: Thanks, Frog.

Frog: Where’s your palace? I’ll meet you tomorrow for my three favors.

Princess (running away): Uh . . . I’m sure you’ll find it. Bye!

Scene 2

S2: The next day, the palace doorbell rings. 

Class: Ding-dong!

Princess: Who is it?

Frog: Ribbit! It’s me! I’m here for lunch.

Princess (wrinkling her nose): Ew. You can’t come in!

Frog: But I’m hungry! All I’ve eaten today is a little fly.

Class: Burp!

S1: The princess slams the door.

King: Who was that?

Princess: Just a slimy frog. I promised I’d share a meal with him if he got my golden ball. But no way.

Queen: A promise is a promise. 

S2: The princess sighs and opens the door.

Princess: Come in, I guess.

S1: Frog joins the royal family at the table.

Princess: Soup and broccoli for lunch? I hate broccoli.

King: Broccoli builds strong bones.  

Frog: Ribbit! Try dunking your broccoli in your soup—like me! 

Princess: Oh. This is tasty! Thanks, Frog. 

S2: Later that evening, it begins to storm. 

Queen: Time for bed!

Princess (scared): I hate storms. 

King: We’ll be safe inside the palace. 

S1: The sky thunders.

Class: BOOM!

Frog: How about I tell you a joke? What’s a frog’s favorite year? 

Princess (thinking): I don’t know.

Frog: A leap year! 

Princess: Ha ha!

Frog: What’s a frog’s favorite type of music?

Princess: What?

Frog: Hip-hop!

S2: Frog tells jokes until they fall asleep. 

Scene 3

S1: The next day, Frog gets ready to leave.

Frog: Before I go, you have one favor left. 

Princess: What’s that?

Frog: To be my friend. 

Princess: You got me my ball, taught me to like broccoli, and helped me overcome my fear of storms. You’re the best friend a princess could have. 

S2: She picks Frog up and kisses him on the cheek. 

Class: Mmwah!

S1: Suddenly, the air begins to sparkle.

Class: Whoooosh!

S2: Frog turns into a prince!

Princess (amazed): What just happened?

Prince: I used to be a prince, but an evil fairy turned me into a frog. Only a true friend could break the spell. You did it! 

S1: From then on, the princess and the prince were best friends.

S2: They played together, told jokes, and lived happily ever after. 

The End

The Sloths and the Ogre

Does a sleepy sloth princess have what it takes to defeat a stinky ogre?

By Molly Bradley

Art by Hannah McCaffery

Characters

Choose the character you will play.

Storytellers 1, 2  (S1, S2)

Sloth King

Sloth Queen

Sloth Princess

Volunteers 1, 2  (V1, V2)

Fairy Slothmother

Ogre

Scene 1

S1: Once upon a time, there was a royal sloth family. 

S2: One summer, they went on a vacation. 

S1: Now, sloths like to sleep . . .

S2: . . . a lot.

S1: So they stopped for many naps on their way there. 

S2: After a relaxing summer away, the royal sloth family prepared to head home. 

King (yawning): I’m tired after that restful vacation.

Queen (nodding sleepily): You know what sounds nice? A nap!

S1: The sloth princess comes in.

Princess: A messenger just arrived. An ogre has moved into our castle!

Queen: A stinky ogre?! What will we do?

King: I’ll send out a message asking for help.

Scene 2

S2: The next day, a sloth volunteer arrives.

V1: I am the smartest sloth in all the land! 

S1: He sits down and pulls out a large map. 

V1: I have a plan.

Queen: Hooray!

V1: First, I’ll sneak up to the castle. Then I’ll surprise the ogre by . . . 

S2: He pauses to think.

S1: But before he can continue, he falls asleep.

S2: The next day, a second sloth arrives. 

V2: I am the bravest sloth in all the land! I’m not scared of anything. 

King: What will you do?

V2: I’ll knock him out—Bam! Blammo! Ka-bam . . . 

S1: The sloth trails off. He’s fallen asleep! 

King: We’ll just have to find a new home.

Princess (furiously): The ogre can’t get away with this!

Scene 3

S2: The sloth princess visits her fairy slothmother.

Fairy Slothmother: Hello, my dear! What’s the matter?

S1: The sloth princess explains everything.

Princess: I want to get our home back. But how will I stay awake for the journey?

Fairy Slothmother: I know just the spell. It will make any creature nearby fall asleep instead of you!

Bippity, boppity, boopity-yay,

Let someone else fall asleep today.

Princess: Thank you!

S2: The next day, the sloth princess sets out.

S1: Soon she gets drowsy.

Princess (yawning): Bippity, boppity, boopity-yay, 

Let someone else fall asleep today.

S2: Suddenly, she’s wide awake. 

S1: A bird falls out of a tree and into her arms. It’s fast asleep!

Princess: Sweet dreams!

S2: She sets the bird down and continues on her way. When she feels sluggish again, she says the spell. 

S1: This time, a nearby squirrel starts snoring.

Princess: Good night, squirrel!

Scene 4

S2: Finally, the sloth princess reaches the castle.

S1: The ogre is sitting on the king’s throne.

Princess: I’m here to take back my home! 

Ogre: Ha! It’s mine now. You can live in the dungeon. Any last words? 

Princess (bravely): Bippity, boppity, boopity-yay,
Let someone else fall asleep today.

S2: The ogre’s eyes close. He begins to snore!

S1: Sloths from across the land come to celebrate. 

S2: They carry the ogre out and dump him in a swamp.

S1: When the king and queen arrive (after many naps), they hug the sloth princess. 

Queen: We’re so proud of you! You are the smartest and bravest sloth in the land. 

Princess: But I wasn’t smart or brave. I just used my fairy slothmother’s spell.

King: You were smart enough to know you needed help. 

Queen: Plus, it takes courage to ask for help when you need it. 

Fairy Slothmother: And now you have your castle back!

S2: And they lived happily ever after.

The End

Think and Write

Pick one of the plays. Then write a letter to a friend explaining why it is a fairy tale.

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Can't Miss Teaching Extras

For another take on a classic fairy tale, read “Not So Wicked After All,” about Cinderella and her “wicked” stepsisters.

Looking for another fun fairy tale? Have your students perform the hilarious “Emperor's New Clothes,” based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen.

If your students love reading plays with animal characters, then they’ll love “The Tale of the Too-Talkative Turtle,” “Fabulous Fables,” and “Two Turtle Tales.” Students will also learn about the genre of traditional fables and folktales.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Close Reading

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Differentiate and Customize

Striving Readers, Multilingual Learners, Advanced Readers

1. Preparing to Read

Introduce the Text and Preview Text Features

  • Ask students to predict what these plays will be about based on the titles, subtitles, and illustrations on pages 24 and 27. Review the predictions after reading each play.

Set a Purpose for Reading

  • Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 23 and the Think and Write box on page 29. 

  • Remind students to keep these prompts in mind while reading the plays.

Introduce Featured Skill

  • Build on the Think and Read prompt by explaining the plays’ featured skill: Genre. Encourage students to identify what makes each of these plays a fairy tale.

Introduce Vocabulary

  • Show or assign the Vocabulary Slideshow to preview challenging words. Then assign the Vocabulary Skill Builder before or after reading.

2. Close Reading

Reading and Unpacking the Text

  • Storyworks 3 plays provide a perfect opportunity for students to build fluency.

  • Perform the plays as a class or have students follow along as they listen to the audio Read-Aloud. 

  • Project or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions.

Close-Reading Questions

  •  Read Scene 1 of “The Frog Prince.” What three favors does Frog ask the princess to do for him? The three favors that Frog asks the princess to do are to share a meal with him, to let him stay in her palace, and to be his friend. (main idea and supporting details)
  • Read Scene 2. How does Frog help the princess? Frog helps the princess by teaching her how to like broccoli and telling her jokes to overcome her fear of storms. (summarizing)
  • Read Scene 3. What happens after the princess agrees to be Frog’s friend? The princess picks up Frog and kisses him on the cheek. Suddenly, the air starts to sparkle and Frog turns into a prince. An evil fairy had turned him into a frog and only a true friend could break the spell. (plot)
  • Read Scene 1 of “The Sloths and the Ogre.” What happened while the royal sloth family went on a summer vacation? While the royal sloth family went on a summer vacation, an ogre moved into their castle. (plot)
  • Read Scene 2. Why can’t the sloth volunteers explain their plans to help the royal family? The sloth volunteers can’t explain their plans to help the royal family because they fall asleep first. (cause and effect)
  • Read Scene 3. How does the fairy slothmother help the princess stay awake on her journey to the castle? The fairy slothmother teaches the princess a magical spell that will make any creature who is nearby fall asleep instead of her. (problem and solution)
  • Read Scene 4. Which part of the story does the illustration on page 29 show? The illustration shows the sloth princess standing bravely in front of the ogre, who is sitting on the king’s throne. She is saying the first words of the magical spell that will put him to sleep. The ogre looks surprised and angry. (text features)

Critical-Thinking Questions

  • In “The Frog Prince,” how do the princess’s feelings about Frog change from the beginning of the story to the end? In the beginning of the story, the princess doesn’t want to let Frog come inside the castle for lunch. She wrinkles her nose and slams the door. When her mother tells her she has to keep her promise, she opens the door but is annoyed. After Frog teaches her to like broccoli and overcome her fear of storms, her feelings change. She calls him the best friend a princess could have. (how a character changes)
  • After the ogre is carried out of the castle, the sloth queen tells the princess, “It takes courage to ask for help when you need it.” Have you ever needed help to solve a problem? What did you do? Answers may vary. (connecting to the text)

3. Skill Building and Writing

Featured Skill: Genre

  • Distribute or digitally assign the Genre Skill Builder.  

  • Ask students to write a response to the Think and Write prompt on page 29.

Differentiate and Customize
For Striving Readers

Build fluency and boost confidence with unison reading. Choose a scene, preview challenging words, and then assign students two or three of the characters to read together aloud while you take on the other roles.

For Multilingual Learners

This play includes stage directions in parentheses that instruct readers how a line should be said, such as scared, thinking, yawning, and furiously. Help students understand the meanings of these words by modeling the lines aloud. Discuss what the stage directions tell you about how the characters are feeling. Then invite students to read the lines aloud themselves.

For Advanced Readers

Invite students to research an animal featured in one of the plays: either a frog or a sloth. Students should research this animal and learn more about it. (Like are sloths really that sleepy?) As a bonus, have students include drawings!

Text-to-Speech