Jack
and the
Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Thank you for purchasing this Jack and the
Beanstalk readers theater! The
Kaleidoscope Classroom hopes that your
students enjoy using it as much as ours do!
Have fun!
Included in this set are:
• a color-coded script to allow students to
easily follow their own parts with icons
for b/w copying
• character cards that can be laminated
and made into manipulatives by
adhering a popsicle stick to the back
• a sequence of events activity sheet
• story elements graphic organizer
• a compare and contract characters
sheet
• a comprehension questions sheet with
answer key
Don’t forget to rate our product and get
your TPT credits toward your future
purchases!
Giant
Storyteller
Jack’s
Mother
Print these
character cards on
cardstock in color.
Cut out, laminate
and adhere a
popsicle stick to the
back to make a
more interactive
readers theater.
Jack
Giant’s
Wife
Magic
Man
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Storyteller: Once upon a time, there lived a boy named Jack. He
lived with his mother. They were very poor.
Jack’s Mom: Jack, we have no money left. I need
you to sell our cow.
Jack: Mom, this is the only cow we have. I want to keep her.
Jack’s Mom: If we do no sell her, we will not be able to get food.
Storyteller: So Jack took the cow to sell her.
Jack: Let’s go, Bess. I will miss you but we must get food.
Storyteller: Jack had been walking for a while when he met a man.
The man saw Jack’s cow.
Magic Man: Hey there! Where are you going with that cow?
Jack: I need to sell my cow to buy food for my mother and I.
Magic Man: I had been wanting to buy a cow. I don’t have any
money. I only have these magic beans.
Storyteller: Jack looked at the beans. He thought about what his
mother wanted him to do. He knew he needed money.
Jack: My mother said to sell the cow to get money.
Magic Man: What if I told you these beans will help
you get money?
Jack: What do you mean? Money from beans?
Magic Man: Trust me. Trade your cow for these beans and you
won’t regret it.
Jack: Well, if it doesn’t work out can I get my cow back?
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Magic Man: Of course! If these beans don’t bring you money,
I’ll give your cow back.
Storyteller: Jack decided to trade the cow for the beans. He
hoped his mother would not be mad. Jack walked home with
the beans in his pocket.
Jack’s Mom: Jack, how much money did you get for Bess?
Jack: Well…..I met this man. He said that he had some
beans that would bring me money. If I gave him Bess
then he would give me the beans.
Jack’s Mom: WHAT!?!? You traded our cow for beans?! We
needed money for food, Jack. How could you do this?
Jack: Mother, it sounded good at the time. I’m sorry. I’ve
let you down.
Jack’s Mom: Jack, we’ll have to find another way to get
money for food. Go to bed and let me think about what
we can do.
Storyteller: Jack went to bed. His mom tossed the beans
out the window. She went to bed worrying about how
she would get money to feed Jack and herself. The
next morning Jack was up before his mother. He looked
out the window and saw the strangest sight.
Jack: Mother! Wake up! You won’t believe this!
Jack’s Mother: What are you talking about?
Jack: Look out the window. There is a giant beanstalk.
Jack’s Mother: I guess when I tossed the beans out the
window they grew.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Jack: Wow! That’s amazing! I wonder where it leads to.
Jack’s Mom: Jack, it looks a bit scary. What are you thinking?
Jack: I’m thinking that I could climb up the beanstalk and see
what’s up there.
Jack’s Mom: Oh, Jack, I think that is a bad idea. I mean, I’m not
sure what’s up there.
Jack: Mom, I think maybe this has something to do with the
man I met on the road with the beans.
Jack’s Mom: I’m scared, but I think you may be right. Just be
careful.
Jack: I will be careful and will be back before you know it.
Storyteller: Now, Jack’s mother had more worries than she
even let Jack know as he climbed up the beanstalk. She had
lost her husband years ago and Jack was the only family she
had left. Jack’s mother watched him climb the beanstalk until
she could see him no more.
Jack: Wow! From up here my house looks like a tiny speck. I
wonder just how far up this beanstalk goes.
Storyteller: Jack felt like he had climbed for hours when
suddenly he climbed through a pillow of clouds and saw the
most amazing sight. It was a castle! Jack couldn’t believe his
eyes!
Jack: I wonder who lives in that castle. I can’t
wait to find out.
Storyteller: So off Jack went toward the castle.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Storyteller: Once Jack arrived at the door, he realized that this
castle was bigger than he ever thought a castle would be. He
couldn’t even reach the door handle. This castle must belong
to someone very tall. Jack knocked at the bottom of the door.
When the door opened, a very tall woman smiled down at
Jack.
Giant’s Wife: Well, hello there. How can I help you, little man?
Jack: I am so hungry after traveling so far to get here, I would
just like to rest and get something to eat before I go home.
Giant’s Wife: I see no harm in that. Come in and I’ll get you
some food.
Storyteller: Jack noticed as he made his way to the castle
kitchen that everything was huge in the castle – the chairs, the
tables, and even the pair of men’s house slippers by the front
door. Jack thought that there must be more than one giant
living here.
Giant’s Wife: I see that you can’t sit in the chair at the table, so
I’ll just lift you up here and you can sit on the table and eat.
Storyteller: Jack was so small that the giant’s wife had to feed
him from the lid of a pill bottle and give him a drink from a
thimble.
Jack: That was the most delicious meal I’ve had in a long time.
Thank you so much for inviting me in. It’s just that now I’m so
tired, I must take a nap.
Giant’s Wife: I’ve got a ball of lint here in my pocket
that would make a nice fluffy bed for you.
You can take a nap and then be on your way.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Storyteller: The giant’s wife left the kitchen and Jack
pretended to go to sleep. Jack was curious about what
was in the castle. Just as he was about to start looking
around, he heard a loud stomping sound. He scurried to
a dark corner of the kitchen behind a cabinet so he could
not be seen.
Giant: Wife! Come get me my dinner! I’m so hungry!
Giant’s Wife: You’re always hungry. Have a seat and I’ll get
your food.
Storyteller: Suddenly, to his wife’s surprise, the giant jumped up
from the table and bellowed.
Giant: Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum! I smell a boy and I think he is YUM!
Giant’s Wife: Oh, sit down! You only smell the beef stew I’ve
been cooking. Boys, indeed! There hasn’t been a boy here in
the longest time.
Storyteller: The wife knew Jack was in the castle somewhere,
but she could not let her husband know she had let him in the
castle. She quickly got the giant to finish his dinner, hoping he
would go on to bed so she could sneak Jack out.
Giant’s Wife: Hurry up with your dinner. I’m sure
you’re very tired and need to rest.
Giant: I am tired but before I go lay down, I’d like to count my
money. It’s like counting sheep for me. The more I count, the
sleepier I get.
Giant’s Wife: Very well.
Storyteller: The giant’s wife went to get the pouch
of money for the giant to count at the table.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Giant’s Wife: While you count your money, I’m going to wash
some clothes.
Storyteller: After a while of counting his money, the giant fell
asleep. Jack came out of hiding. He saw all of the money on
the table. Jack snuck up onto the table and took the giant’s
money! The giant didn’t even wake up until Jack was on his way
back down the beanstalk. Jack yelled to his mother when he
got to the bottom.
Jack: Mother! Mother! You won’t believe this! I’ve got enough
money to give us a better life.
Jack’s mom: Oh, Jack! You have saved us! We’ll surely be able
to live well for some time.
Storyteller: They did live well for a while, but eventually, they
ran out of money and were once again in despair.
Jack’s Mom: Jack, we have used all of the money. What are
we going to do? We can’t even pay for our home.
Jack: Maybe if I go back up the beanstalk, I’ll be able to get
more money. It’s risky, but it could save us.
Jack’s Mom: Be very careful. I could not imagine life without
you.
Storyteller: The very next morning Jack started back up the
beanstalk. He knocked at the castle door.
Giant’s Wife: Hey, you! What are you doing back here? When
you left last time, you took my husband’s money.
Jack: I’m so sorry about that. It’s just that we really
needed money to live. I just came back to tell you
thank you for giving me food.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
.Giant’s Wife: I know you made a bad choice but I forgive you.
My husband has more money and I’m sure he’ll collect even
more from the villages.
Jack: Thank you so much for understanding. It sure was a long
trip to come up here to apologize. I sure am tired and hungry.
Giant’s Wife: You do look like you need something to eat. I can
almost see your bones. Come on in and I’ll get you something to
fill you up and you can be on your way. You’ve got to leave
before my husband comes home though.
Jack: Thank you so much.
Storyteller: Once again Jack followed the giant’s wife to the
kitchen. She gave him some bread and jam and left him as she
went to gather food from the garden. As Jack finished up the
bread and jam, he heard a commotion. He ran and hid in the
broom closet.
Giant: Wife! Where are you? I’m starving! I’m ready for dinner.
Wait a minute……Fee Fi Fo Fum! I smell a tasty boy! YUM!!
Giant’s Wife (coming in from the garden): Sit down. You do not
smell anything besides that broth I have boiling to make a stew.
I was just out in the garden gathering food for the stew. Just
have a seat while I get dinner started.
Giant: While I’m waiting for dinner, bring me my goose that lays
golden eggs.
Storyteller: His wife brought him the goose and as they
ate dinner, the goose happily laid golden eggs. When
dinner was over, the dishes were washed and the
giant’s wife went to get clothes off the clothesline.
The giant sat at the table talking to the goose and
counting the golden eggs.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
.
Storyteller: Jack couldn’t believe what he saw. It was
amazing! After some time, the giant fell asleep. Jack crept
from the closet and made his way to the table. He snuck up
and took the goose under his arm. He jumped from the table
and off he went back home to his mother.
Jack (coming down the beanstalk): Mother! You just won’t
believe this!
Jack’s Mother: What is it Jack? Are you okay?
Jack: I’m even better than okay! I’ve got a goose that lays
golden eggs. We’ll be able to keep our home and buy food by
selling the eggs.
Jack’s Mother: Oh, Jack! I’m so glad we’re going to be okay.
This goose was your father’s goose! We are so lucky to have
her back!
Storyteller: Jack and his mother lived very well for quite a
while. They bought many things they needed and many things
they didn’t. Eventually, they ran out of money.
Jack: Mother, we lived very good for a while, but the goose
just doesn’t lay eggs like she used to.
Jack’s Mother: You know, you found your father’s goose at the
top of the beanstalk, I wonder what else of your father’s is up
at the giant’s castle.
Jack: I’m willing to go up and look around again and see
what I can find.
Jack’s Mother: Just be very careful. That giant is
nothing to mess with.
Jack: Don’t worry, mother. I’ll leave in the morning.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Storyteller: The next morning Jack climbed the beanstalk
once again. He reached the castle door and began to knock.
Giant’s Wife: You again?! The last time I let you in, you took my
husband’s goose.
Jack: I am sorry about that. We really needed the money and
my mother said that the goose had once belonged to my
father.
Storyteller: Upon hearing this, the giant’s wife looked sadly
down at Jack.
Jack’s Mother: I’m sorry about that. My husband doesn’t
always make good choices. Why don’t you come in and I’ll get
you something to eat?
Jack: That is very kind of you. I’ll grab a quick bite and leave
before the giant comes home.
Storyteller: Jack followed the giant’s wife to the kitchen. She
gave him some cookies and milk. While sitting at the table
chatting with the giant’s wife, Jack heard the giant come
through the front door. The giant’s wife scurried to hide Jack in
the cupboard.
Giant: Wife! Who are you talking to in here?
Giant’s Wife: Nobody. I’m just singing and starting dinner.
Giant (sniffing the air): What’s that smell? I know! Fee Fi Fo
Fum! I smell a tasty boy! YUM!
Giant’s Wife: Oh, my! Not again! You smell the roast
I have in the oven.
Giant: Well, it smells tasty for sure.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Giant: While I’m waiting for dinner, bring me my harp.
Storyteller: The giant’s wife left the kitchen and was soon back
with a golden harp.
Giant: Play harp.
Storyteller: Suddenly, as if the harp were alive, it began to
play the most beautiful tune. Jack was amazed! It was a
magic harp. He kept hidden until the harp had lulled the giant
and his wife to sleep. Jack gently climbed up the table. He
tiptoed across the table and picked up the harp. As he began
to leave the kitchen with the harp, the harp began to scream
for help.
Giant (waking up from his sleep): Who has my harp? Look!!
There IS a boy in this house! I knew I smelled one! He’s getting
away with my harp!
Storyteller: Jack saw the giant catching up to him. He ran
even faster, trying to get to the beanstalk to escape. He
reached the beanstalk and scampered down as quickly as he
could. The giant was close on his heels.
Jack (reaching the ground): Mother! Quick! Go get the ax! The
giant is coming down the beanstalk after me!
Storyteller: Jack’s mother gave him the ax and he began to
chop at it feverishly. All the while the giant bellowing from
above. Finally, Jack chopped the last chop and the beanstalk
came toppling out of the sky, giant and all. That was the end of
the beanstalk and the giant.
Jack’s Mother: Jack, that is your father’s magic harp. I
thought I would never see it again. You have made
me so happy. Your father would be proud of you.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Readers Theater
Storyteller: Jack and his mother were able to live comfortably
for the rest of their lives. They had enough to eat and a warm
home to live in. The harp remembered the mother and enjoyed
playing tunes for her. The goose was more than happy to lay
golden eggs for the family. Jack and his mother never wanted
for anything the rest of their lives. They lived happily ever
after.
Jack
After reading Jack and the Beanstalk, compare and
contrast the characters of Jack and the Giant.
Giant
both
Name ___________________
After reading Jack and the Beanstalk, cut out these
events and put them in the correct order. Then glue
them down on your sheet.
Jack went up the
beanstalk to the
castle and got the
harp.
Jack chopped
down the
beanstalk.
The giant fell.
Jack went up the
beanstalk to the
castle and got
money.
Jack and his mother had no
money. She told him to sell
the cow.
Jack’s
mother
tosses
out
beans.
Jack and his mother lived
happily ever after.
Jack went up the
beanstalk to the
castle and got the
goose that laid
golden eggs..
Jack traded the cow
for magic beans.
Name ______________________
Complete the graphic organizer below to show the different story
elements you can identify from Jack and the Beanstalk.
characters
setting
problem
solution
conclusion
Name ______________________
After reading Jack and the Beanstalk, answer
the following questions.
1. Why did Jack’s mother want him to get rid of the cow?
________________________________________________________________
2. How much money did Jack get for the cow?
________________________________________________________________
3. What was special about the goose that Jack took from the
giant?__________________________________________________________
4. How did the giant feel about boys?
________________________________________________________________
5. How did the Giant’s wife help Jack?
________________________________________________________________
6. How did the giant find out that Jack was stealing from him?
_______________________________________________________________
7. What happened to the magic beans?
________________________________________________________________
8. Why did Jack go back up the beanstalk the second time?
________________________________________________________________
9. Who gave Jack magic beans?
________________________________________________________________
10. Who was the owner of the harp before the giant had it?
________________________________________________________________
Name ______________________
After reading Jack and the Beanstalk, answer
the following questions.
1. Why did Jack’s mother want him to get rid of the cow? She and Jack
needed food to eat so they needed to sell the cow for money.
2. How much money did Jack get for the cow? Jack didn’t get money
for the cow. He got magic beans.
3. What was special about the goose that Jack took from the giant? The
goose laid golden eggs.
4. How did the giant feel about boys? He thought they were tasty to eat.
5. How did the Giant’s wife help Jack? The giant’s wife helped Jack by
giving him food and hiding him.
6. How did the giant find out that Jack was stealing from him? The harp
started yelling and woke him up.
7. What happened to the magic beans? Jack’s mother tossed them out
and they grew into a giant beanstalk.
8. Why did Jack go back up the beanstalk the second time? Jack went
up the second time because he and his mother had ran out of money
and he planned on getting more.
9. Who gave Jack magic beans? The magic man who wanted the cow
gave Jack the beans.
10. Who was the owner of the harp before the giant had it? The owner of
the harp before the giant had it was Jack’s father.
Credits
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