 | An easy, flexible, 25-minute musical play for grades 2-6. Comes with the script, audio recording (with both a vocal and instrumental version of each song), and a teacher's guide. No music or drama experience needed! |
 | ✓ Funny script ✓ Catchy tunes ✓ Flexible casting ✓ Dumb jokes
Join a motley band of pirates as they scour uncharted waters in the hunt for grammatical gold! Learn more! |
MusicalGr. 2-625 Min.
Musical Play: “Pirates From Grammar Island”
Complete Script & Audio: $45 (other items also available)
We sell wonderful, short, funny plays and musicals for use in your classroom, after-school program, drama club, music class, summer school program, homeschool, and any other place where kids can thrive by participating in theater! If you are not familiar with us or how to use theater to teach, check out our Q&As.
Synopsis
Sure, they're pirates, but you won't believe what buried treasure they're looking for. With a map in one hand and a dictionary in the other, these brigands scour uncharted waters for grammatical gold: complete sentences, parts of speech, contractions, subject-verb agreement, and correct punctuation and capitalization.
Preview the script and songs!Key Concepts
Pirates covers the basic aspects of grammar:
- parts of speech
- types of sentences
- subject-verb agreement
- capitalization
- synonyms and antonyms
- types of pronouns
For a simpler show about grammar, see Grammarosaurus.
Aligned with national standards! View the standards and vocabulary.Publication Info
Author: Ron Fink (Composer) and John Heath (Book and Lyrics)
ISBN:
978-1-886588-38-7
© 2006
Bad Wolf Press, LLC
7 reviews for Musical Play: “Pirates From Grammar Island”
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The Show
We want you to know what you're getting, so the cast list and first third of the script are available here! Bad Wolf shows are written for flexibility and can be edited however you like to meet the needs of your actors, school, curriculum, parents, astrological chart, latest whim, etc. If you have questions about the portions of the script not shown, please contact us.
Casting
Flexible casting from 11-40 students. Use as many Punctuation Pirates, Scouts, Sentence Keepers, etc. as desired. Actors can easily play several roles, or a single role can be divided between multiple actors. All parts can be played by any gender.
CHARACTERS:
Captain Comma
Shmitty
Downing
Keepers of Sentences:
Declarative
Interrogative
Imperative
Exclamatory
Collector of Synonyms
Collector of Antonyms
Crewmen
Officials from the Capital Capital
Punctuation Pirates
Adverb Librarian
Advective Librarian
Scouts
Queen
Servant
and a CHORUS comprised of all students who are not playing roles on stage
at the time
Script
This is the first one-third of the script.
(Entire CLASS faces audience and sings:)
Song 1
Listen to
a sample!
CLASS:
We're gathered here today for you
To tell a pirate tale
And we may have the strangest crew
That ever has set sail.
While other pirates search for gold
To fill their treasure chest
The heroes of our story have
Good Grammar as their quest!
They're Pirates from Grammar Island
Pirates from Grammar Island
They will fuss and they will fume
'til everyone knows who from whom
Pirates from Grammar Island.
They don't say "Arrrg" or "That's me ship"
They don't ask "Who ye be?"
The subjects of their sentences
And all their verbs agree.
They're out to save all synonyms
And they love homophones
And every double negative
They send to Davy Jones!
They're Pirates from Grammar Island
Pirates from Grammar Island
They will fuss and they will fume
'til everyone knows who from whom
Pirates from Grammar Island.
They will fuss and they will fume
'til everyone knows who from whom...
(EVERYONE gasps for air)
Pirates from Grammar Island.
(CLASS takes its place.CAPTAIN COMMA, SHMITTY, and DOWNING enter or step forward; CAPTAIN holds a treasure map:)
SHMITTY: Captain Comma, sir,why did you put ashore here?
CAPTAIN: We're doing what us Pirates from Grammar Island always do. Here look.
(CAPTAIN points to spot on the treasure map. THEY ALL look at it.)
DOWNING (looking): Wow. The treasure map says this place is loaded with grammar.
SHMITTY: (pointing to map again): And right here, on this X, we'll find all eight parts of speech.
CAPTAIN: Exactly.
(FOUR GUARDIANS of SENTENCES enter. They wear signs that read: DECLARATIVE, EXCLAMATORY, IMPERATIVE, and INTERROGATIVE.
DOWNING: Hey, look, someone's coming.
DECLARATIVE: We are the Keepers of the four main kinds of sentences. I guard Declarative sentences, sentences that makes a statement. And this is the Keeper of Interrogatives.
INTERROGATIVE (to PIRATES): Who are you? Where did you
come from?
(pulls a photo out of pocket)
Would you like to see a picture of my pet moose?
IMPERATIVE: Stop asking questions!
DECLARATIVE (gesturing to IMPERATIVE): That's the Keeper of Imperatives. He gives commands.
EXCLAMATORY: I can't stand it! I'm always last! This stinks!
DECLARATIVE (gesturing to EXCLAMATORY): And this is the Keeper of Exclamations...he's filled with strong feelings.
SHMITTY: So, what do you all do?
IMPERATIVE: Tell them!
EXCLAMATORY: Ooh, I can't wait!
INTERROGATIVE: Can I go first?
DECLARATIVE: You certainly may.
INTERROGATIVE:
Song 2
Listen to
a sample!
What can I say?
Where do I start?
Don¹t you like my question mark?
Why is there air?
Why is it cold?
Why do I sound two years old?
ALL FOUR:
The declaratives make a statement
Exclamations shout at you
Interrogatives ask a question...but
Imperatives are saucy
They're commanding and they're bossy
Just telling you what to do.
EXCAMATORY:
This is so fun!
I'm feeling proud!
Holy smokes I sure am loud!
I gotta shout!
I gotta scream!
Think I had too much caffeine!
ALL FOUR and CHORUS:
The declaratives make a statement
Exclamations shout at you
Interrogatives ask a question...but
Imperatives are saucy
They're commanding and they're bossy
Just telling you what to do.
IMPERATIVES:
Clean up your room!
Finish your food!
Sit up straight and don't be rude!
Stand over there!
Pick up your clothes!
Don¹t put carrots in your nose!
ALL FOUR and CHORUS:
The declaratives make a statement
Exclamations shout at you
Interrogatives ask a question...but
Imperatives are saucy
They're commanding and they're bossy
Just telling you what to do.
Just telling you what to do.
CAPTAIN (to SHMITTY and DOWNING): I'll take these Keepers to our ship. On Grammar Island we need all four kinds of sentences.You two start searching for those parts of speech.
(SENTENCES and CAPTAIN exit.)
DOWNING: How are we supposed to do that?
SHMITTY: Here come a couple locals. Let's ask them.
(COLLECTORS enter)
DOWNING (to COLLECTORS): Hi there, we're Pirates from Grammar Island.
SYNONYM: Welcome. I¹m a Collector of Synonyms.
DOWNING: I LOVE synonym. Especially synonym toast. And those synonym rolls with the icing? Theyre the best.
SYNONYM: Synonyms, not cinnamon. Words that mean the same thing. Identical. Alike. Parallel.
SHMITTY: Well, maybe you can tell us what it's like around here.
SYNONYM: It's a friendly land. Neighborly. Amicable.
ANTONYM: And hostile, angry, malcontent.
SYNONYM: Just ignore him. He's a Collector of Antonyms. Let me tell you about our land.
Song 3
Listen to
a sample!
SYNONYM:
It's burning and it's torrid
It's sweltering and hot
ANTONYM:
It's freezing something horrid
It's cold in every spot.
SYNONYM:
Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
He's an antonym.
It's waterless and arid
It's withered up and dry
ANTONYM:
So wet you cannot bare it
I wouldn't tell a lie.
SYNONYM:
Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
He's an antonym.
Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
He's an antonym.
BOTH:
Synonyms all mean the same
But antonyms just don't
SYNONYM:
When I say yes, of course you will
ANTONYM:
I'm here to say you won't!
SYNONYM and HALF OF CHORUS:
The land is high and soaring
ANTONYM and OTHER HALF OF CHORUS:
The land is rather low
SYNONYM and HALF OF CHORUS:
The wind is loud and roaring
ANTONYM and OTHER HALF OF CHORUS:
So quiet when it blows.
SYNONYM and COMPLETE CHORUS:
Don't don' listen to him...he's an antonym
He's an antonym.
Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
He's an antonym.
Don't don't listen to him...he's an antonym
He's an antonym.
(COLLECTORS exit. CAPTAIN enters, in a hurry, with THREE CREWMEN following.)
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
The Songs
Click on any song to listen to a snippet. Click the cart icon to purchase any track for $1.
Standards
Common Core and Other National Standards
Language Arts
Pirates from Grammar Island was written specifically to teach the Common Core Language Standards:
- Common Core Conventions of Standard English - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Reading Standards for Literature - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Reading Standards: Foundational Skills:
- 2nd: Phonics and Word Recognition
- Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Language Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use -2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Standard 10: Range, Quality & Complexity:
National Core Arts Standards
- Music - Anchor Standards 4-6
- Theater - Anchor Standards 3-6
- Dance - Anchor Standards 1-6
Vocabulary
synonyms
apostrophe
comma
colon
adverb
verb
declarative
rhetorical question
antonyms
homophones
parenthesis
articles
semicolon
noun
interjection
interrogative
contractions
capital letters
punctuation
adjective
conjunction
exclamatory
double negatives
proper nouns
dangling participle
possessives
pronoun
preposition
imperative
General Vocabulary:
crew
quest
fume
horrid
supersize
purloin
splendid
ponder
Davy Jones
locals
saucy
arid
italicize
plunder
scout
rebel
caffeine
amicable
cinnamon
soaring
hoard
trolling
brutal
parallel
torrid
hostile
gawk
scour
eBay
doomed
malcontent
fuss
sweltering
capital
Bahamas
sea-way
disastrous
King James
President McKinley
Captain Kirk
withered up
"put ashore"
"walk the plank"
"out to sea"
"money in the bank"
Matthew Manera –
This might be the funniest Bad Wolf press play. It is just so funny, witty, and has lots of great review on grammar!
Jayme Anderson (verified owner) –
This is my 2nd time purchasing this!!!I have used it in the past as the play, and this year, just simply learning the songs to help my kids as an extra support for their learning. It has been awesome to have their Gen Ed teachers tell me that while the kids are doing grammar worksheets, she can hear them singing the songs, to help them get through it! I would recommend this play to everyone!!!
Kathy Hoffmann (verified owner) –
I did this play in 4 weeks with my 3rd graders in Summer school. They were engaged and motivated. We didn’t have time to memorize all the dialogue so they had their scripts but their parents we so impressed that their shy students and reluctant readers were on stage giving it their best. Awesome!
juliad (verified owner) –
I have done Pirates of Grammar Island 3 different years. The students learn the songs during the year. I pick one song for a month and we learn the concepts that month. All the students learn all the songs so at the end of the year they are ready for solos, duets or what ever. I love that the cd allows the students sing with the words and it has just the music. The kids gain confidence in public speaking and performance. We always have our play at the end of the school year. It is a beautiful celebration of the school year. They are well written and fun
Ruth Swartz (verified owner) –
I have been using Bad Wolf Press products for ten years with rave reviews from parents and fellow teachers. This year my second grade class practiced their parts and joyously sang together until March 12th. When our school closed for Covid-19, we thought our play was cancelled. But, I purchased the downloadable version of the play, and I was able to share it with parents and students. We practiced our lines during our online meetings, but we couldn't sing together because of the sound delay issues. Instead, I asked each parent to make a video of their child saying their lines and singing their parts of the songs. I even recorded the kids lip-syncing the final song! I put the 120 video links together and made a movie. The premiere of "Pirates From Grammar Island-Covid Edition" was June 11, 2020. The families loved it, and my fellow teachers were happy to see their former students. Thank you for helping me bring my class together in a wonderful way!
2nd grade teacher (verified owner) –
My second graders enjoyed this play. Some of it was advanced. Catchy tunes, great for introducing concepts of parts of speech and reviewing grammar/punctuation. I like the idea that pirates were included–made it more fun.
Beth Burrows (verified owner) –
I have been using classroom musicals from Bad Wolf Press for almost 15 years ever since I went to their workshop at the International Reading Association Convention! This year my students in Singapore loved performing in Pirates From Grammar Island and Character Matters (my 7th time!) living and breathing their characters and singing songs throughout the year! The tunes are catchy and movements come naturally-in the end my third graders choreographed the shows on their own! Thanks Bad Wolf Press!!