Add a Little Dramatic Play to Learning

Short Fables

Play Scripts in Two Versions
present tense for ESL and advanced vocabulary

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

Download PDF Files

Series A Versions ESL WANDA'S

The Ant and the Grasshopper The Crow and the Pitcher The Fox and the Crow The Fox and the Grapes The Hare and the Tortoise

Series B Versions ESL WANDA'S

The Farmer and the Stork The Ant and the Dove The Frogs Who Want a King The Milkmaid and the Pail The Oak and the Reeds

Series C Versions ESL WANDA'S

The Lark and Her Young Ones The Frog and the Ox The Bundle of Sticks The North Wind and the Sun The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts

Hear the Story as you read

NARRATOR
One day, the Hare meets the Tortoise.

TORTOISE
Yes, but in a race, I am better.

HARE
Impossible! I'm the fastest animal in the forest.

TORTOISE
Maybe! Fox, you be the referee.

FOX
Okay!

NARRATOR
The Fox is very amused. The two runners line up.

FOX
One, two, three, go!

NARRATOR
In the middle of the race, the Hare stops.

HARE
I can easily catch up to Tortoise.

NARRATOR
The Tortoise walks on step by step without stopping.
The Hare naps for a while and then wakes up.

HARE
Oh no, I'm behind. No problem! I'm fast!

NARRATOR
He runs as fast as he can.

FOX
Too late, Hare. Tortoise is already here!

NARRATOR
The moral of the story: He who keeps going wins the race.

(Slow and steady wins the race.)

NARRATOR
One day the sluggish tortoise is out enjoying a leisurely stroll down the path when the haughty hare bounds up behind him and tries to get around.

HARE
Move along there, Tortoise. You are so heavy and clumsy!
You're blocking the path.

TORTOISE
I may be slow, but in a race, I could probably beat you.

HARE
Impossible! With my long hind legs, I'm the fastest animal in the forest.

TORTOISE
Perhaps! Let's find out. (Fox wanders by)
Fox, we're having a race. Will you be the referee?

FOX
Okay!

NARRATOR
Fox is very amused by the unlikely match-up. The two contestants line up.

FOX
One, two, three, go!

NARRATOR
In the middle of the race, Hare sees a comfy tuft of grass by the side of the path
and decides to take a short nap.

HARE
I'll just rest here a bit. I can easily catch up to pokey Tortoise.

NARRATOR
Meanwhile, Tortoise plods on one little foot in front of the other without stopping.
Hare snoozes for a while and then wakes up with a start.

HARE
Oh no, I'm behind. (smugly) No problem!
I'm so fast, I can blast past him!

NARRATOR
He springs back on the path and speeds toward the finish line.

FOX
Too late, Hare. Tortoise is already here!

NARRATOR
The moral of the story: Slow and steady wins the race.

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