The Little Engine That Could (PLAY)
Characters: The Little Engine, a determined and optimistic engine, The Big Engine, a boastful and arrogant engine, The Train Cars, a group of friendly and supportive train cars, The Children, a group of children who will play the roles of different animals and people along the journey
Setting: A railway in the countryside.
Narrator: There once was a railway station where the Little Engine and the Big Engine were waiting to be chosen for a special job. The Little Engine chugged along while the Big Engine is honked loudly.
Little Engine: (singing) I think I can, I think I can,
I’ll chug and chug, and do the best I can,
I’ll show them all, I’m not so small,
I’ll prove to them; I can do it all.
Big Engine: (boasting) Ha! What can a little engine like you do? I’m the biggest and strongest engine here. I’ll be chosen for the job, no doubt.
(The Train Master enters the stage.)
Train Master: (looking at the engines) I have a special job for one of you. I need an engine to take a train of toys and good food to the children on the other side of the mountain.
Big Engine: (boasting) That’s easy, I’ll do it!
Little Engine: (optimistically) I think I can do it, Train Master.
Train Master: (thinking) The Little Engine may be small, but it seems determined and optimistic. I’ll give it a chance.
Narrator: The Train Master choose the Little Engine for the job.
Big Engine: (angrily) What? You chose the Little Engine over me?
Little Engine: (smiling) Don’t worry Big Engine, I’ll do my best and I know I can do it.
Narrator: The Little Engine hooks up to the train cars and sets off on its journey. The Little Engine and the train cars travelled over the mountains and under bridges.
Goat 1: Hey, Little Engine, how are you going to make it over the mountain?
Goat 2: Yeah, it’s a steep climb.
Little Engine: (singing) I think I can, I think I can,
I’ll chug and chug, and do the best I can,
I’ll show them all, I’m not so small,
I’ll prove to them; I can do it all.
(The Little Engine struggles but continues to chug and chant “I think I can, I think I can”)
Bear 1: (impressed) Look at that Little Engine go.
Bear 2: (excitedly) It’s making it over the mountain.
Narrator: The Little Engine successfully makes it over the mountain. On the other side of the mountain where some children are waiting for the train.
Child 1: (excitedly) Look. The train is here.
Child 2: (happily) And it’s got toys and good food for us.
Narrator: The Little Engine stops at the station and the train cars unload the toys and good food for the children.
Little Engine: (proudly) I did it. I made it over the mountain and delivered the toys and good food to the children.
Child 3: (thankfully) Thank you, Little Engine.
Child 4: (excitedly) You’re a real hero.
(The children, goats, bears, and the Little Engine sing together.)
All: The Little Engine said, I think I can,
And it chugged and chugged, and it did it,
It proved to us all, it was strong,
It’s a true hero, it couldn’t be wrong.
(The stage fades to darkness.)
The Little Engine That Could (Drama Workshop)
Introduction: Gather the children in a circle and ask:
- What do you think makes a good story?
- Have you ever heard of “The Little Engine That Could”? What do you think it might be about?
- Can you think of a time when you faced a challenge? How did it make you feel?
Exploring the Broken Train:
- What do you think might happen if a train engine breaks down?
- How might the toys on the train feel? Why?
- Can you show me with your body how a broken train might look?
- What sounds do you think we might hear when a train breaks down?
Activity: In small groups, encourage children to create and act out their own scene of a broken train. Ask them to consider:
- Who are the characters in your scene?
- What problems are they facing?
- How might they solve these problems?
Discovering the Little Engine:
- What qualities do you think an engine needs to climb a big mountain?
- If you were a little engine, what would motivate you to help others?
- How do you think the Little Engine feels about the challenge? Why?
Activity: Invite children to move around the room as if they were engines. Ask:
- How does your engine move when it’s confident? Tired? Determined?
- What might your engine say to itself to stay motivated?
The Mountain Climb:
- What challenges might the Little Engine face while climbing the mountain?
- How do you think the toys are feeling during the climb? Why?
- What could the toys do or say to encourage the Little Engine?
Activity: In groups, have children create a scene showing the Little Engine’s climb. Encourage them to think about:
- How can you show the steepness of the mountain with your bodies?
- What actions or words can you use to show determination?
The Reward:
- How do you think the children felt when they received their toys?
- What might they say to the Little Engine?
- If you could give an award to the Little Engine, what would it be for?
Activity: Invite children to create and present their own “award ceremony” for the Little Engine. Ask them to consider:
- What kind of award would you give?
- How would you present it?
- What would you say in your speech?
Conclusion: Gather in a circle for reflection:
- What was your favorite part of our story today? Why?
- What did you learn about overcoming challenges?https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FMQP5L9
- How might you use what you learned in your own life?
