Ways to use this play:
Older students could perform this for younger students as a way to teach shapes but also discuss bullying.
A single student or a small group of students could create shape puppets as an art project and then perform the play on video.
There are many fun ways to teach some important lessons with this play.
Buy a low cost PDF of this play at CurrClick.com
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SQUARE SAVES THE DAY
(a play about shapes and bullies)
(SQUARE sits reading a book. RECTANGLE enters listening to music and dancing all cool. She bumps into SQUARE who drops his book. RECTANGLE doesn’t notice and keeps dancing. SQUARE frowns. RECTANGLE waves at friends CIRCLE and TRIANGLE who wave back. CIRCLE AND TRIANGLE see SQUARE is sad and go up to SQUARE)
CIRCLE
What’s wrong, Square?
TRIANLE
Why so blue?
SQUARE
I wish I wasn’t so square.
CIRCLE
What? Why?
TRIANGLE
You’re great at being a square.
CIRCLE
You’re the best reader.
TRIANGLE
You’re the smartest one in the class.
SQUARE
But look at rectangle. She’s so tall and thin. Look at me. I’m as wide as I am tall.
CIRCLE
I am too you know.
SQUARE
But you’re so well rounded. You’re good at everything.
TRIANGLE
But you still have the best grades, Square.
SQUARE
Only at reading, writing and math.
TRIANGLE
And science and social studies.
SQUARE
But that’s it. Circle can do it all… especially PE. I’m terrible at PE.
TRIANGLE
We can’t be good at everything.
CIRCLE
Triangle has a point. You should be proud of what you’re good at.
SQUARE
And rectangle is so tall. It must be wonderful to be that high. I bet she can touch the sky.
TRIANGLE
Why are you feeling so bad? Did something happen? Did rectangle do something to you?
SQUARE
She laughed at me.
CIRCLE
Oh dear.
TRIANGLE
Why did she laugh at you?
SQUARE
We were in the school lunch room and they put the cake way up high above the other food. And I couldn’t reach it. Rectangle laughed at me and said that she wouldn’t help me because I was too fat and didn’t need cake.
CIRCLE
That’s not nice.
TRIANGLE
Rectangle is a bit rough around the edges sometimes.
CIRCLE
Perhaps I can smooth things over with her.
(CIRCLE exits after RECTANGLE)
SQUARE
What’s the point?
TRIANGLE
The point is that she shouldn’t talk to you that way. She shouldn’t talk to anyone that way. We need to respect each other’s differences.
SQUARE
But I’m more like her than anyone else. We both have four sides and four corners. I just wish I was more like her in every way.
TRIANGLE
There are things to admire about every shapes. Each one of us has something special about us.
SQUARE
Really?
TRIANGLE
Yes, there’s Heart for example.
(HEART enters and waves at them)
HEART
Hi, Square! Hi, Triangle!
(HEART goes and gives them hugs)
SQUARE
Hi, Heart.
HEART
It’s so great to see you. Thank you for loaning me that Fairy Tale book. It was so romantic. I love the stories about princesses falling in love.
TRIANLE
You love love.
HEART
I do!
(They laugh)
HEART
You always know the best books.
SQUARE
I love to read.
HEART
And I would love it if you’d be my partner in science class today. You’re so good at experiments.
SQUARE
Is today experiment day?
HEART
It is!
SQUARE
That will be fun.
HEART
Especially if you’re my partner.
SQUARE
Yes! See you in science.
HEART
Okay!
(HEART exits)
TRIANGLE
Heart is very good at making things fun. She finds things she likes and loves to do them.
SQUARE
It’s always easy to be happy when she is around.
TRIANGLE
She’s great at cheering people up.
(STAR enters)
TRIANGLE
There’s Star. Hey, Star!
STAR
How’s it going, Triangle? Yo Square.
TRIANGLE
Amazing job at the game Saturday night. He made the game winning score that won the game.
STAR
I’m lucky to be on such a wonderful team. I was really excited to win the game. It’s fun to play even if we don’t win, but it’s even more fun when we do!
TRIANGLE
You’re a real leader out there. All the younger players look up to you.
STAR
I can’t do it without them. I might be a good player…
TRIANGLE
A great player!
STAR
But I couldn’t do it without the rest of the team. When we got all those new players, I tried to take charge and win the game on my own but it didn’t work. Coach helped me to see that I need the other players to help us win. So I kind of became a teacher and taught them some of the tricks I know that give me an edge. And that helped them be better players and that helped me to do better too.
TRIANGLE
I’m happy to see the team working together again.
STAR
Let’s hope for another win next week too!
TRIANGLE
I’ll be there cheering you on.
STAR
I’d love to see you there too, Square.
SQUARE
Really?
STAR
We need all the fans we can get.
SQUARE
Okay, I’ll try to make it. I don’t really know how the game works, but I will read a book about it before I come.
STAR
Speaking of books, do you think you could help me with my math homework?
SQUARE
Sure.
STAR
If I don’t keep my grades up, then I can’t play.
SQUARE
Oh, wow. Yes, I’ll help you.
STAR
Help me get good grades and we’ll make you an honorary team member.
SQUARE
Neat.
STAR
See you in Math!
(STAR goes)
TRIANGLE
Even Star looks up to you.
SQUARE
But everyone else looks up to him.
TRIANGLE
And you can help the team by helping Star get better grades.
SQUARE
I never thought I would help our school’s team.
TRIANGLE
There’s all kinds of ways you help the other shapes in our school.
SQUARE
I guess so.
(TRIANGLE leaves. DIAMOND and RECTANGLE enter)
RECTANGLE
What’s the matter, Square? Did I hurt your feelings?
DIAMOND
You really need to learn to take a joke.
RECTANGLE
That’s what friends do. They joke around and tease each other.
SQUARE
They do?
DIAMOND
Sure, I’m always teasing Rectangle about who has the nicer clothes and the better hair and the cooler sunglasses.
RECTANGLE
It’s usually you.
DIAMOND
I know. I’m awesome like that.
RECTANGLE
See. Always joking around.
SQUARE
So when you were joking with me, you wanted to be my friend.
RECTANGLE
Well, let’s not get too carried away.
DIAMOND
You’re not quite the friend material we usually hang out with.
RECTANGLE
Maybe when you stop being so square.
DIAMOND
Ha! Like that will ever happen. Let’s go, Rectangle. I have to show you this new jacket I just bought. It’s in my locker. You’re going to be so jealous.
(DIAMOND and RECTANGLE exit. SQUARE is sad. OVAL enters)
OVAL
What’s wrong, Square?
SQUARE
Nothing.
OVAL
Come on. You can talk to me. Was it something Diamond and Rectangle said? They are always saying mean things to me too.
SQUARE
Really?
OVAL
They think they’re better than everyone else. And they’re always saying how odd I am. So I know what it is like to be odd. Ovals are probably the oddest shape of all. I don’t fit anywhere.
SQUARE
It’s hard isn’t it? Not fitting in?
OVAL
But I found ways to be useful. Oval’s are the shapes of eggs. And eggs are a popular food so I dedicated myself to feeding others. Eggs for breakfast. And things like cake need eggs. Everyone loves cake.
SQUARE
I sure do.
OVAL
I decided to make the best of being an oval. Why try to be something else when you can be great just the way you are.
SQUARE
Maybe you’re right.
OVAL
Square. With all the right angles, I know you can make it right for yourself too.
(CIRCLE comes out upset)
CIRCLE
Everyone! Please! I need help. Baby Moon is stuck!
(MOON is stuck behind a square shape. ALL the shapes gather)
HEART
Don’t worry, Baby Moon. We’re here for you.
STAR
I’ll save Baby Moon.
(STAR tries but can’t get through square shape)
STAR (CONT.)
I can’t fit through the hole. It has four sides and I have 5 points. It’s no use.
RECTANGLE
I have four sides!
DIAMOND
So do I!
RECTANGLE
We’ll save Baby Moon.
(RECTANGLE tries)
DIAMOND
You’re too tall. Let me try.
RECTANGLE
Almost… but not quite. You’re too tall too.
OVAL
I know who will fit through there. Square!
STAR
Somebody find Square.
HEART
Hurray! There’s Square. Four perfect and equal sides.
OVAL
Hurry Square. Baby Moon needs you.
SQUARE
You think I’ll fit?
CIRCLE
Please try.
SQUARE
Okay.
(SQUARE fits through and finds BABY MOON and brings her safely out)
OVAL
Square saved Baby Moon.
HEART
This is wonderful!
STAR
You’re a hero.
CIRCLE
Hurray for Square!
ALL
Hip, hip, hurray!
Square saves the day.
With four equal sides.
The same tall and wide.
Square is not a zero
Now he is a hero.
Hurray!
END OF PLAY
***
Buy a low cost PDF of this play at CurrClick.com
