3Mom’sbirthdaywasonlyfourdaysaway.“HowcanwecelebrateMom’sbirthday?”askedTodd.4“Wecouldtakehertotheiceskatingrink,”saidTayhopefully.“Iknow!Let’sgotothecircus.Theclownswillentertainher,”saidJasmine.“Let’stakehertothetheatertoseeaplay,”saidDad.“Momlovesplays.”5Toddlookedatthenewspaper.“Therearelotsofplays,”hesaid.ToddreadareviewaboutaplaycalledTheGiantBug.“Agiantbugtakesoveracity,andthepeoplehavetoescape.”“Thatplaywillbetoofrightening,”saidJasmine.“Momwon’tlikeit.”6“Well,whataboutthisplayinstead?”saidTodd.“It’scalledLostintheJungle.It’ssetinajunglefaraway.Someyoungelephantsarelostandcan’tfindtheirwayhome.”7“Thatplaywillbetoosad,”statedTay.“Momwon’tlikethatplayatall.”“IthinkMomwouldliketoseeafunnyplay,”saidDad.“Therearenofunnyplays,”saidTodd,“justseriousones.”8“I’vegotaterrificidea!”announcedJasmine.“Listen,andI’lltellyou.”Everyonethoughtthatherideawasperfect,exceptforTodd.“Idon’tknow,”saidTodd.“Ihopeit’sthesortofbirthdaypresentMomwillenjoy.”9ThefamilydecidedtoprepareaplayoftheirowntosurpriseMom.Onthefirstday,theywrotethescript.Everyonehadlines.Onthenextday,theypaintedandpastedthescenery.10OnthedaybeforeMom’sbirthday,theyalldressedupinhilarious-lookingcostumesandpracticedtheplayseveraltimes.“IhopeMomwillliketheplay,”saidTodd.11OnMom’sbirthday,everyonewassoexcited.Thesurprisewasready.“Happybirthday!”shoutedeveryoneasMomenteredintheroom.“WewouldliketopresentanenchantingplaycalledTheVeryFunnyFamilyDayOut,”announcedDad.12“Wewrotethisplayourselves,”saidTodd.“Weevenpaintedthescenery.”“Thefamilywillallsitononehuge,longbike,likethis,”addedJasmine.“Theywilltraveltolotsofsillyplaces,”saidTay.“Sometimes,thekidswillevenforgettopedal!”13“ThisisdefinitelythesortofplaythatIwilllike!”saidMom.“I’mthrilledwithmybirthdaysurprise.”TheymadecertainthatMomwascozyinherfavoritechairbesidethefire.14Theplaybegan.Itwasveryfunny,andMomlaughedandlaughed.“ThisisthebestbirthdaypresentI’veeverhad,”shesaidlaughingly.“Iknewyouwouldlikeit,”saidJasmine.“Wecanwriteanotherplaynextyear!”saidTodd.WordCount:432ThinkCritically1.IfyouwereMom,howwouldyouhavefeltwhenyousawtheplay?2.WhydidDadandthechildrenperformtheirownplay?3.Inorder,describethethingsthefamilydidtopreparefortheplay.4.Whatwasthesettingforthestory?5.Wouldyouliketobeinaplay?Whyorwhynot?LanguageArtsWriteaParagraphReadpage12again.Writeaparagraphaboutwherethefamilywentontheirtravels.School-HomeConnectionTalkaboutTheBestBirthdaywithafamilymember.Thentalkaboutthedifferentkindsofplaysormoviesthatyouhaveseen.
