The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

I wrote this Creative Dramatics script based on The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. I think it would be especially applicable to a class studying telling time in math. There are many parts of varying difficulty, so it would work well for a class of varying abilities.

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

Characters:

• The Grouchy Ladybug
• The Friendly Ladybug
• Yellow Jacket
• Stag Beetle
• Praying Mantis
• Sparrow
• Lobster
• Skunk
• Boa Constrictor
• Hyena
• Gorilla
• Rhinoceros
• Elephant
• Whale face (not a speaking part)
• Whale fin (not a speaking part)
• Whale tail (not a speaking part)
• Clocks (as many as needed). These will be wearing clocks with movable hands to mark the time.

Setting: bright and early in the morning!
Two lady bugs approach a big green leaf covered with aphids. The happy ladybug is smiling, the grouchy ladybug is frowning

BIG CLOCKS read 5:00.

Friendly Ladybug: Good morning!

Grouchy Ladybug: Go away! I want all these aphids!

Friendly Ladybug: We can share them!

Grouchy Ladybug: No! They’re mine, all mine! OR do you want to fight me for them?! (aggressively)

Friendly Ladybug: If you insist… (sweetly)

Grouchy Ladybug: (steps back looking unsure). Oh-h-h… you’re not big enough for me to fight.

Friendly Ladybug: Then why don’t you pick on someone bigger?!

Grouchy Ladybug: I will! (in a high pitched, annoyed voice) I’ll show you! (it puffs up, and flies off)

The Grouchy Ladybug flies until he meets a yellow jacket. BIG CLOCKS read 6:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Yellow Jacket: If you insist. (shows his stinger)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and meets a stag beetle. BIG CLOCKS read 7:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Stag Beetle: If you insist. (opens his jaws)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and comes across a praying mantis. BIG CLOCKS read 8:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Praying Mantis: If you insist. (reaches out with his long front legs)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and almost flies into a sparrow. BIG CLOCKS read 9:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Sparrow: If you insist. (opens his sharp beak)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and sees a lobster. BIG CLOCKS read 10:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Lobster: If you insist. (stretches his claws)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and almost bumps into a skunk. BIG CLOCKS read 11:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Skunk: If you insist. (lifts his tail)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and spots a boa constrictor. BIG CLOCKS read 12:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Boa Constrictor: If you insis-s-s-st, right after lunch.

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and happens upon a hyena. BIG CLOCKS read 1:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Hyena: If you insist. (laughs eerily and shows teeth)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and meets a gorilla. BIG CLOCKS read 2:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Gorilla: If you insist. (beats his chest)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and runs into a rhinoceros. BIG CLOCKS read 3:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Rhinoceros: If you insist. (lowers his horn)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and encounters an elephant. BIG CLOCKS read 4:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Elephant: If you insist. (raises his trunk and shows his big tusks)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and meets a whale. BIG CLOCKS read 5:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

(no response)

Grouchy Ladybug: You’re not big enough anyway.

Grouchy Ladybug flies on and encounters a one of the whale’s flippers. BIG CLOCKS read 5:15.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

(no response)

Grouchy Ladybug flies on and reaches the whale’s fin. BIG CLOCKS read 5:30.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

(no response)

Grouchy Ladybug flies on and meets the whale’s tail. BIG CLOCKS read 5:45.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

The whale’s tail GENTLY pushes the Grouchy Ladybug. He flutters around the room until he lands back upon the leaf upon which he started. The Friendly Ladybug is still there. BIG CLOCKS read 6:00.

Friendly Ladybug: Ah! You have returned! You MUST be hungry! There are still some aphids left. You can have them for dinner.

Grouchy Ladybug: (tiredly) Oh, thank you.