Grant and the Flower Stem

Grant and the Flower Stem

Genre: drama

Let's review Drama!

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A drama has...

• list of characters and is written in dialogue

• divided parts or sections called Scenes or Acts

• settings and stage directions in parantheses

Let's practice!

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Multiple Choice

What is the action in the example?

Emily: Gosh it's so hot in this speaker, I'm going to sneak out! (Emily opens the door.)

• I'm going to sneak out!

• (Emily opens the door.)

Multiple Choice

What is the setting in this example?

List of characters:

Susan

Settings:

bus

Susan: Let's go home!

• home

• bus

Let's read our short story!

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List of Characters

Grant, an ant

Beatrice, a bee

Frank, a bee

Setting

A field in Kansas

(Grant has wandered away from his work and has fallen asleep. The next morning, he climbs to the top of a sunflower stem and finds a small house made of beeswax. No one is home.)

Grant: (whispering) What is this place? It looks like my house, but everything is smooth and shiny! Everything in my house is made of dirt and so rough. Oh man, I would love to live

here!

(Beatrice walks in the door behind him.)

Beatrice: (yelling) Who are you? And, more importantly, what are you doing here?

Grant:  I’m so sorry. My name is Grant. I just saw the stem to your house and climbed up. I didn’t know what I would find. But your house is lovely! (Cowering) Please don’t sting me!

Beatrice: (laughs) It’s nice to meet you. Stand up straight and tall. I haven’t stung anyone in years, not unless they deserved it.

Grant: That’s a relief. I have heard stories about little ants that wander away and are stung by bees. I hear bees are very cranky.

Beatrice: Goodness no. It takes a lot to get me irritated. Someone has to be very unpleasant to make me a grouch. I am usually very friendly. You should watch out for my husband, however; he is grumpier than I am.

Grant: Is he going to sting me?

Beatrice: My goodness, Grant, you are one nervous ant. You shouldn’t worry so much. He won’t sting you.

 

Frank: (Enters, but doesn’t see Grant) Good afternoon, Beatrice! Whose turn is it to make soup? (Notices Grant) Who are you, and what are you doing in my house?

Grant: I’m sorry, sir. Your wife has been very generous to me. She offered me some tasty soup. Please don’t sting me!

Frank: (to Beatrice) Really, he thinks I’m going to sting him?

Beatrice: He thinks all bees do is just see ants and sting them.

Grant: All of the stories I’ve heard about bees are terrifying.

Frank: Let me calm you down. Have you ever met a bee before?

Grant: No, not before you two.

Beatrice: I’ll tell you what. We are going to feed you, and then Frank will fly you home. I’d like you to tell other ants about us, and let them know that we are not beasts. We are insects like everyone else. I’d also ask you to be more careful about believing all the stories you hear about other folks.

Grant: I will. Thank you very much for not stinging me.

Frank and Beatrice: (sigh) (together) You’re welcome, Grant.

The End

If you are ready to answer questions, please go to the next page. If you are not, go back and read.

Multiple Choice

What does Grant believe about all bees in the beginning?

• They eat ants.

• They are very kind and will give you food.

• They sting ants.

Multiple Choice

Why does he believe this?

• He heard stories.

• He saw it happen.

• The bee told him.

Multiple Choice

Who is Frank?

• the bee's husband

• the ant's husband

• a human

Open Ended

What is the message of the story? Think about how the ant changed from the beginning and the end (Signpost: Contradiction).

Multiple Choice

Extra credit BONUS: Where does the drama take place?

• Illinois

• Florida

• Kansas

• Mexico