Assign the following characters to different groups, then read or tell the story. As each
character is mentioned, the proper group rises makes the appropriate sounds, and sits
down.
CHARACTERS: COWBOY raises his right fist and shouts “Yippee”
HORSE clap hands on knees
CHIEF RED JACKET taps palms on lips says “Ki Yill”
then puts hands over brow and peers all around.
MULE “Hee Haw!”
RATTLESNAKE “Rattle, Rattle!”
TIMBER WOLF wolf whistle
SHERIFF “Bang! Bang! Bang!”
DEPUTY SHERIFF “He went thataway!”
(points with both hands in different directions)
NARRATOR: Once upon a time, there was a COWBOY who went out on the Mojave Desert riding his
HORSE.
Far off in the distance, he could hear the TIMBER WOLF. The COWBOY made camp
and went fast asleep, after making sure his HORSE was secure.
Now, creeping along through the desert came CHIEF RED JACKET and his MULE,
Sitting Bull. He was pursued by the SHERIFF and the DEPUTY SHERIFF.
In his pocket, CHIEF RED JACKET had a trained RATTLESNAKE whose name was
Emma. The RATTLESNAKE, Emma, was trained to creep up and bite the COWBOY
and his HORSE.
While CHIEF RED JACKET crept up, the HORSE was afraid, the TIMBER WOLF
howled, the COWBOY snored and Sitting Bull, the MULE, was eating cactus.
In the meantime, the SHERIFF and the DEPUTY SHERIFF were almost ready to
capture CHIEF RED JACKET.
Just as Emma, the RATTLESNAKE, was about to bite the COWBOY and his HORSE,
the SHERIFF and the DEPUTY SHERIFF sprang their trap. “Halt! You are all my
prisoners,” shouted the SHERIFF.
The COWBOY woke up and mounted his HORSE. This frightened the TIMBER
WOLF and also Emma, the RATTLESNAKE.
Away went old CHIEF RED JACKET on his faithful MULE, Sitting Bull; and away in
the pursuit went the SHERIFF and the DEPUTY SHERIFF, the COWBOY and his
HORSE.
But old CHIEF RED JACKET led them into a blind canyon, so that was the last time
anybody ever saw the COWBOY; his HORSE; Emma, the RATTLESNAKE; the
TIMBER WOLF; Sitting Bull, the MULE; the SHERIFF; and the DEPUTY
SHERIFF.
That’s all folks!!!!