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The Big Cheese: Saving Chicago from the Rat King
BBekah
Grade 5
Reader's Theater
EN4 min read
NARRATOR: Deep beneath the streets of Chicago, a massive, furry shadow is growing. A radioactive rat monster, the size of a city bus, is terrorizing the Loop! The government has called in three unlikely heroes to lead the mission.
JAKE: (Looking at a map) Okay, team, listen up. The General says the creature is heading straight for the Willis Tower. We are the only ones with the tactical knowledge to stop him. Are we ready?
LUCY: (Checking her tablet) Ready? Jake, I’ve been ready since breakfast. I’ve cross-referenced the creature's migratory patterns with local wind speeds. My data shows he’s hungry for something more than just trash. He’s looking for a lair.
BOBBY: (Flexing his muscles) I don’t need data. I just need to know which way to point my muscles. Can I throw a car at it? The General said I could help with the heavy lifting!
JAKE: Not yet, Bobby. We need to be smart. We know the monster’s one weakness: Swiss cheese. But not just any cheese—it has to be the government-grade Swiss laced with the special rat-stopping formula.
NARRATOR: The kids stand on the deck of a high-tech government helicopter hovering over the Chicago River. Below them, the giant rat monster lets out a deafening squeak that shakes the skyscrapers.
LUCY: Oh, my goodness! Look at his fur! It’s absolutely matted. Someone really needs to tell that monster about basic hygiene. But more importantly, he’s reaching for the elevated train tracks!
JAKE: Bobby, get the crate! Lucy, give us the coordinates for the drop zone!
BOBBY: (Struggling with a giant wooden box) Man, this cheese is heavy! Why does it have so many holes in it? If it’s supposed to be special cheese, you’d think they’d fill the holes with more cheese.
LUCY: (Sighing) Bobby, the holes are part of what makes it Swiss cheese. It’s science! Now, shift three degrees to the left. If we drop the bait now, the wind will carry it right onto the corner of State and Lake.
JAKE: It’s working! Look, the Rat King has stopped climbing. He smells the Swiss!
NARRATOR: The giant monster pauses, its pink nose twitching in the air. It turns away from the building and begins to lumber toward the giant block of cheese lying in the middle of the street.
BOBBY: Haha! He’s falling for it! He’s eating the cheese! Wow, he’s actually a really fast eater. I respect that.
LUCY: (Watching through binoculars) The formula is kicking in. Look, his glowing red eyes are fading back to a normal color. His heart rate is stabilizing, and—look! He’s shrinking!
JAKE: He’s going back to the size of a regular rat! Quick, tell the government containment team to move in. We did it, guys!
BOBBY: Does this mean we get to go to the victory parade now? I heard they have great pizza in Chicago.
LUCY: Only if the pizza isn't laced with rat-stopping formula, Bobby. I think I’ve had enough cheese for one day.
JAKE: Great job, everyone. Chicago is safe, the Rat King is defeated, and we proved that when we work together, even a giant monster doesn't stand a chance.
NARRATOR: As the helicopter flies into the sunset, the three kids look down at the city they saved, ready for their next big adventure.
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Glossary
- Migratory:
- Relating to the movement of animals from one region or habitat to another.
- Lair:
- A wild animal's resting place or a secret hideout.
- Coordinates:
- A group of numbers used to indicate the exact position of a point or place.
- Stabilizing:
- To become unlikely to change, fail, or decline; returning to a steady state.
- Tactical:
- Relating to actions carefully planned to gain a specific end or advantage.
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About this reader's theater passage for Grade 5
“The Big Cheese: Saving Chicago from the Rat King” is a reader's theater reading passage about Heroism, written for Grade 5. It takes about 4 minutes to read (552 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.
Is this passage free?
Yes. You can read “The Big Cheese: Saving Chicago from the Rat King” online for free and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.
What reading level is “The Big Cheese: Saving Chicago from the Rat King”?
It’s written for Grade 5 — a reader's theater text about Heroism, about a 4-minute read (552 words).
What’s included with this passage?
An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.
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