The Master Builder’s New Shoes
Narrator: It was a Tuesday morning at Oakwood Elementary when Bellaperall first walked through the front doors. She gripped the straps of her backpack tightly, her eyes fixed on the floor, trying to blend into the sea of students. Most students didn’t notice her, but a few did.
Leo: (Whispering loudly to a group of friends) Hey, look at those sneakers! Are they held together by tape? I didn't know the local dump was having a shoe sale!
Narrator: Leo pointed at Bella’s feet. Her shoes were indeed worn out. The soles were thin, the fabric was frayed at the edges, and the color had faded to a dusty, unrecognizable gray. Bella’s face turned bright red.
Bella: (Softly, to herself) Just get to the classroom. Just keep moving, and nobody will notice.
Monica: (Watching from across the hallway) That’s not a very nice way to welcome someone, Leo. You don't even know her name.
Narrator: Monica watched as Bella hurried away, her head bowed even lower. Monica wanted to go after her, but the first bell rang, and the hallway became a whirlwind of students rushing to their morning desks. All through morning lessons, Monica couldn't stop thinking about the new girl with the sad eyes.
Scene 2: The Lunchroom
- Frayed:
- To have threads at the edge of a fabric become loose or raveled, usually from long wear.
- Distribution:
- The way in which something is spread out or shared over an area.
- Precision:
- The quality of being very exact and accurate.
- Architecture:
- The art and science of designing and engineering buildings or structures.
- Inclusion:
- The act of making someone feel part of a group or providing equal access for everyone.
More sheets from this passage
Built from the text itself — answer key included where it counts.
fix the sentence
Sentences from the passage with the capitals and punctuation removed — rewrite each one correctly.
vocabulary worksheet
Match the passage words to their meanings, then fill the missing words back into real sentences.
writing prompts
Two writing tasks that build on the passage, with plenty of lines to write on.
- All 4 sheets as one workbookPro
One PDF with a cover, contents page and every answer key at the back.
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About this reader's theater passage for Upper Elementary
“The Master Builder’s New Shoes” is a reader's theater reading passage about Kindness and Inclusion, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 10 minutes to read (1,554 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.