What is Trouble in the Hen House?

Trouble in the Hen House, a puppet show and readers' theater for elementary age students, is available from the California Federation of Teachers. This 24-page booklet includes the script, lesson suggestions, patterns to cut out and with which to make puppets, and a bibliography for further study.

In the play, the chickens find that Farmer Brown wants to reduce the size of their meals to save money, even though he wants them to lay more eggs. They think this is unfair. When they request that he rethink the idea, he gets angry, refuses, and puts their spokeschicken in detention.

The chickens talk with the cows, who tell them that Farmer Brown doesn't mess with them because they stick together and help each other. They have a union. The chickens decide they need a union too. Farmer Brown, confronted with the power of united chickens, gives in.

Second grade and above are capable of reading the play. For Kindergarten or first graders, the teacher can read to them, and the kids can illustrate the story with the puppets. Trouble in the Hen House was written by Los Angeles elementary teacher Phyllis Chiu. Cost: $3

Order Trouble in the Hen House