The Great Kapok Tree

“The Great Kapok Tree” Co-adapted by

Cindy Andreatta and Laurie Russell
May 2019

Play is adapted from “The Great Kapok Tree” By Lynne Cherry

(Beginning spoken in front of the closed curtain)

I#1: Welcome to the Third grade production of, “The Great Kapok Tree”.

I#2: Our show is based on the story “The Great Kapok Tree” written by Lynne
Cherry.

I#3: We have enjoyed learning about the Amazon rainforest and have had a
lot of fun putting this show together too!

I#4: We want to remind you to please turn off your cell phones and
please refrain from flash photography.

All I: Now sit back and enjoy “The Great Kapok Tree”

(Start Pre recorded sounds of the rain forest and continue through out the introduction).

N #1: In the Amazon rain forest it is always hot, and in the heat everything
grows, and grows and grows.
The tops of the trees in the rain forest are called the canopy.
The canopy is a sunny place that seems to touch the sky.

N #2: The animals that live there like lots of light. Colorful parrots fly from
tree to tree, while chattering monkeys leap from branch to branch.

N #3: The bottom of the rain forest is called the understory. The animals that
live in the understory love being in the dark. In the understory silent snakes
curl around long hanging vines, while graceful jaguars lie watching and
waiting for their dinner to come along.

N #4: In the steamy environment the great Kapok tree shoots up through the
forest and emerges above the canopy.

N# 5: Our play, "The Great Kapok Tree" is the story of a community of animals
that live in one such tree in the rain forest.

N#6: In this story, the animals explain the importance of the Kapok tree
to all living things in the rainforest.

1

N #6: Yes, lets watch and listen as the villagers of the Yanomamo tribe
re- tell the story of how they almost lost their greatest treasure,
“ The Great Kapok Tree”

CURTAIN OPENS:

Sing a Song: “Protect our Forest”

N #7: One hot morning in the Amazon Rainforest, just as the sun was rising,
the animals noticed two men who were walking into the rain forest.

N# 8: Moments before, the forest had been alive with the sounds of
squawking birds and howling monkeys. Now all was quiet as the
creatures watched the men and wondered why they had come.

Foreman: Ah, here we are!

Tree Chopper: Finally, that was a loooong walk!

Foreman: Your job today is to cut down this great Kapok tree for lumber.
We will need this lumber for new housing.

Tree Chopper: (looks at him with hesitation) Are you sure this tree?
That’s a really big tree. (Drawn out and looking up)

Foreman: Yes! And I’ll be back later to check on you. Now get to work!

Tree Chopper: Okay (with much disbelief) (Begins chopping the tree)

N#9: The sound of the blows of the ax rang through the forest, as the wood
of the tree was very hard.

Tree Chopper: Wow! It is hot out here in the rain forest.
(Wipes sweat from brow) Boy this is really hard work cutting
down this tree. (Continues chopping)
Whoo! I’m getting tired. I think I will rest awhile under the shade
of this great tree. (Big sighs) whshoo! (sits down)

2

N#10: He sits down to rest at the foot of the great Kapok tree. He took
out a few “essentials” (tree chopper takes out takes out his blanket and teddy bear, lays down and sleeps) and before he knew it, the heat and hum of the forest had lulled him to sleep.

N#11: A large boa constrictor lived in the Kapok tree. He had been watching
the two men, and was angered at the possibility that he
might lose his home.

N#12: So he slithered down the tree trunk to where the man was sleeping.
He looked at the gash that the ax had made in the tree, this infuriated him.
Then the huge snake slid very close to the man and hissed in his ear.

Boa: (Make slithering sound effects, make long SSSS sound on all S's of the words) Senhor, this tree is a tree of miracles. It is my home, where generations
of my ancestors have lived. ( very mad) Do not chop it down.

N #13: The Boa slithered away. Soon after some butterflies and bees flew
near the sleeping man’s ear.

(All Bee's keep wings moving while speaking)

Bee#1: (keep wings moving while speaking) Senhor, our home is in this kapok tree, and we fly from tree to tree and flower to flower collecting pollen.

Bee#2: In this way we pollinate the trees and flowers throughout the
rain forest. You see, all living things depend on one another.

Butterfly #1: Yes! And we butterflies feast upon the nectar of the beautiful
flowers that grow around the Kapok tree.

Butterfly #2: If you chop down this tree our flowers will die.

N#14: Suddenly, A troupe of noisy monkeys scampered down from
the canopy of the Kapok tree. They chattered to the sleeping man.

(All Monkey's make monkey sounds and actions through out monkey lines)

Monkey #1: (Monkey sounds through out monkey lines) Senhor, we have seen the ways of man. You chop down one tree, and then come back for another and another. Eventually there will be no trees left.

Monkey #2: Then the roots of these great trees will wither and die,
and there will be nothing left to hold the earth in place.

3

Monkey #3: Yes and when the heavy rains come, the soil will be washed
away and the forest will become a desert!

All Monkey’s: What will become of us!

N #15: Just then in a flash, a toucan, a scarlet macaw and a cock-of the rock
flew down from the canopy and landed right next to the man.

(All Birds flap wings while speaking)

Toucan: Senhor! You must not cut down this tree. We have flown over the
rainforest and seen what happens once you begin to chop down the trees.

Scarlet Macaw: Many people come here to make their homes on the land.
They cut down trees and set fire to clear the under-brush; soon the
forest disappears.

Cock-of-the-Rock: Then, where once there was life and beauty,
now only black and smoldering ruins remain.

N#16: Some bright and small tree frogs crawled along the edge of a
giant leaf. They hopped over to the tree chopper and in squeaky
voices they piped in the man’s ear.

(All Frogs hop and squeak as they speak)

All Frogs: Senhor, a ruined rain forest means ruined lives!

Frog #1: If you chop down this great Kapok tree, you will leave many
of us homeless.

Frog#2: Please Senhor, think long and hard about it and let us keep
our homes.

N#17: As they hopped a way, a jaguar that had been sleeping on a
branch in the middle of the tree, awakened. No one had noticed him
before because his spotted coat blended into the dappled light and the
shadows of the understory.

N#18: He realized what was going on and decided to convince the man
to leave his home alone! So he leapt down from his perch and padded
silently over to the sleeping man. He growled in his ear.

Jaguar: (a growling voice) Senhor, the Kapok tree is home to many
birds and animals. If you cut it down, where will I find my dinner?
(Big roar)

4

N#19: Suddenly 3 porcupines swung down from the branches
and whispered to the man.

Porcupine #1: Senhor, do you know what we animals and
humans need in order to live?

ALL PORCUPINES: (in strong rhythmic voices) Oxygen!!

Porcupine #2: And Senhor, do you know what trees produce?

ALL Porcupines: Oxygen!

Porcupine #3: If you cut down the forest you will destroy that
which gives us all life. (Exit stage rhythmically chanting: oxygen, oxygen, oxygen, oxygen)

N#20: Several anteaters made their way down the Kapok tree with
their babies clinging to her back.

Anteater #1: Senhor, you are chopping down this tree with no thought
for the future.

Anteater #2: And surely you know that what happens tomorrow depends upon what you do today.

Anteater #3: The big man tells you to chop this beautiful tree. But he does
not think of his own children, who tomorrow must live in a world without trees.

N#21: When the Tree Chopper and the Foreman first appeared in the
forest, a three-toed sloth had begun climbing down from the canopy,
she finally reach the ground.

N#22: Plodding ever so slowly over to the sleeping man, she spoke
in her deep and lazy voice.

Sloth: ( in a slow, dark voice) Senhor, how much is beauty worth? Can you live without it?
If you destroy the beauty of the rain forest, on what would you feast
your eyes?

5

N #23: A little while later, A young boy and girl from the Yanomamo tribe, who lived in the
rain forest, walked over to the sleeping man and knelt beside him.
They murmured in his ear.

Yanomamo girl: Senhor, when you awake, we hope that you realize
the beauty and importance of the great Kapok tree.

Yanomamo boy: Yes, please realize all the life that the great Kapok
tree provides. When you wake, please look upon all of us with new eyes.

Yanomamo boy and girl: (in a pleading voice) Please let it be!

Sing a song: “We can save our planet”

N #24: Suddenly, the man awoke with a start, as if he had had a
stirring dream. He noticed that all around him were the rain forest
children and all of the creatures that depend upon the great Kapok tree.
They were starring at him.

N#25: He looked confused as he sat and looked around at the
beautiful surroundings. The sun streamed through the thick
canopy and illuminated the dark green foliage, which made
them glow like jewels. Strange and beautiful plants seemed to
dangle in the air, suspended from the great Kapok tree.

N #26: He seemed to realize what a rare and wondrous place this is.

N#27: The man smelled the fragrant perfume of the flowers.
He felt the steamy mist rising from the forest floor. But he heard no sound,
for the creatures were strangely silent. (Long silence)

N#28: (count to 10 in head after #27 reads, then say line, Tree chopper acts out actions as they are spoken) After a long while, the man stood and picked up his ax. He swung back his arm as though he was going to strike the tree. But suddenly, he stopped. He turned around and looked at the animals and the children. He hesitated. He shook his head and sighed. Then he dropped the ax and walked out of the rain forest.

6

N#29: The animals and children rejoiced! (Much rejoicing) The Tree chopper went back to his Forman and told him about his
amazing experience that he had while working in the rainforest.

N#30: They both agreed that the Great Kapok Tree shall be left
alone to provide life to all the creatures that depend on it.

ALL: The Great Kapok Tree shall live forever!

Sing song “We can make a difference”

Closing 1 - Thank you for coming and we hope you enjoyed our
Rainforest play.

Closing 2 - We would like to thank our 3rd grade teachers for helping
us put this together. We’d like to thank Ms. Arriaga for helping us create
and hang the scenery and Mr. Boice for letting us use the gym for our
rehearsals.

Closing 3 - We would especially like to thank Mrs. Russell for all of
her time and effort in working with us to put this show together.
We appreciate the extra time you took to prepare us for this performance.

Closing 4 - Now, we would like to invite our parents to a reception
in the cafeteria to help us celebrate. See you there!