If you tend not to involve your students when telling a Bible story, consider using drama to tell the story. Drama utilizes visual, kinesthetic, and auditory learning styles, thereby enabling you to effectively reach more learners. Drama can be a bit daunting for those not used to doing it, but it might be simpler than you think!
Creative Lecture
Eyewitness: To tell the story of Isaiah, pretend to be Isaiah and tell the story from his viewpoint. Dress in a Bible costume to add realism.
Interview: Have teachers or helpers pretend to be Mary and Joseph, and let the story unfold through the questions you ask. In addition, a puppet can be an “eyewitness” for you to interview.
Time travel: Set up the classroom chairs like a bus. Have the students pretend the bus is going back in time to see the Ark of the Covenant being taken back to Jerusalem. As you show the teaching pictures, have the students pretend they are seeing the pictures out the windows of the bus.
Newscast: Pretend you are the lead reporter covering King Joash’s order to repair the temple. Use an overhead projector for a spotlight; make a microphone by wrapping foil around a ball and a cardboard tube. Present the story as late-breaking news. Interview other teachers or helpers as the priests or Israelites who watched the story unfold.
Role Play
Characters’ viewpoints: During, before, or after a story, have students put themselves in a character’s shoes. For example, let the students pretend to be Samuel. Stop at different points in the story and ask the children what they might have done in Samuel’s place. Encourage the students to give a variety of responses.
Problem solving: Before telling the story of Abraham, allow the children to role-play the situation in the story’s introduction. Have different groups of children present the situation with different outcomes.
Dramatization
Classroom play: With you as the narrator, children can put on a classroom play. Choose children to play the characters in the Christmas story. As you retell the story, coach your actors to perform the actions in the story. Adjust the number of shepherds and angels for your class size.
Puppet show: Put on a puppet show with the wise men, Herod, and a narrator as your characters. Use helpers or change your voice for the difference characters. Nativity figurines can be your puppets, or have the students make puppets out of paper bags. If possible, set up a stage, using a sheet draped over a table, and perform your show from behind the stage.
Melodrama: With a few cue cards, your class can have an old-fashioned melodrama. Make cue cards for the characters in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. Hold up the cards for student participation at different points in the story. For example, “Boo!” could be for the Pharisee, “Yeah!” for the publican, and “Step, Step” for the characters walking.
Drama is a lot of fun and can be very rewarding. Let your creative juices flow, and see what you can do this quarter!
