Section 3 Teaching Children
Dec 19, 2015
Section 3
Teaching Children
Chapter 10
Stories and Storytelling
Importance of Stories
Listening to a story involves the while child Focuses his concentration Quiets his body Grabs his heart
Acting out a story involves the whole child Focuses his imagination Activates his body Grabs his heart.
How to Prepare and Tell a Story
Select a great story Learn the story Select props Practice out loud
How to Prepare and Tell a Story
Get their attention Tell main events in logical sequence Make story sound natural and true Close your story at the peak of interest and
conviction Engage the children in a discussion of the story Prayer is essential
Action Stories
Spontaneous skits Scripted Skits & Plays Role Play
Spontaneous Skits
New Bible Stories Read or tell the story first Ask for volunteers to act out the story Rely on volunteers but encourage everyone
Spontaneous Skits
New Bible Stories Timid children can be in “crowd” scenes
Assign parts and help organize the actionProvide costumes and other props, as neededHelp children make simple props Practice actions ahead of time
Familiar Bible Stories
Consider having the children act out familiar stories
Review the story line Select volunteers for acting
Playing the Bible Story
Kindergartners love costumes and props to add to the realism of their play activities
Beginners love props, but you will have a hard time getting them into a costume
Beginners love to “do” part of the story Younger children to experience the Bible story in
spontaneous ways often
Experiencing Life Stories Through Play
A corner for imitating life stories “Grown-up” props
Hats, shoes, purses, ties, clothes, and etc.
Neutral, basic toys Use guided conversation
Scripted Skits and Plays
Scripted skits Quite short Require little or no rehearsal The action and the message are written into the script
Plays Longer, more formal Require rehearsal, costumes, scenery, and props
Short Rehearsed Skits
Short, rehearsed skits focus on the message you are teaching Especially useful with juniors and earliteens Primaries can do if adult helps organize and provides
enough rehearsal so the children feel comfortable Especially good for imaginative learners and
kinesthetic-intelligent children
How to Use Short Scripted Skits
Preparation Find or write a suitable script and make copies Determine where the “stage” will be Prepare debriefing questions If necessary, arrange for a sound system
How to Use Short Scripted Skits
Step-by-Step Instructions1. Select actors for each role
2. Provide scripts to each actor
3. Provide supervised practice time (if needed)
4. Introduce the skit to the class
5. Have the students present the skit
6. Reflect (debrief) on the skit experience in small discussion groups
Formal Religious Plays
Usually for Christmas or special holidays Contact publishers of religious materials for
children for scripts Consider
Abilities of your children Adult help available Time available The ease or difficulty of scheduling rehearsals
Pantomine is an easier way to produce a children’s religious play
Combined Spontaneous and Rehearsed Skits
Pantomimes Children act out the story but do not say anything Can be spontaneous or rehearsed ahead of time
Charades The class tries to guess what story is being acted out
Pantomimes and charades Are fun Help children show their comprehension and
interpretation of Biblical stories
Role Play
Purpose To apply Biblical principles Practice problem-solving Rehearse potential responses to real-life
challenges Commonsense learners and dynamic learners
appreciate
Role Play, Step by Step
Introduce the problem story Select the actors Chose the setting Assign tasks to the observers Enactment Discussion/reflection on the role play (including
suggestions for re-enacting the scene) Repeat enactment/discussion at least twice Final debriefing – connect the role play to real life.
Ideas for Bible Stories
Costumes and Props Collect props like wooden bowls, shepherd’s
staff, grass mats, baskets, and stuffed animals.
Robe: Double the length that you want the robe. Fold in half lengthwise. Cut a small slit in the fold for the neck. Stitch around the opening. Cut a small triangle off to the side to make the armholes. Stitch the sides up. Use rope to tie the robe.
Ideas for Bible Stories
Costumes and Props Tunic or outer garment: Use a straight piece
of material for this. It covers the head and wraps around the shoulders. A piece of rope or an elastic band can be used to secure the headpiece. The sash for males was called a Kesiya, the one for females a shawl. This was also used at night for their blanket.
Ideas for Bible Stories
Costumes and Props Girdle or Belt: Use rope or a piece of material
6 inches wide. Wrap around the waist and tie or twist. Sandals: Use sandals or go barefooted.
Ideas for Bible Stories
General Ideas: Have a variety of sizes--child, youth, and
adult. Store a complete costume on a hanger ready
for use. Check with charitable organizations or a
resale shop for solid-color bath robes.
Ideas for Bible Stories
General Ideas: At Halloween or carnival time look for other
costumes which will add to the stories, such as a Roman soldier, an angel, swords, a king, a princess, etc.
Ideas for Bible Stories
General Ideas: The styles for everyone were the same Quality of the cloth and number of layers differed
for rich and poor Poor people used earth tones, while the rich used
more elaborate whites and colors
Ideas for Bible StoriesFelts
Felts are wonderful for stories which build up a sequence, such as the creation of the world
Felts do not work well for action stories Use felts like a picture
Ideas for Bible StoriesFelts
Use felt figures for reviewing the previous week’s Bible story in small groups
Use felts to review Bible memory verses Create a felt corner in the Kindergarten room Keep your felts organized by number
Ideas for Bible Stories
Bible Reading Choral read the entire story directly from the
Bible. For kindergarten and younger primary
children, read the story yourself, asking the children to mime the actions or respond with words or actions to certain parts of the story.
Ideas for Bible Stories
Bible Reading Ask older children to read the story from the
Bible and then respond with drawing, writing, constructing an object, or doing a short skit.
Read the Bible story yourself and stop at key points of high drama or emotion.
Use the Bible to review the previous week’s story.
Ideas for Bible Stories
Other Ideas Videos or audio tapes Chalkboard Pictures Picture or word sequence Diorama
Ideas for Bible Stories
Other Ideas Video production Computer Bible games Objects Bible story songs Bible story action verses
Ideas for Nature Stories Select a nature story to teach a spiritual truth
A nature story is not a biology lesson For primary children, the spiritual truth should be on a
very simple level For juniors, it can be symbolic
Be sure your nature facts are correct Show the real thing, if possible
Ideas for Character-building StoriesSelect a story your children can identify
withEmphasize positive behavior whenever
possible. Be careful not to give the wrong
impression All children who return wallets don't get rewards
Follow the guidelines for telling a story presented in this chapter
Drawing the children into a discussion of the story
Ideas for Object Lessons (Parables)
Practice ahead of time to be sure your experiment or demonstration will turn out as planned
Focus on the lesson to be taught, not the "trick" or the technique involved
Try a “Mission Mystery” corner Select objects children see every day The object itself does not teach
KEYS to Stories and Storytelling
Select a story to touch kids’ hearts with the message for the day.
Consider many options for presenting the Bible story. Select the best option for the story and your children’s interests and abilities.
Organize props needed for the story or skit.
KEYS to Stories and Storytelling
Create a “safe” climate where children will feel comfortable participating in actions stories of all types.
When planning your program, consider different types of stories and different ways of telling them.
Use guided conversation to help young children learn through playing a story or life experience.
Use role play to give children an opportunity to try many different ways to approach a problem situation.