People of the Early Church: Tabitha

Drama Workshop

Scripture:

Acts 9:36-42

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will act out scenes and emotions from the story.

Lesson Objectives:

Children will...

• Explore the emotions that might have been present in the characters of the story
• Experiment with portraying those emotions
• Discuss how a miracle demonstrates God’s power

Workshop Preparation:

• Be familiar with the Bible story and lesson plan.
• Gather suggested materials and props

Supplies:

• Chart paper
• Markers
• Children’s Bible
• Simple props that might aid the children in acting out the scenes, such as costumes, clothing, cushions, etc.

Lesson Plan

Opening:

Open with a prayer.

Prepare the children for the story:

This story is from the Bible, from the New Testament book called The Acts of the Apostles.

After Jesus died and God raised him up, and after Jesus was taken up into heaven, the Holy Spirit came and drew people together to form the Church in Jerusalem. In the church there were many miracles. Many people believed in Jesus because of the miracles and because of what Jesus’ followers taught. The Church grew. Soon there were churches in other towns too. Peter traveled to some of these churches to see how they were doing.

Dig:

Read Acts 9:36-42

I wonder…

• Remember that you do not have to use all the “I wonder” statements—gauge your use of these discussion starters according to your students’ needs.
• Remember that silence is an appropriate response to an “I wonder” statement and to allow silent time for children to wonder with you before answering.
• Feel free to wonder out loud with the children, but resist the impulse to give the “right” answers. We are all in conversation with scripture. Sometimes the answer is the conversation.

See article on "I wonder" statements at the end of this lesson set.

I wonder how her friends felt when Tabitha got sick and died…
I wonder how Peter felt when he saw Tabitha’s friends crying …
I wonder what Peter was thinking about when he saw Tabitha dead…
I wonder what Peter prayed in the room with Tabitha …
I wonder what it was like to see that God made Tabitha alive again…
I wonder if an ordinary person can make a dead person live again…
I wonder how miracles show God’s power…
I wonder how miracles help us believe in God…

Activity (application):

• (3-4 minutes) Guide the children to “brainstorm” possible emotions the characters might have experienced in the story, with particular attention on the emotions important to the raising of Tabitha. Re-read a sentence or two of the story, as needed. Give the children time to think and respond. Write responses on the chart paper.
  
  
• (2 minutes) Talk about ways to portray the emotions. Have children give some examples.
  (2 minutes) Divide the story into 3-4 main scenes. Discuss how to act out the scenes using the emotions. They may act out the scenes, with particular emphasis on portraying the emotions; their acting is not limited to emotions only.
  
  
• Use all the children at once or divide them into two groups.
  
  
• (1 minute each scene) Begin to act out each scene, as the story is read again (one of the children could be the reader). Children can all simply portray an emotion or mood, or they can each play different parts, or you may combine emotion and parts (…or you can do it one way first & go back & do it the other way).
  
  
• (1-3 minutes) Pause between scenes to regroup, set up, or discuss what is going on.
  
  Possible discussion starters after acting session or between scenes:

Reflection:

What was your favorite part of the story? What part did you play? How did you feel?

Close with a prayer.

This is an original lesson written for Faith Village at First Presbyterian Church, copyright 2006. May not be reproduced for sale. Permission granted to copy and distribute for local church use only, provided copyright information is clearly printed on the lesson.

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