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Reply to "DRAMA, PUPPET, STORYTELLING Workshop Lessons and Ideas for Palm Sunday"

Photos of Palm Sunday

A Photo-Drama Workshop

Freeze20of20into%20Jerusalem
Editors Note:

This lesson "plan" is more of a "sketch" showing you various possibilities for creating photos of key moments in the Palm Sunday story and displaying them.

In the original lesson writer's church, this lesson creating "Palm Sunday Tableaus" was used to prepare a Palm Sunday presentation that was viewed in the writer's church services.  A later version of this lesson by member Cathy Walz and others created a Palm Sunday Photo Album that had many photos, including some of the goofy ones. Captions were put in that photo album and it was put on display in fellowship hall.  The photos above is from Cathy's church. The original idea came from member Bravo5. The "photo" technique is a popular way to dramatize stories and key moments in the Drama Workshop.

Some of the wording in the following sketch may not apply to how you want to use this terrific approach to re-enacting the story of Palm Sunday. Adapt at will!

Summary:

Kids take photos of themselves "freeze framing" (posing) key scenes and moment in the Palm Sunday School. These moments can include individual and varied facial reactions in the crowd.

Scripture Reference:

Mark 11:1-11


Leader Preparation:

  • Gather a variety of props for the freeze-frame scenes: stick donkey, robes and other clothing, palm fronds, cloaks.
  • Create a simple "Jerusalem" backdrop/scene for the photo sessions. This can be as simple as hanging a sheet or canvas tarp and painting some building blocks, city gate, and palm trees on it.
  • Write the scene names on flip chart paper (see lesson) and tape them to the wall before class.
  • Gather the materials


Materials List:

  • NRSV Bible
  • A storybook retelling of the Palm Sunday Story for all or just your younger children. Older children may simply read the story from their classroom Bibles. However, view the two videos linked below to see how the Palm Sunday story is being creatively retold by Christian authors. It will breathe life and age-appropriate meaning into the story of children.

    Storybook Recommendations: “Hosanna! The Story of Palm Sunday” by Patricia Nederveld. See "Hosanna" read aloud by a teacher here on YouTube.  See RC Sproul's "The Donkey Who Carried a King" for example. You can see a pastor read and show the entire book here on YouTube.

  • Props for freeze-frame scenes: stick donkey, palm branches (artificial), cloaks, robes, other costumes
  • Post-it flip chart (and extra tape)
  • Markers
  • Cellphone or digital camera or tablet with camera
  • Tripod to stabilize your camera/phone (really handy!)
  • Computer or TV screen with appropriate cables to show the camera/phone's photos on the big screen.


Lesson Plan/Sketch


Opening:

Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Let

  • Say: We are going to create “freeze-frame” pictures of four different scenes of our Bible story. After we read the story, we will talk about each of these four scenes. Then you will get into costumes, choose props, and create these freeze-frame pictures as I read the story again. We are going to take pictures of the scenes and show them at the beginning of the 9:00 am service on Palm Sunday.


Study:


Bible Lesson:

  • Introduce/review the lesson: This month we are learning about one of the first events of Holy Week, which is the week before Jesus died on the cross then rose from his tomb. Holy Week is the week before Easter. This month we are talking about Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
  • Say: On the Sunday before Jesus was crucified, he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday of Passover with his Disciples. Many people would have been coming to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, so there was a considerable crowd present for Jesus’ entry into town.
  • Say: Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival that commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. It was also a time when expectations ran "high" that the Messiah would come and save Israel once again, this time, from the oppression of Roman rule.
  • Say: The four scenes we will create are (draw their attention to the four sheets of paper you have taped on the wall that list these four scenes):

    Scene 1: Jesus tells the Disciples to get the donkey (Mark 11:1-3)
    Scene 2: The Disciples get the donkey (Mark 11:4-7)
    Scene 3: The Disciples help Jesus get on the donkey (Mark 11:7)
    Scene 4: People praise Jesus as he enters Jerusalem (Mark 11:8-10)

    As we stage and photograph each scene, we'll pay special attention to people's facial expressions and body language. Let's practice a few of those!   

    What would "not liking Jesus" look like?  (Yes, some people didn't like him. Why)

    What would "ready to join Jesus' army" look like?  (What does Jesus army do? Go to war? How should we follow him?)

  • Say: As we read the Bible story, start thinking more about what is happening in each of these scenes.


Read the story:

  • Younger kids (preK-K): Read the book “Hosanna! The Story of Palm Sunday” by Patricia Nederveld(it will help the younger kids to see pictures of the scenes).
  • Older kids (grades 1-5): Have them read aloud or follow along as you read Mark 11:1-11. Offer comments from this lesson. Explain the images, the opposition, Jesus' intentions.
  • Say: Now we are going to talk about what is going on in each scene, what it might look like, and what props we will need to create the scene.
  • Do the following for each of the scenes, one at a time:
    • Re-read the verses (for the younger kids, show the pictures in the book again). Encourage students to refer to their Bibles.
    • List the characters in the scene. —write them on the flip chart paper.
    • Talk about the actions and emotions that are going on. —write these down.
    • What kinds of props are needed for the scene? —write these down.

"Freeze Frame Scenes" Activity:

  • Assign or let the kids choose the parts for each scene (it is possible that not every scene will require all of the students and/or some kids may be in more than one scene). You could write characters down on slips of paper and have the students pick out a piece of paper to determine their parts.  If you have a lot of kids, you could let different groups each stage their own version of each scene.
  • Bring out the costumes and props and let the children chose what they will use. They will need to use their imaginations somewhat and also share costumes and props among the different scenes.
  • Have the groups briefly practice each of their “freeze-frame” tableaus. Remind them to pay special attention to facial expressions and body language for and against Jesus.
  • Read each passage from the story aloud as they make their tableaus.
  • The kids who are not in the scene should sit on the floor in front of the stage as the audience.

    For dramatic effect, you can have each group get on the stage, close the curtain, and get into position behind the closed curtain. Then have the shepherd open the curtain to reveal the scene as you read the Bible passage.

    If you don't have a stage curtain, have a spotlight that you turn on to signal "freeze" to the actors.
  • Remind the kids that we are going to show these scenes to the congregation on Palm Sunday so we need a least a few good photos!
  • Take a photo of each freeze frame with the digital camera. (Use the tripod if it’s easier.)

Next...

  • Connect your camera/phone/tablet to the computer or TV in the classroom and look at them together.
  • For each scene, ask a student to explain what is going on in the picture.
  • Create "captions" for each photo  -- a sentence or two that captures what the photo reveals. Write these on sheets of paper. These comments can later be put into the photo display or used to caption the photos in a powerpoint presentation (if you are making one for the congregation or other groups).


Key points for the teacher to discuss while viewing:

  • Scene 1 (Jesus tells the Disciples to get the donkey): What do you think that the disciples thought about these instructions?
  • Scene 2 (The Disciples get the donkey): How do you think the disciples felt when the donkey’s owner confronted them? Is there anything that God asks you to do that makes you feel uncomfortable?
  • Scene 3 (The Disciples help Jesus get on the donkey): Why was it significant that Jesus entered on a donkey?
  • The donkey was a symbol of humility. In Bible times, kings and other powerful men rode strong horses to symbolize their authority. Jesus showed that he was a humble king by riding in on a donkey. He was a king with no need of a warhorse.
  • Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey also fulfilled a prophecy Zechariah made nearly 500 years earlier.
  • Zechariah 9:9 in the Old Testament says: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
  • Scene 4 (People praise Jesus as he enters Jerusalem): Why did the people cheer for Jesus? What does “Hosanna” mean? Why did they wave palm tree branches?
  • The words “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” come from Psalms 113-118. Young Jewish boys often memorized some of the Psalms in school. During the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles or Booths, everyone marched around the altar daily for a week carrying branches and singing Psalm 118. The words that surrounded Jesus as he rode the donkey to Jerusalem would have been very familiar to everyone present.
  • Hosanna means “Save us now.” The Jewish people had been waiting for a Messiah for 1000 years. At that time they were waiting to be saved from Roman rule by their Messiah. They thought that Jesus was this king that would save them.
  • Laying palm or tree branches down on the road was a common Middle Eastern practice in ancient times to welcome a king or hero home after a victory.

    Close with by taking a photo of what the students think they would all look like if Jesus rode into their classroom right now!   Then close with a prayer that invites Jesus to enter our lives and be our king, our prince of peace and savior.

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  • Freeze20of20into%20Jerusalem
Last edited by Neil MacQueen
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