Pentecost: Spirit, Wind and Flame
Drama Workshop
Summary:
Children will reenact six different scenes from the story using several possible drama techniques, including drawing the scene they are assigned.
Scripture References:
Acts 1:1-11, Acts 2:1-17
Memory Verse:
Acts 2:4
Advanced Preparations/Room Set Up:
- Read the background information and lesson materials.
- Gather necessary props: fans for wind, red and orange crepe paper (or tissue paper) for flames, Bible costumes.
- Make “Scene Title Cards” for the drama. See list below.
- Set out costumes
- Set up and test TV/internet if you'll be using either of the recommended short videos.
Lesson Plan
Invite early-arrivers to help hang some red and yellow "flame" streamers to decorate the classroom.
Opening:
Welcome the children as they arrive. Explain what they'll be doing and what you hope they will learn.
Study:
Begin by asking students to explain what happened on the Day of Pentecost. In the Rotation Model, they may have had several classes about it before yours. Fill in as needed.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples for an additional forty days. Before he ascended into heaven, he told them to go everywhere and tell people about the gospel – the good news! But first Jesus also told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for the gift or helper the Father would send. Jesus knew the disciples would need help to spread the gospel. They needed the power of God living in them to give them strength to share Jesus’ message with the world. They needed the Holy Spirit! And fortunately for them, Jesus promised to send a "Helper" -- the Holy Spirit who arrived like the rush of a mighty wind on the Day of Pentecost.
Dive into the scripture by either reading Acts 1:1-11 and Acts 2:1-17, or by showing the following videos. The first one summarizes Acts 1 and 2 (Ascension and Pentecost). Even though the title of the second video from Saddleback is "Ascension," it briefly covers both Ascension and Pentecost. It will help students begin to visualize the drama they will be acting out. Both videos do a good job of briefly summarizing the story essentials AND their meaning to us today. Choose one or both depending on your needs.
Possible follow up questions:
- Why did Jesus' body have to go to heaven?
- How would things have been different if his body had stayed with us?
- How is Jesus still with us today? (The story of Pentecost basically explains how that began!)
- If the Holy Spirit feels like a "wind" and a "flame" -- what then does the Spirit feel like when it is talking to us and trying to move us to serve God?
"Wind" is about God's direction -- instead of where other "winds" are trying to blow us, push us. It can be gentle, cooling, but also feel like a rush and blast of reality and purpose.
"Flame" is about that strange feeling you get when God's Spirit gives you the passion to serve, to teach, to comfort, to change the world. To be kind and do justice, for example. It's a feeling like you have a fire or a fuel inside you. It lets you know it's God and it lets you know you're doing the right thing.
(Note: Jesus is still with us in spirit because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one.)
Dramatizing the Ascension and Arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost:
Drama Options:
- You can do this as a "stand up drama" where kids receive a character/scene and stand and dramatize it or "Freeze Frame" it (like a game). See explanations and versions of this "freeze frame" and "posing others" drama technique here at Rotation.org.
- Or, you can play it like dictionary where they DRAW the scene and feeling of it. You might even let them choose as some will be more comfortable drawing than moving their body.
- Another way to play this game is to have a person draw the character/scene and then POSE OTHERS to create a "tableaux" or "freeze frame" of the setting. As they do this, others including the teacher can shout out ideas, like "their faces should show amazement!" etc.
Drama Directions:
Student draw a story scene from a hat.
They can grab a prop or costume piece, or another student or two to help them.
- Note that some scenes are marked "silent" -- which means they must be acted out silently. Depending on the age and ability of your students, you can make all or none of them "silent."
The rest of the group tries to "guess which scene" and "what's going on in the scene."
Have your camera ready to take photos/videos! (Review these after the drama activity for more teaching opportunity time and reinforcement.)
Story Scenes to Re-enact
Write these on individual slips of paper for students to take turns secretly selecting and then re-enacting (or drawing).
Jesus gives his final instructions to his disciples and tells them to go witness/teach about him throughout the whole wide world.
Jesus tells the disciples to "Go wait in Jerusalem for the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
Pentecost morning and the disciples are waiting in a closed room wondering what's going to happen to them.
The disciples keep looking out of their windows from their closed room at the crowds of foreigners filling the street getting ready for the festival of Pentecost. They are buying things and talking in strange languages.
Suddenly the Holy Spirit arrives like the sound and feeling of a MIGHTY WIND, and something like "flames" appeared over each one.
The disciples burning with the power of the Holy Spirit each started talking in a different language.
The disciples feel moved out of their room and into the crowd -- and continue to speak i--praising God in different foreign languages and talking about Jesus to the foreigners in the street.
Crowds are amazed at what they are hearing about Jesus, but some naysayers begin to claim that the disciples must be drunk.
Peter steps forward and begins to preach: "We are not drunk. It is only 9 o'clock in the morning. Instead, we are filled with the Holy Spirit."
3000 people listening to the disciples that day become believers when the Holy Spirit warms their hearts too and helps them believe in the Good News about Jesus.
Reflection
Review the photos and video clips for reinforcement, and take the opportunity to point out that WE TOO are being visited by the Holy Spirit -- who wants to warm our hearts for the message of Jesus, and turn us into disciples and teachers of his Word.
The original lesson plan here was posted by Jaymie Dreden, State Street UMC, Bristol, VA
It has been updated by the Rotation.org Content Team
