Samuel
"Freeze Frame" Drama Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
Children will explore and remember the story using the "Freeze Frame" frozen statues drama technique. They will conclude by viewing photos of their scenes and creating a "Freeze Frame" of their closing prayer.
For scripture and objectives, see above.
Preparation and Room Set Up:
- Review the Background Information.
- Prepare the Character and Situation "slips."
- Set up a camera to record the "frozen poses."
General Tips for Drama:
- You may wish to organize costumes or puppets ahead of time to cut down on a flurry of activity and possible hurt feelings. Have props ready ahead of time. This is especially important for the younger children. The older children often are very creative with props and costumes.
- You will want to limit the amount of time the children are allowed to dress-up. (They can easily spend the entire class time selecting costumes!)
- Be sure that all children are involved in some way. Some children are intimidated by the prospect of being on a stage. Offer them alternative roles as well as the children who do not have main parts. They can always be “sound effects” or “crowds” or stagehands to help change scenery, or video camera operators (for the older children). Remember as well that children can draw the backdrop for the drama on the blackboard or videotape the plays (older children).
- To eliminate competition, you may wish to place the names of characters in a hat and have children choose their parts.
- Be sure to explain the activity to the children and ask for questions.
- Even though making a video or taking photos of the drama may seem unnecessary, it seems to encourage better behavior from the children, and a desire to "try again." Reviewing them afterwards is also a great way to reinforce content and ask follow questions!
- Have fun and make this fun for the children!
- The purpose of the drama workshop is not to create a polished performance. Expect some goofiness and use imperfections as discussion points.
Lesson Plan
Opening:
Welcome the children give them a simple overview of today's activities and what you hope they will learn.
Stand in a circle and practice some freeze poses:
Fall asleep
Snore loudly
Hear a voice
Wake up suddenly
Look Afraid
Listen intently, now more intently!
Show "wonder," "amazement," "caution," "resolve" (sureness)
Pose your reaction to"Jesus walking into our classroom RIGHT NOW!"
Pose your reaction to "Jesus pointing at you and saying, "YOU -- come and follow me."
Study:
Introduce today's story by saying the following:
Many, many years before Jesus was born and after the people of Israel settled into the Promised Land, they were led by important religious leaders called judges. Judges were very strong, moral religious leaders who helped the people understand God’s messages. One of the greatest judges during this time was Samuel. This is his story…
Younger Children:
Use a Bible storybook that has the Call of Samuel in it. Concordia Publishing's Arch Book Series has a very nice (and very inexpensive book titled "The Lord Calls Samuel." It's also available as an e-book. https://www.cph.org/the-lord-calls-samuel-arch-books
Video Options:
To include God's promise to Hannah, consider showing Saddleback Kids' Slapstick Theater presentation of "Hannah and God" at https://youtu.be/qvVfSeG_1Ts?si=yHpSSYgKfis4leG-
For Samuel's Call, consider showing Saddleback Kids' "God Speaks to Samuel" short video: https://youtu.be/P13uIsFW7OA?si=mh-lJatX5Cz9U9sh
Memory Verse: “Speak Lord, I’m listening.” I Samuel 3:9
Reflection Questions for All Grades (Adjust Accordingly)
- What did Hannah pray for? (to have a child)
- Does God always answer prayers? (Yes, just not always the way we want!)
- Why is prayer so important? (it brings us closer to God, God wants to know about us and share our joys and concerns with God)
- Why did Hannah bring Samuel to the Tabernacle to Eli the priest? (to fulfill her promise to God)
- What promises have YOUR parents made to God about you? (They did so at your baptism.)
- How do your parents help you grow to love and serve God?
- How does our church help you grow to love and serve God?
- How did Hannah show that she loved Samuel after he went to live with Eli? (made him a new coat and brought it to him every year)
- Who spoke to Samuel one night? (God)
- What message did God give Samuel? (Eli’s sons would not inherit the priesthood)
- How does God talk to us? (through prayer, Bible, preachers, teachers, parents, Christian friends)
- How do we know what God wants us to do? (above)
Let's Freeze Frame the Story!
If you've never used this technique before, take a look at Rotation.org's "Freeze Frame" Drama Technique page.
The following version of "Freeze Frame" has kids "sculpting each other" into poses. See more options on the Freeze Frame technique page.
Characters/Situations to Freeze Frame:
Print or write these on individual slips of paper and place in a basket. 
- Hannah is upset because she doesn’t have a child.
- Elkanah tries to comfort Hannah.
- Peninnah teases Hannah because she has no children.
- Hannah prays to God for a child.
- Eli listens to Hannah praying and thinks she is drunk.
- Eli talks to Hannah.
- Hannah has a baby.
- Hannah cares for Samuel.
- Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord.
- Eli cares for Samuel.
- Samuel hears God calling.
- Eli tells Samuel to answer God.
- Samuel grows up to be a mighty prophet.
Directions:
- Divide children into pairs.
- One child is the sculptor and one is the clay.
- Have each pair select a character and situation from the basket.
- Give each group 1-2 minutes to think about how they will demonstrate their character/situation. Have them think about the following questions:
a. Who is this character?
b. What was happening in this part of the story?
c. How did the characters feel?
- The clay should be silent while being sculpted. The sculptor will pose the clay in an appropriate pose for the character selected. For example: If the character is Hannah at the Temple, the sculptor might pose the clay in a kneeling position, praying. The clay may move to show an action, but then must freeze at the end and wait for the audience to guess who and what part of the story is being dramatized.
- One at a time, have the groups come forward. The rest of the group must try to guess who the character is and what part of the story is being dramatized.
- Have each group take turns dramatizing all the characters and situations. Be sure to have the shepherd take pictures!
- Pause to discuss the situations between dramatizations.
- When all the situations have been dramatized, have the children sequence the character slips so that the story is told in order.
Modifications for K-1:
Divide the children into pairs – sculptors and clay. Instead of drawing characters from a basket, call out the characters and the situations. Call them out in order to help the children remember the correct story sequence. Have children take turns being the sculptors and the clay.
Closing:
Show your Freeze Frame Photos. Have students say what part of the story it is from and what's happening. Add insights and any final reflection you may want to include.
Take a group photo of your kids "freeze framing" their gratitude that God calls them too just like he called Samuel.
A lesson written by Jaymie Derden from: State Street UMC Bristol, VA, and updated by the Rotation.org Content Team
