Rotation.org Writing Team

Jesus and Zaccheus

Lay Flat ~ Bird’s Eye View Drama Workshop

Summary of Activities

Using the innovative and fun “Lay Flat" or "Bird's Eye View" drama technique, students will re-enact and record the story of Zaccheus and Jesus, then "finish" the story by adding their own life-changing ending.

You may not be familiar with the Lay Flat technique (i.e., "lying flat on the floor") but you've undoubtedly seen TV commercials produced with this unique point of view in which the actors seem to defy gravity and move in fun ways.

This lesson plan and narrated drama technique free the actors from holding a script. The Lay Flat technique can be used by any age group in any space, including at-home. See the NOTES section of this lesson for helpful "Lay Flat" links. (This drama technique is also sometimes known as "Flat Lay.")

Scripture for the Lesson

Luke 19:1-10

Key/Memory Verses: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:9-10, NRSV)

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at Rotation.org for insights and this set's complete list of objectives.

Preparation and Materials

• Read the Bible Background and scripture.
• Print the Zaccheus Story Cards to use with your scripture reading.
• Print the Lay Flat Drama Script, approximately one copy for every two students.
• Create a Lay Flat stage area on the floor by marking out an area with masking tape approximately 6 feet wide by 6 feet high based on what will be in-frame on your camera.
• Tape a brown and green cloth (or paper) to create a Lay Flat tree. Include a branch for Zaccheus to sit on.
• A step ladder
• A cellphone (or video camera) connected to the end of an extension rod (aka "selfie stick") or tripod so that it can be held over the center of the stage by a person standing on a step ladder to make a video recording of the Lay Flat scenes.
• A few costumes, such as short, simple vests or robes; large feathers (for any extra “birds” you might want to put in the tree, etc.)
• Recruit someone to record the scenes.
• Recruit someone to help manage the actors and narrator(s) so that the lead teacher can be the Director.
• Power cords for your video camera or cell phone
• A television with a cable that attaches your video camera or cell phone to the TV so that you can show the video after it is recorded on the big screen. How-to link.
• Sticky-tack to hang the story illustrations on the wall

Lesson Plan

Opening

Welcome your students and introduce them to a new way of acting out a story. Tell them this is called "Sideways Scene" or "Lay Flat" Drama.

Have them lie flat on the "stage" you have marked out on the floor. Point out that the lower edge of your "stage" would be the ground. Make a quick "test" video recording of them trying to "walk" across the ground. As you show them the video on your cellphone or camera, tell them that today they'll be making what we call a "Lay Flat" video about the story of Jesus and Zaccheus.

Tip: Invite early-arrivers to lie flat on the stage and practice "walking" across it while keeping their feet touching the "bottom" of the stage floor. This will build interest and experience.

After showing the test video, randomly distribute the printed Zaccheus Story Cards among your students (pages 2-10).
If this is the first time they've been taught the story, skip to the scripture reading and use the cards after the reading, otherwise see if they can first put the story card illustrations in the correct story order, then proceed to the reading of scripture to see how well they remembered!

Open your Bibles to Luke 19:1-10 and read the story of Zaccheus together. After the verses are read, have the students put the story cards in the correct order, consulting the text as needed.

Tip: Tape the correct order of Story Cards on the wall so that they won't get in the way of the drama in the next step but can be seen for visual reference.

Make note of the following key points in the story (but don't belabor them as you'll spend time on reflection later in the lesson):

• What a tax collector does and why Zaccheus was considered a sinner.
• The "twist" in the story of Jesus picking the one person the crowd would have liked the least, and what it shows about the love and mercy of Jesus.
• In what ways should a person's life change after they meet and believe in Jesus?
  
  

Prepare and Record the Lay Flat Drama

Distribute copies of the Zaccheus Lay Flat Drama Script attached to this lesson and read its instructions together.

Assign both narrating and acting roles, then read through each scene's narration adding acting notes (what to do) and rehearsing those actions. The script does have parts for different narrators, but if your group is small or young you should assign all of the speaking roles to one helper. Actors on the stage can make sounds or repeat key dialog.

Tip: Prepare the drama with the actors while sitting and lying flat on the stage (floor) so they can practice some acting as you work through the script (how to walk, grumble, climb). Make notes as needed in the space provided on the script.

Important: A Non-Narrating adult should act as the Director. They arrange everyone, cue the actors, signal to the narrator(s), and tell the camera person what to do.

Places Everybody! Let's get set and record all four story scenes.

• Move the narrator(s) near the step ladder and remind them to speak toward the camera's microphone which the person on the ladder will be hanging out over the top of the stage. Remind the narrators to pause, so the actors can act.
• Move the actors to the sides of the stage and have them lie down and get ready to "walk" into the scene.
• Cue the camera to record, then the narrators and actors begin. The Director should stand where the actors can see their cues.
• If you have to stop and start the recording or mistakes are made, that's all part of the fun (and makes the lesson memorable).
  
  

Record the Reflection Scenes

At the end of the script are several "optional" but important reflection scenes to be dramatized. If you have plenty of time, you can prepare these final reflection scenes AFTER you have recorded the first four. Or you can assign scenes to different groups when it's their turn to record. Otherwise, move quickly through the first four scenes in order to spend more time on these reflections.

View Your Zaccheus Lay Flat Drama on the Big Screen

Gather your group and view your recordings on a big screen.

If you have time, play the recording a second time with the sound turned off and let the students see how much of the story they can recite from memory as they watch the scenes.

Close with a prayer that focuses on the final "reflection" scenes you recorded, asking God to help us climb "the tree," look at where Jesus is in our life, and live like he's been to our house!

Adaptations

For Younger Students:   

Take a more "directorial" approach when suggesting actions for each scene. Position actors in the scene before you begin recording. If possible, have an older student participate with them, and have an adult read all the narrations.

For Older Students:

Older students will be able to come up with more inventive Lay Flat actions and "unique gravity" for these scenes. They may also enjoy recording the drama a second time.

For Those with More Class Time or Bigger Groups:

Split into two or more "drama groups" which can then come up with their own interpretations of two or more of the four scenes. When one group is acting, the other can be rehearsing. Bring the groups together to show the finished videos. You can also simply have a larger crowd or put some of the crowd in the tree with Zaccheus.

For At-Home Use or Shorter/Simpler Lesson Plan

Eliminate the opening warm-up and use of the Story Cards. Jump right into the scripture reading and script preparation and recording.

For shy students or those with physical limitations:

If a student cannot or does not want to physically act in the scenes, assign them narration roles, or have them make sound effects such as walking (tap blocks) and climbing (rub sandpaper), or let them add crowd voices from off-camera.

Recording Tips

• The higher and more centered the camera is over the actors, the better the sideways scene will appear on the video, so make sure you have an extension cord connected to the camera's power cord.
• If you're using a video camera, you can likely "pause" the recording rather than hitting the "stop" button. That way all four scenes can be recorded in one file.
• If you're using a cellphone to record the video, you will likely not have a "pause recording" button and have to record each scene separately.
• Depending on the age and number of your participants, you can record each scene separately and stop-start the recording in between each, or you might be able to record all four scenes in one recording.
• The "optional" reflection scenes should be recorded separately.

Notes About the Lay Flat Technique and Setup

Lay Flat's overhead camera angle creates a strange form of "funny gravity" where the actors look suspended in air as they wiggle and scoot about the scene while trying to keep their feet on the "floor" (the bottom edge of the scene). Simple actions, such as walking along a "right path" become physically challenging and visually entertaining (read: memorable) when played back.

For more Lay Flat ideas and photos, visit the discussion in Rotation.org's Drama Workshop technique forum. There's also a fun "Sideways Scene" video on YouTube of one church's Christmas skit. (It will be very helpful to watch this if you've never seen Lay Flat or Sideways Scene before.)

Written by Debbie Fisher and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright Rotation.org Inc.

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