Rotation.org Writing Team

Psalm 23

"Flat Lay" Drama Workshop 

Summary of Activities

Students will discover the meaning of each verse and memorize the psalm by translating each verse into a scene that they will act out (and record) using the creative and fun "Flat Lay" drama technique. A "Scene Guide" has suggested emotions and actions for the actors.

Scripture

Psalm 23 (NRSV)

Key/Memory Verses:  The entire psalm!

Lesson Objectives

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

Preparation and Materials

• Read the scripture and Bible Background.
• A flipchart or drawing board.
• Print the  Psalm 23 Scene Guide handout (one per student) and create a large version for the flipchart (keep the large version covered until after the Reading activity).
• Assemble some props and cardboard (see Scene Guide). A shepherd's costume and staff will come in very handy.
• Tape out the "flat lay" "stage" (area) on the floor, approximately 6' high by 8' wide.
• Ladder, selfie stick, and cellphone to record the video from above. 
• Recruit someone to record the scenes with their video camera or cellphone. 
• Powercords for your video camera or cellphone.
• A television and cable to attach camera or phone to it.

Notes About "Flat Lay"

Flat Lay'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" (bottom of the scene). Simple actions, such as walking along a "right path" become physically challenging and visually entertaining (read: memorable) when played back. Read more "Flat Lay" tips and details at the end of this lesson.

There are many variations of what you can do in a Flat Lay scene. In our Psalm 23 scenes, we'll be focusing on acting out the actions and emotions in the psalm, both in the text and implied.

 For more "Flat Lay" ideas and photos, visit the discussion in our Drama Workshop 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 "flat lay" or "sideways scene" before.)

Lesson Plan

Open

Welcome your students and explain what they'll be doing and learning in today's lesson.

Invite everyone to sit on your "stage" floor facing a flipchart or drawing board and TV monitor.

Show them a "flat lay" video clip to whet their appetite for re-enacting Psalm 23.

Ask them what they know about Psalm 23 (if they've been in the other lessons in this set, they may know quite a bit). Write their responses on the board or flipchart. You can give them "hints" to jog their memories.

Once they think they've remembered all of it, say "Let's Check!" and have the students open their Bibles and READ Psalm 23 together. 

AFTER THE SCRIPTURE READING, return to the flipchart and have them tell you what they forgot to include (using their Bibles to help them answer). Add their answers to the flipchart as they respond.

Distribute copies of the "Psalm 23 Scene Guide" attached to this lesson. Have a "master version" prepared on the flipchart or written on the board which you've kept covered up until this point of the lesson. Discussing and completing the guide is part of their memorization process and your opportunity to share insights and ask questions. 

Review and complete the "Seven Scenes Guide" and make "Acting Assignments" for each scene. Now begin the "Rehearsal."

Rehearsal

Practice:
Begin your rehearsal by having all the students practice "walking" across the stage floor while laying on their side. The "floor" is a line you've created on your real floor. Notice that it takes some time for them to walk across the scene while lying down.

Next, have them practice walking on all fours (like a sheep) across the stage's "floor." Stress the point that for maximum visual effect, they need to keep their feet in touch with the imaginary "stage floor" (your line of tape) as they walk. (Students portraying the sheep in the scenes may choose to walk on all fours; the visual "physics" in flat lay will be hilariously memorable.)

Rehearsing Each Verse's Action:
There are seven verse scenes on the Psalm 23 "Scene Guide" which students need to discuss, complete, and rehearse. Complete the Scene Guide as a group by deciding on the "actions and emotions" the actors will portray when it is their turn to enter the Flat Lay Stage and act out their verse. 

The action suggestions found on the Scene Guide have in part been suggested by the word and phrase insights found in the Teachers' Guide to Psalm 23 and Bible Background for this lesson and set. The discussion of each scene's action is the teacher's opportunity to share the insights found on the Teachers' Guide and ask questions. It won't feel like a Bible study, but it is. The kids will think they're getting ready to act.

Once you have worked out the actions for each verse's scene, have students take turns quickly practicing their scenes on the Flat Lay Stage. Have the camera person in place on the ladder to help direct the students when to start, finish, and remind them to stay in frame. 

Let's Play Flat Lay Psalm 23!

Have the actors line up off-stage in the order they will appear on the stage. Have a helper on the other side of the stage ready to place any props each scene will need. 

 Actors not in the scene are to read Psalm 23 out loud from their Scene Guide Handouts with a teacher or helper directing the readers. Tip: Read slowly and in sync with what the actors are doing. This is the sound track for your video.

The teacher/Director cues each set of actors to enter the stage from off-camera as they cue the cameraperson to start recording. The actors are already lying on the ground as they enter. The actors perform their verse scene and then continue off the opposite end of the stage. If they have additional scenes to act in, they should quietly circle behind the camera to the left side of the stage to get ready for their next scene and recite Psalm 23 with the rest of the group until it is their turn on stage again.

Ideally, the cameraperson only "pauses" the recording while the scene resets with new actors, rather than "stopping" the recording (which will end up creating several video files). The cameraperson and director should use hand signals to direct the actors to "start" and when the camera is "paused." 

Tip: In lieu of a selfie stick, you can mount your cellphone or camera in a lightweight tripod and extend that out over the scene.  The higher and more centered the camera is over the actors, the better the sideways scene appears on video.

Closing

Play the recorded Psalm 23 Flat Lay Drama. Then turn off the volume and play it back a second time asking the students to recite the words of the psalm with you for each of the scenes.

Close with prayer.

Adaptations

For Younger Students:   

Take a more "directorial" approach when suggesting actions for each scene. Position actors in the scene before you begin recording. Have an older student participate with them. Have an older reader speak the words of the verses as each scene plays out. Be sure to recite the entire psalm during video playback as suggested in the Closing.

For Older Students:  

Older students will be able to come up with more inventive "Flat Lay" positions and "unique gravity" for these scenes. For example, sheep can be crawling every which way and require the shepherd to herd them. The sheep and "enemy" can descend into the chairs. The "House of the Lord" can be up a hill that's taped to the floor.

For those with more class time or larger groups:

Split into two or more "drama groups" which will then come up with their own seven scenes. When one group is acting, the other can be reciting.

Flat Lay is a lot of fun. If you have more time, do it again!

Tech Tips:  

Be sure to have an extension cord and the correct powercord for the camera/cellphone, and an adapter cable that will allow you to play back the video straight into your TV from your device. For help connecting your cellphone to a TV, read this article.

Written by Neil MacQueen.
Based on a lesson concept developed by Carol Hulbert
in the WT's Angels and Shepherds Drama Workshop.

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