Computer and Software Ideas
The Opposition to Jesus:
Using Life of Christ CD
Note: Discovery Interactive’s "Life of Christ" CD has gone out of print (its material has been turned into an online course). Learn more here!
This CD has two relevant lessons:
- Lesson 28: The Plot To Catch and Kill Jesus - Matthew 26:1-16
- Lesson 29: A Grand Entry Into Jerusalem - Luke 19:28-46
Lesson 28 "the plot" helps set up the confrontation taught in Lesson 29 between Jesus and the authorities during the parade.
Who Shouted What?
(And what should WE shout?)
The Palm Sunday story has a lot of dialog in it, both spoken and that could be imagined. This makes it a natural for having the kids put words into the story using a variety of programs, such as, Kid Pix 4 (or "3D"), or Let's Talk (Let's Talk is now free to the supporting members of Rotation.org! Learn more).
What would stones shout? "Rock on Jesus" ?
It's a fun question you can ask kids. What would the authorities tell the children to "stop saying about Jesus"? What was so offensive to them?
What were the soliders, pharisee, priests, disciples, crowds shouting? The soldiers might have been concerned about safety or revolution. What would you answer to them?
What would a child seeing Jesus riding a donkey have asked their parent that day when Jesus rode by? How would the parent answer the child?
What was going through Jesus' mind about each group?
Imagine what God was whispering to Jesus as he rode in.
There are various ways to approach MAKING the computer speak the kid's answers. One is for the teacher to pose the questions one at a time to the entire class, wait for them to compose an answer to the question, then play them back one a time for all to hear. Let's Talk CD's "Talk Now" module is particular good with this approach.
Or you could assign a different "group at the parade" to each computer. Have each computer group work independently (with your advice) to craft an answer to the question you are asking each "group at the parade."
Example:
Soldiers: what do you have to say to Jesus?
Authorities: What are you afraid of?
Crowd: What does Jesus REALLY want you to do instead of just wave palms?
Then have each computer group share their "spoken" results with the class.
Non-readers love making the computer talk too, they just need help typing.
"Riding With Jesus"
For Preschool through Grade 2
Unfortunately, Play and Learn Children's Bible CD and Charlie Church Mouse CDs do NOT have Palm Sunday in them. [Both of these software have gone out of print, but many Rotation churches have them. Play and Learn Children's Bible CD (only works on Windows Me/XP/Vista, and Windows 7- 32 bit.)]
But here's a cool idea:
When I've had preschoolers -grade 2 come into my lab during a Palm Sunday rotation, we turned on Kid Pix 4 (or "3D") after the Bible study. I had pre-loaded two clipart graphics showing Jesus on Palm Sunday. We showed the kids how to import that graphic and then continue to illustrate it with the following ideas:
(1) the kids put themselves in the picture and imagined "what they would wave instead of palms".
(2) Added themselves to "ride the donkey with Jesus" and had them shout their favorite "cheer" phrase in a talk bubble above their head.
These pictures made everyone smile A LOT and we printed them out to make a wall display titled "Our Kids At the Palm Sunday Parade".
Other Holy Week Software Suggestions:
Check out the computer forums under each of the stories of Holy Week found in the JESUS from PALM SUNDAY TO EASTER MORNING.
Easter Computer Quiz Questions:
I have written a free Quiz Set about Easter that covers the whole story. It is for use with the popular Fall of Jericho quiz game program. Update: Sonsoft has donated Fall of Jericho software as a free downloaded to our supporting members. Learn more and get the software.
The set needs about 5 to 10 more questions added to it (using the Jericho question editor), and if you're covering Palm Sunday, you could write several questions focusing on that story.
The quiz questions are formatted as a text file for use by the software, but you can also copy the questions out of the file for use in any other quiz software or non-computer workshop uses.
To download the file go to the COMPUTER and GAME Workshop Lessons and Ideas for teaching Holy Week here.
<>< Neil
