Road to Emmaus

Computer Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Software Choice: Jesus in Space .... Mission 3: Ice Moon Alpha (Emmaus) from Sunday Software

Note: Jesus in Space is now FREE to supporting members, Learn more here!

Neil's Commentary:

The Road to Emmaus is an amazing story. More than all the other resurrection appearances, this one is FOR US.... those who wander down the road wondering what happened, having our heart burn a little bit with scripture, sensing Jesus with us, and then POOF! ...back to reality.

"Seeing Jesus" is the question, and this story gives us some inspired answers about HOW that happens now that he's gone to heaven: Scripture, Fellowship, Communion.

Sounds like church to me.
And that is the point of this lesson.

How the Software approaches the Emmaus Story:

The "problems" is that Luke's Road to Emmaus passage is a BIG STORY with a lot of moving parts. When I see that kind of story, I know the first thing my kids need is to KNOW THE STORY. Reading it once from the Bible and making a popsicle craft doesn't do it. We need them to KNOW it so that the story walks out of the classroom WITH them and continues to unfold its riches.

On that point, Jesus in Space - Emmaus Mission excels.

Mission 3 takes your kids to Ice Moon Alpha where the "Snoballians" are putting on a Sunday School play about the Emmaus story and they need Lt Stu's help. DO NOT let the cute "snowmen" creatures and imagery fool you. This software is EASILY for older children and younger youth as it is for young children.

The reflection activity in Mission 3 is my favorite in all of our software. It walks them through a demonstration of "How People See, or Don't See Jesus". It even has a printable take-home. I've used it with youth groups and adult groups, and in sermons. The kids 'get it' too.

Supplies List:

• Jesus in Space

Leader Preparation:

• Gather the materials.
• Read the scripture ahead of time. Preview the software.

Lesson Plan

Opening:

1) After welcoming the kids...
Find out how much they know about the Road story, then write down this question for all to see: "How Do Some People SEE Jesus, and Other's Don't?" The software will attempt to answer that with your help.

Dig:

2) Crack open your Bibles to Luke 24: 13-35

Show them where it is, and where it falls in the Holy Week -Resurrection timeline of events. If you have a visual timeline, even better.

From that point onward they will being using a different sort of Bible ....the "StageCraft 4000 computer" which "Shelbot" beams down to Ice Moon Alpha to help Lt Stu and the Snoballians learn the story.

The entire scripture is there on screen ready to be interacted with a a special way. Do it twice so they enjoy it, and so that this complex story starts to sink into memory. They are welcome to do it again after class too.

About the "STAGECRAFT 4000 COMPUTER": Onscreen you'll see that we've broken the story into several scenes which your kids populate with sound effects, music and props. The props are all ice themed, and include snowmen they can build. We want them to do the story again and again.

Have each workstation re-create the story with sfx and props, then play them back for everyone to see. Make your "teaching points" during this time. You may want to use my Student Worksheet to guide them through the lesson. It also have some QUESTIONS TO FILL IN...which the teacher can discuss as they want. The Emmaus-Ice Moon Alpha Student Handout is part of the following document loaded here at rotation.org: Mission-Worksheet.pdf (It has the other missions with it as well.) There is space to add your own comments/questions before putting it on the church copier.

Then the kids play it back. It can be different every time...which is THE POINT: We want them to dwell on seeing and hearing the story SEVERAL TIMES until they can tell it themselves. (Repetition is the cornerstone of learning and computer makes it fun.)

3) The Jesus in the Snow Reflection Activity

Preview this Reflection Activity. It's important that you understand how it will unfold. It's important that you prepare the KIDS to be patient and listen to the narrated instructions and NOT jump head.

**Remember to PRINT the Jesus in the Snow photograph AHEAD OF TIME for each child to take home.

On the right of this page you will see a thumbnail of the "answer key" photo. This is not the original photo, rather, this is the answer reference to help kids who never saw Jesus in the snow. The software explains the whole thing.

Do not let them jump ahead.

The key to this activity is to LISTEN and WATCH how students react to the picture of Jesus. Some will see it, others will need help, and some will not see it at all -or until the last moment. You will be POINTING THESE FACTS OUT to the class both during and at the end of the activity. Also point out that some people are better at describing what they see than others. (In other words, some people are good guides helping us to 'see' Christ.)

The process of seeing Jesus in the Snow on the screen, the way some need help, --is the METAPHOR that teaches us. Most of us need help to "see" Jesus in our lives, and not everybody does. It's a commercial for why we read the Bible and go the church: to put ourselves in a place to experience Christ and know he is with us. (Reminds me of Zaccheus' tree too: Church is a place we climb up into to find Christ).

If you do not make this connection between "seeing Jesus" and "seeing Jesus in this picture" the point will be lost.

4) At the end of the Jesus-in-the-Snow presentation, there are four discussion questions you can have them discuss.

1. Who first told you about Jesus?
2. When di you first feel Jesus was close to you in your life?
3. How does the Bible help you "see" Jesus?
4. What are some other ways you can help others learn more about and "see" Jesus?

Reflection:

Circle up and walk around to each person giving them a picture of Jesus in the Snow that you have pre-printed. You may also want to print the "answer key" photo in this lesson plan in case you still have one person who doesn't see it.

Take your photo and use it as a prop to say something like the following:

Jesus is here with us now in Spirit.
We can choose to ignore him (put photo behind back)
We can choose to reject him (toss photo on the ground)
Or we can begin to look for him in our lives...
In our church (place photo on table)
Speaking to us in scripture (fold photo in Bible)
In our songs (play photo in hymnbook)
In each other's lives (play photo against several children)
As we help others to see him (place photo up close to someone's eyes and shake it)
And in our prayers (place photo between praying hand)

And once you see him... if your eyes and heart are open, you will ALWAYS see him.
No matter if you haven't sensed he was with you for a while (hide photo), or if you have wandered off and tried to forget him. Jesus will always be there for you when you are ready to see him again (hold photo for all to see), and sometimes, he'll come looking for you, speaking in your life where you least expect him to be. For this is Jesus, the Shepherd who comes after every single last sheep.
Amen.

Remember to post a print of Jesus in the Snow in your classroom. It will help them remember your words and this story.

Hope you like my lesson and Jesus in Space software!

<>< Neil

Software Alternatives:

• Life of Christ CD briefly presents the story and has a quiz.

  

  You could follow it up with questions such as: "What would you have said to Jesus on the road? What would you have asked him?" Answer could be spoken through the computer using the text-to-speech synthesis program built into Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D) or Let's Talk software (Sunday Software).

  Let's Talk software is now FREE to supporting members, Learn more here!

• You could type and print KEYWORDS from the story, print them out, cut them up, and play it as a "story order" game.
  
  
• Since the story is so big, you could create a set of QUESTIONS about the story for use in Bible Grand Slam CD (Out of Print) or Fall of Jericho software. Invite the kids to help create some of the questions based on their Bible study with you.
  **Dave's post above this one has a question set for Fall of Jericho software. I'm a big believe in "getting back to previously taught content" by using quizzes in the computer lab.

A lesson written by Neil MacQueen

The Road to Emmaus

Computer workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Students will rotate between several computers, each one showing a different software program that has something about the Road to Emmaus story in it. Uses software: Life of Christ, Walking in Their Sandals, and Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D).

1. Life of Christ  - learn the story and take a quiz.
   

   

2. Walking in Their Sandals - out of print (or similar Atlas program or website)  -learn about Emmaus/region.
   
   
3. Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D) (illustrating program) - put the story in correct order.

Lesson Objectives:

In this workshop, the learners will hear the story and answer some questions about it on the computer. They will learn about the place Emmaus and put slides of the story in the correct order.

Editor's Note:  The instructions for each station's software are copied below.

Supplies List:

• Software:
  • Life of Christ
  • Walking in Their Sandals
    
  • Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D)

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the materials.
• Preview the software.

Lesson Plan

Opening:

Greet the children and introduce yourself. Remember that you are interacting with a different group of students each week—some may not know you. Wear your nametag and make sure that the children are wearing theirs.

Dig:

1. Help the children find the story in their Bibles. For beginners, read the story to them. For primaries and juniors, have them take turns reading parts of the story.
2. Tell the children that today they will rotate to 3 different computer stations and do 3 different activities, all related to the story. The 3 stations are Life of Christ station, Walking in their Sandals station, and Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D) station.
3. Assign students to stations in the Mouse Pad. If you have more than 4 students, ask them to pair up and take turns operating the computers. Be available to assist at any of the stations. The instructions for each station are in attachments to this lesson. You should allow 7-8 minutes maximum per station, then have them go to another one. (You may need to help them complete a station if they are having trouble with it.) All students should complete all stations by about 10:15.

Reflection:

After all students have completed all stations, get back together and ask several question, such as,

• Can you believe a story you don't know?  (this is why we come to Sunday School!)
• Did Jesus think understanding the Bible was important?  (yes, he explained them)
• Was hearing the scriptures enough to make them see Jesus? (obviously not)
• What prepared them to believe what they saw and heard? (they had spent time learning and trying to follow him)
• If the left side of the room was Jerusalem, and the right side was near Emmaus where they first really saw Jesus, where are you standing today between disbelief and belief?  Go stand there.  (now ask them why they chose that spot)\
• What can you do to get closer to believing in Jesus?  feeling close to him?

Adjustments for younger/older children:
The beginners will need help at each of the computer stations. Be sure you or the shepherd can help them answer questions at the Life of Christ station and at the Walking in their Sandals station especially. You may even want to rotate to those stations as a group and do the activities there together. They will be able to handle the KidPix station better without much help but will need help initially in moving the slides around.

For younger children, you may substitute the Play & Learn Children's Bible CD or Charlie Church Mouse CD that has the resurrection story on it.

Be sure you are available to the primaries and the juniors, too. They may need help with the stations at times. The shepherd may be able to help them answer some of the questions, too. Feel free to rotate to the stations as a group here, too, but these usually like to operate the computer themselves.

Since we may need extra stained pieces of wood for those absent during the Computer Lab workshop, let the Juniors stain extra pieces—at least 2 extra pieces each.

STATION 1—Instructions for Life of Christ computer station

To set up the station, insert the Life of Christ CD into the drive. Double-click on the Life of Christ icon. Leave the screen on the sign-in page. Be sure the speakers are on and the sound is up enough to hear at this station.

For the students to use the station:

1. Click on “New Exploration” and add the student’s name at the bottom. Then click on “Start Exploration.”
2. Click on the crate that says “King’s Oranges.”
3. Click on the lesson group 34-40--“Jesus is Alive Forever and Ever!”
4. Click on lesson 35—“The Resurrected Christ Visits Friends and Followers.”
5. Listen carefully to the story. If you need to hear the story again, click on “No” and return to step 4. If not, click on “Yes” and take the quiz about the story. As you take the quiz, click on the circle for your answer. You will know immediately if it is correct. If not, you will see the correct answer. Click on the forward arrow to go to the next question. (“Back” will take you out of the quiz.)
6. At the end of the quiz, click on “Return to Lesson Index.” Then click on “Back”, two times, to get back to the office scene. Move the mouse to the bottom left corner, and click on “Exit.” Leave the computer here for the next student.

When the last student completes this station, click on “Quit” to exit the program.

STATION 2—Instructions for Walking in their Sandals CD computer station

(Note: this program is out of print, but a Bible atlas software or website would make a good substitute if you don't have the Walking in Their Sandals CD.)

To set up the station, insert the Walking in their Sandals CD 1 into the drive. The program will begin automatically. Leave the screen on the first map. Have the map worksheets and pencils beside the computer station. You do not need sound here.

For the students to use the station:

1. Take a worksheet and follow the instructions on it to locate Emmaus.
2. Click on “II. Historical and Biblical Significance.” Read the story.
3. Click on “Home” at the bottom and leave the computer here for the next student.

When the last student completes this station, click on “Exit” to exit the program.

STATION 3—Instructions for the Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D) computer station
Prior to this lesson using Kid Pix 4, you need to create five or six "scenes" from the Emmaus story in Kid Pix 4. Save them and then use the "slideshow" feature in Kid Pix 4 to create a slideshow of the scenes.  BUT....do not put them in order. The kids will need to do that!

For the students to use the station:

1. Click on the right arrow in the bottom right corner of the screen. This takes you to the Slide Show portion of the program. Click on the green right arrow to see the slide show as it is. (The slides are in the wrong order.) Read each slide as it comes up. Click the mouse anywhere on the slide to move to the next one.
2. Rearrange the slides to put them in the correct order according to the story. To move a slide, left click on it and drag it to an empty slide slot while holding down the mouse button. Release the button to leave the slide in the new slot.
3. When you are satisfied with your arrangement, click on the green arrow to see the slide show again. If it is in the proper order, you are finished. If not, rearrange them until they are.
4. When you are finished, click on the right arrow in the bottom right corner of the screen. Click “NO” when asked to save the changes. Leave the computer here for the next student.

When the last student completes this station, click on the door in the middle of the right side to exit the program.

A lesson written by Jan Marshall from Brenthaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
Brentwood, TN, USA

Printed from https://www.rotation.org

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Road to Emmaus Computer Quiz Lesson

Summary:

Uses the quiz program "Fall of Jericho" from Sunday Software to review the story.

The question file to be used with this specific software has been attached to the bottom of this post.

Note that this software program allows you to change or input your own questions and answers about any subject.

  Fall of Jericho is now free to the supporting members of Rotation.org!

Learn more

Scripture Reference:

Luke 24: 13-35

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the children will have:

• listened to the story of the men on the road to Emmaus
• answered questions on the Emmaus story using the “Fall of Jericho” program
• recognize that we also “see” Jesus through the Word and Sacraments

Supplies List:

• Fall of Jericho software preloaded on each computer.
• question set included with this post (will need to save to your Fall of Jericho directory).

Lesson Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the materials.
• Preview the software

Lesson Plan

Opening:

Open with a prayer.

I began the lesson by reviewing when the story took place (after the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, the crucifixion, and the stories of the empty tomb on Easter).

Study:

Then I read the story from Luke 24, making it as dramatic as I could! It really is a neat story – two men, we only know the name of one of them, who must have been close to Jesus (they knew exactly where to find Peter and the other disciples in Jerusalem when the returned) were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, when a stranger joined them. When I read the story I changed the text by referencing Jesus as “the stranger.” This stranger was clueless – he didn’t know what had happened in Jerusalem the previous week. Then he called the two men “foolish!” (You get the idea..) I have found that all children (and even the shepherds) enjoyed listening to the story again.

After reading the story, point out and discuss that we can “see” Jesus in the same ways that the two men did – through the Word (Moses, the prophets and the Scriptures in Luke’s terms) and the sacraments (the breading of the bread, also known and the Lord’s Supper). Jesus said we would also "see" him, do it for him, when we do his work feeding the hungry (including those who hunger for justice), those we clothe (including those we clothe with acceptance like the father did for the prodigal son), etc etc. --- Matthew 25

Then the children go to the computer and use the Fall of Jericho program to answer questions on this story. I provided the following directions for using the program to the class leaders.

Fall of Jericho

Start the Fall of Jericho program and wait for the introduction to finish.

When prompted to “Click on File to Start:”

Select Options:

The following should be checked:

• Animations
• Sound
• Music
• Sequential Questions (important)
• Easy Questions (select for younger children, turn off for older children)
• Medium Questions (turn off for younger children)
• Difficult Questions (turn off for younger children)
• Wrong Answer – Try Again

Select File

Select New Game

Select “A File that you made yourself”

Select “Emmaus.txt”

Choose the number of players and character number. Follow the prompts to play the game.

NOTE: There are additional comments after some of the correct answers are shown. Read these comments before continuing.

Reflection:

If time, play a quick game of "find Jesus" in the classroom. Place the words "justice, mercy, love, help, unselfishness, worship, and Bible" on separate sheets of colored paper, fold them, and hide them around the room.

Additional notes:

The attached file (Emmaus.txt) has the questions and answers for the Fall of Jericho program.

To copy and paste the entire emmaus.txt file into your computer for use with the game, follow the instructions found on this PDF. https://www.rotation.org/fileS...GUIDE-to-Jericho.pdf

There are 26 questions that are “medium” or “hard” that I intended for the older children. At the end of that set are 25 more questions that are “easy.”     When you first open the program and are selecting options, select medium and hard for older kids, and only "easy" for non-readers/early readers (and read the questions to them from the screen).

Written by David Swierenga for Grace Presbyterian Church Plano, TX and updated by the Rotation.org Content Team

The free Sunscool Bible App has several age-appropriate Road to Emmaus story narrations with activities.

The following comes from Rotation.org's complete and detailed outline of the app!

Found in the app's menu under the "Death of Christ" story listing:

For Age Levels 1 and 2:
C4-4: The two travelers - Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13-35

Level 3:
C4-4: The Stranger's Words (Road to Emmaus)
Luke 24: 13-35

Level 4:
C4-3 : Seen and Heard (Road to Emmaus)
Luke 24:13-35; Acts 1:1-3; 3:11-19; 10:39-43; Luke 24:26

Read more about the app here at Rotation.org and get the download link