Skits... Newsroom and other Ideas
Dear Rotation Drama and Puppet and Storyteller Lesson Writers,
As a reviewer here at Rotation.org, and having been reading lessons posted here since inception, I'd like to make a Giant Suggestion to those who write Drama, Puppet and Storytelling lessons.
No more "mini-paegants".
Stop writing long involved scripts that merely retell the story.
The Drama or Puppets or Storyteller does not always need to RECAPITULATE the story in so many words. Putting kids in costumes or giving them puppets to retell the story is not enough, especially not THIS story which they already sort of know, and will learn quite well. Such an approach has been overdone, and often involves NO LIFE APPLICATION.
Rather, let me suggest the following skit/script "STARTER IDEAS" to get your creative juices flowing. Notice that each of these also contains a "Life Application" angle.
- "The Not-So-Wise Kid" (who couldn't find Jesus because she was too, or didn't do enough, or forgot to, or didn't want to... or was too busy to...
- "How a Wise Person Packs for the Christmas Journey" ...what do you need to pack? Gift? Check! Patience? Check! Knowing where to look? Check! What DON'T you need to take into Christmas? What should you try to get rid of before you come to Christ? I see suitcases and props.
- "How the Not-So-Wise Person Packs for the Christmas Journey" A suitcase full of vague dumb stuff, a shopping list, a list of parties to go to. But... "Where's your Bible?" "What about some songs?" "How about church?" "Nothing to share, that's for sure! It's all about what I get, not what I give" "Oh, and my cousin Zach is coming and I can't stand him...better pack my earplugs."
- "How to help a friend find Christ in Christmas" ...the friend who can't find Christ in Christmas because he's too caught up in .... The friend who has never been to a Christmas Eve Service.
- "The Reluctant WiseCracker" ...I don't wanna go! It's boring! He's just a dumb baby! The classroom smells like a stable! What's all that angelic music? I don't know any of the shepherds! Who are those old people standing there?
- "Interview with the Star!" ....patiently rising, shining, gotta keep moving. My job and what it requires. Do you wish you could shoot flames to get people's attention? Why didn't God send a fireball? This person has a really bright light that makes a Baby Jesus cry. Turn the lights down low when videotaping this one.
- "Interview with a DIMwit" ....this guy has the dimmest flashlight and thinks he's helping others saying weird stuff like "buy your gift today because that's what Jesus wants. ...Let your light shine dude! (It's your good deeds and words that do the shining btw. Time to RECHARGE your batteries? where do you do that?)
- "The Bumps on the Humps" ....two kids sticking their heads out of one bedsheet are the humps on the camel. They think the baby isn't that cool. They think all this "getting ready" is for religious nerds. They just want presents and something to eat. Why do my parents have to drag me to go looking for this kid EVERY YEAR? And the songs! ...they make us spit.
Okay...rant over. 
These skits could be interviews in a News Program.
I personally like the "Newsroom" form of the Drama workshop because kids and teachers understand the format. It allows kids and teachers to step in and ask questions as "reporters" using scripts. You can interview kids in short segments, pause the camera and reset. And you can interject commercials for how to be a really BRIGHT STAR in God's universe.
This approach invokes a lot of humor, and is fun to videotape and replay (and then reflect on).
These skits could also be characters in a Storytelling Workshop who have lots of crazy props.
<>< Neil the ranter
