One great way to bring play, imagination, and the Bible together is to allow kids to act out the Bible stories they are studying. Acting out the stories can prompt all kinds of questions, drive kids to read the text closely, and provide an opportunity for kids to imagine what it would be like to have been in the story. Acting out Bible stories also gives opportunities for children to engage with the story in different ways. If you’re interested in creating a space where kids can engage in dramatic play in response to scripture, here are a few ideas for you:
Create a Costume Corner
Depending on your available space, this can be as simple or complex as you would like to make it. We suggest starting simple and adding items as you see what gets the most use and what items kids request.
- Several solid-colored sheets or blankets in natural colors like blue, brown, green, or tan. These can become hillsides, rivers, and backdrops in the kids’ hands.
- Several simple “Bible time” costumes. These can be as simple as a rectangle of fabric with a hole cut in the middle, a long, narrow piece of fabric that can be draped over the shoulders, or even a variety of bathrobes in earth tones.
- It often works best to select props that go along with the part of scripture that you are studying, but it also helps to have some things kids know will be there. Some ideas include wooden cups, bowls, trays, wooden blocks, and dowel rods that can be used for various things. Brainstorm with the kids in your church. They will also use whatever they can find in the classroom.
Brainstorm Roles
Invite the children to help you think of the different roles that might help this be successful. There are many ways kids can be involved in this process. Here are a few roles to get you started:
- Actors: people who will dress up in costumes and act out the story.
- Set/props designers & managers: People who will primarily contribute arts and ideas to the play. They can use art materials, found objects, or items from your costume and props corner to create sets, scenes, and props.
- Scriptwriters/directors: These people adapt the Bible story to a play. This could include highlighting lines from the Bible, retelling the story, writing simple lines, or selecting which parts of the Bible story the narrator will read.
- Scene builders: These people might use legos or blocks to build miniature buildings.
- Narrators: These people may not dress up in costumes but might read the story from the Bible or retell the story in their own words.
Ask Wondering Questions
Help kids reflect on their reenactment of the story. Invite them to pause after the reenactment and consider a few of these questions. Consider having a way for kids to take any lingering questions or takeaways into the week. This could be as simple as providing notecards that they can use to write or draw a picture on. Invite them to take the notecard home and share it with someone else.
- I wonder where you see God in this story.
- I wonder what this story shows us about who God is.
- I wonder what you noticed while you were acting it out.
- I wonder if this story reminds you of something in your life.
- I wonder what you still want to know.
- I wonder what you want to say to God about this story.
- What part of this story do you want to share with someone else?