Teaching the Bible creatively part 2

Wow! I didn't mean to go so long between posts. But now that some of the busyness that goes along with Christmas is slowing down, things are starting to get back to normal.

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and got to enjoy time with family and friends. May you have been able to reflect upon the precious birth of our Savior during all of the hustle and bustle. How were you able to share the real meaning of Christmas with your children or church children? One of the things I did with my 9 year old was share the true story of St. Nicholas. We have never pushed the idea of Santa Clausat our house, however we never outright told the kids he is not real. Many families have differing ideas on how to handle Santa Claus, and I am not here to debate that. One thing that I did want my son to know was that St. Nicholas was a real person- a good man who gave of himself to help others. If you have not shared the true story of St. Nicholas with your child or maybe you don't know the story yourself, then go to the Christian bookstore for a book or gather some information online. Here are a few links...

http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Saint-Nicholas-Demi/dp/0689846819/ref=pd_cp_b_3

http://www.amazon.com/Saint-Nicholas-Story-ChristmasLegend/dp/0758613415/ref=pd_cp_b_1

http://www.history.com/content/christmas/history-of-santa/the-legend-of-st.-nicholas



Last post I was sharing some ways for teaching the Bible creatively. I'll give you a few more ideas today.
Another fun way is to be a ONE MAN SHOW. If you have a lesson with a few main characters, become each character. Have a coat rack nearby and put a few props to stand for each person involved. Change your voice or dialect to match each character. It is important to BECOME the character and not just narrate about the characters. If you are telling about David defeating Goliath, use a child's cap for David, a spear for Goliath, and a robe or crown for King Saul. Don't be afraid to embrace your "silliness." We may feel "dumb" acting as each individual in the story, but the kids love it! Find props that are easy to take off and put on. Don't worry if you don't have exactly the right prop. Be creative! You'd be amazed at the treasure of props you have around your house and garage.


VISUAL PROPS are so important to utilize as you teach. Having that visual "hook"- something to get them thinking in the right direction- draws their attention right to you! How about some chocolate covered grasshoppers to introduce the account of John the Baptist? How about a broken ruler to emphasize the sin in the garden?

Another effective use of props is the element of SURPRISE! Keep your props hidden until the appropriate time in the story to reveal them. How about a treasure chest sitting in front of you? Perhaps set up a table at the front of the room with your covered props. Uncover them as you get to their part in the story. Or maybe you can pack your props in a suitcase and unpack it as you tell the story. Props provide a concrete connection from the telling of the story to the remembering of the story. These props are also valuable for review purposes at the end of your time together.