We just finished our final workshop for Joshua and the Fall of Jericho. In our drama room we tried Neil MacQueen's idea of using projected backdrops to help set the scenes. We planned for the kids to choose props (set out ahead of time) and create a tableau for each of the scenes... BUT this story is full of action, so it was really hard to get them to stay still. A video probably would have worked better!
But still it was lots of fun. They enjoyed interacting with the projected backdrops (I just googled specific scenes and copied them onto transparencies and used an overhead projector. Lighting was a bit of an issue. Hard to get good clear pictures with the lights off. And then we had the shadows to deal with.
Definitely not a polished performance, but it was fun and memorable. And that's what it's all about right?
Here is the list of scenes, props and backdrops we used. We made an ark of the covenant out of a lidded cardboard box and a Chief Priest breast plate many years ago when we studied the Tabernacle. We hung a white sheet on the blackboard behind our stage for the overhead projection. The priests blew party favor horns.
Scene | Setting (backdrop) | Characters, Props |
God speaks to Joshua (our memory verse) | Palestine countryside | Joshua, poster with memory verse |
Joshua sends two spies to Jericho | Walls of Jericho | 2 spies, climbing walls |
The king searches for the spies/Rahab hides them | Roof of house | Rahab, spies, yellow blanket, wheat, soldiers |
The agreement with Rahab | Window, red cord | Rahab, 2 spies |
Crossing the River Jordan | River “piled up” | Ark of Covenant, 2 priests, blue fabric water |
12 Memorial stones | River bank | 12 stones piled up |
The Commander of the Lord’s Army | River bank, Jericho in distance | Joshua, Commander in white with sword |
Marching around Jericho X 6 | City of Jericho | Cardboard blocks, ark, horns, people marching |
The Fall of Jericho! | Walls crumbling | Fallen blocks, people cheering |
All in all it was fun and I'd do this again, but would like to try to improve the lighting.
Jaymie
