Rotation.org Writing Team
Adam & Eve
Video / Audio Visual Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activity
Students will watch a video about the Adam and Eve story and discuss it. They will look at the vision of the new paradise described in Revelation 21. Optional follow-up activities are suggested below.
Video: The Greatest Adventure, Stories from the Bible: The Creation *
This video is from the "Hanna-Barbera animated Bible series." This late 80's animated series is widely available, still appeals, and teaches the story. Full length copies of this video can be found on YouTube, but some are lower resolution. Surprisingly, there are very few videos available for this story of any quality. Some interject peculiar theology or interpret the story rather than retell it.
* The Adam-Eve-Tree story in "The Creation" video starts at about the 10 minute mark in the following clip and runs for about 15 minutes to the end of the video. It begins with the "modern explorers" who suddenly find themselves near the Garden of Eden and soon learn its story.
** See the "Adaptations" at the end of this lesson plan for additional video choices.
Scripture
Passage: Genesis 2:4-3:24
Key/Memory Verse: "He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them...." Rev 21:3
Objectives for the Rotation
- See Bible Background.
Objectives for Video Workshop
The children will learn that the story of Adam & Eve is found in the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible.
The children will form a definition of "paradise" (the kind of world they want to live in, and that God wants for them).
The children will learn that sin and disobedience have consequences, but that God still goes with us into the world, and will eventually bring us into a new creation.
Preparation
- Read Bible Background and scripture.
- Preview the video.
- Write at the top of one large sheet of paper: "Revelation 21:1-2," leaving room for student writing. On a second sheet write "Revelation 21:3." On a third sheet, write "Revelation 21:4," and on the fourth sheet write "Revelation 21:5a." (Note: If you are concerned about having enough time for the reflection exercise, you may wish to also write out the verses using a more kid-friendly version such as the NIrV.)
- On the whiteboard write: "Revelation 21:1-5a."
Materials List
- Video - Creation from Hanna Barbera's - Greatest Adventures Series
- Bibles
- A whiteboard or easel, and appropriate marker
- Four large sheets of paper; markers or pens; tape
- A small blanket (optional)
Lesson Plan
Opening
Welcome your students and then introduce today's story by doing the following . . .
Once everyone is settled, explain that we are going to be seeing a video of the story of Adam and Eve, which is found in the Book of Genesis. Our story comes right after the story of Creation.
Do: See how much of the story they already know.
To Read or not read the scripture:
Because the video in this lesson closely follows the biblical story, and because this lesson concludes with a reading/study from scripture, you may choose to start your lesson without reading the entire story in Genesis 2 (it is long). Or you might choose to read a short version from a storybook-style Bible (illustrated paraphrase).
Prepare
Prior to showing the video...
- Ask students to define "paradise," and describe the kind of "paradise" they would think is best.
- Have them describe what "paradise" might look like for the entire world. What would be in it? How would people act? Write their responses on the whiteboard.
- Ask how God would define the idea of "paradise." Write their responses on the whiteboard.
- Tell students that at the end of the video/story Adam and Eve are thrown out of paradise and we are told humans can never go back to paradise. But the very end of the video suggests maybe we CAN get back to paradise. Tell them to watch for this hint and notice the shape of the flaming sword (a cross). You'll be discussing it.
Show the Video Clip
After viewing the video of the story ask students the following questions:
- Why do you suppose Adam and Eve chose to disobey God?
- Why do you sometimes disobey your parents?
- Why do you sometimes disobey God?
- When God came looking for them, what did Adam and Eve do? (they hid)
Note: You might dramatize this point a bit by tossing a blanket over a student, coming up with a story of some sin they committed, and asking the others "is God fooled?" and "What do you suppose God thinks about this person trying to hide from God?" Being both fun and demonstrative, the blanket will definitely help focus the questions and drive home the point of the story.
- What was God's reaction to their attempt to hide their sin from God? (sadness, anger)
- What punishment and gift did God give Adam and Eve at the end of the story? (punishment: banishment from the garden & labor; gift: clothes to cover their shame)
- Do you think banishment was the end of the story? Was this banishment really permanent or did you get the sense that maybe we can get back to paradise one day? What was the shape of the flaming sword? (a cross!)
"First Book to Last Book" Study (the return to paradise)
Say: I want you to turn in your Bibles to the very last book, the Book of Revelation. You have heard from Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, the beginning story, and now you're going to hear from the last book and one of the very last chapters in the Bible. Read Revelation 21:1-5 aloud with me.
Do: Refer to the whiteboard where you have written "Revelation 21:1-5a."
Point out that you will be stopping your reading after the first portion of verse 5. The lowercase “a” means only read the first part of a verse; stop after the closing punctuation mark.
Do: Read Revelation 21:1-5a together.
Say: This is John's vision of a new paradise. And we are all invited to it by Jesus. Quite literally, Jesus opens the door to paradise for us.
Ask: What do you suppose this new paradise is going to be like?
Ask: How will sinful people like us be able to enter into this new paradise? (by the grace of God)
Reflect
Hand out the four large sheets of paper (each one corresponding to a section of the Rev 21 passage). Divide students among the sheets. Distribute markers. Tell them to write their verse(s) on the sheet in large letters (unless this has already been done ahead of time) and to add illustrations and images and words that depict what their verse(s) describe.
After they have completed their drawing, post the drawings on the wall and ask some final "what about now?" life application questions that correspond to that vision, such as:
- "How is our church like a New Jerusalem, a city of God's people?"
- "How is God with us right now?"
- "How does our church wipe away tears, comfort people?"
- "What kinds of things can you 'renew' (make new) in your life?" (relationships, commitment, promises to God, restore Creation, etc.)
Finally, share that Jesus taught us not to sit back passively and wait for a new paradise. Rather, he gave us the vision of a paradise called the Kingdom of God, which can pop up in this world in small ways, such as, through acts of kindness and compassion. Like Adam and Eve helped take care of Creation, so we too are to help take care of it, and help God restore Creation to God's beautiful plan.
Close
Conclude with by saying the Lord's Prayer together, but alert the children that they are to substitute the word "PARADISE" for the word "KINGDOM."
Additional Suggestions
Adaptations - Younger Children:
If you're short on time or need an alternative for younger children:
1. The Beginner's Bible videos are available for free on YouTube, including, "Creation." the second half of which has Adam and Eve. This video is geared for preschoolers.
2. Saddleback's three minute animated story of Adam and Eve in the Garden with God. https://youtu.be/l7TDvJrjjz0?si=XdmMQUxsS86Tojlg
3. Look at the four minute video that is on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8AxNlgdIbE It is titled: "Once Upon a World, Adam and Eve," and apparently was never commercially made available.
Adaptation for Older Students:
Address the skin color of Adam and Eve in this movie (and many others). Point out that when this video was created, many people were not very sensitive to the portrayal of Bible characters, and often portrayed them as European white skinned people. Does that bother you? What subtle unspoken message might it be sending to non-whites about their "creation" and closeness to God?
If we want to be technically correct, the first humans on the planet were dark skinned and lived in what we now call Africa. But for many thousands of years, dark skinned people were considered "less human" by those with lighter skin. That's called "racism" and still exists today.
Theologically speaking, Adam and Eve are US -- created by God to love God, but given the freedom to choose sin instead of God. In the past, many believers felt the story of Adam and Eve was a history, but today, many think of it more like a parable about the greater themes of Sin, Freewill, the nature of being Human, and the Love of God.
A Different Video Option:
The What's In The Bible video series from Phil Vischer covers both Creation and the Adam and Eve story. Episode 2 on Genesis DVD 1 does a good job of giving older kids the CONTEXT for the Adam and Eve story within God's plan for redemption. Episode 2 is 25 minutes, but some content can be skipped. See the outline.
Excerpt from the Outline:
- “Chester Wigget’s Popsicle stick puppets” Chester describes God, Genesis 1. Very good and funny too.
- Sunday School lady describes Why God created us (at approx 44 minute mark)
- “Love is a choice, so God gave us the freedom to choose.”
- When did all this happen? 6000 or 4.5 Billion years old? Who’s right? (4.5 is right, btw!)
- Phil Vischer: "Not all Christians agree about everything." Some believe the word day means "24 hour period"… some believe “God days” can be millions of years. (A great pause point for older students.)
- The Book of Genesis wasn’t written to tell us “how” but “who.” AMEN!
As a Supporting Member, you can access our detailed outline and guide to this video.
Written by: Neil MacQueen and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright © Rotation.org
Printed from https://www.rotation.org
