Rotation.org Writing Team 

Advent: Isaiah Promised, Jesus Fulfilled

Drama Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activity 

Students will perform and videotape a humorous parade of Old Testament "Heroes and Zeroes and the Messiah" to illustrate the reason why God wants to be our Messiah/King (Emmanuel, God with us, the Anointed One).

The heroes and zeroes pass in front of a video camera on "floats" (or walking), and each posing and/or doing something that reflects who they are, while the Commentator talks about each and the crowd reacts.

Quite intentionally, God appears throughout the parade with a broom "cleaning up the mess" so to speak. His presence and actions are the central lesson memory we are looking to create. Isaiah also appears quoting scripture and tossing out words of hope as he parades by. God's final appearance is at the end of the parade as Jesus.

Scripture 

Passages:  Isaiah 7:14 (Immanuel), Isaiah 9:2 (great light), Matthew 1:20-24 ("all this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet....")

Key/Memory Verse: Matthew 1:20-24, "all this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet...."

 
Objectives for the Rotation 

See Bible Background

See the important additional Bible background found on the attached Parade Script.

Objectives for this particular workshop

Preparation 

• Read Bible Background, scripture, lesson, parade script and parade Bible background.
• Assemble the props, camera with tripod.
• Set up the room and put tape on the floor per the drawing below.
• Make copies of the script for the teachers and commentator (See attached pdf)
• Put the "parade order" on the board where it can be seen. (See the attached pdf)
• Recruit three helpers.
• Lots of small pieces of paper with the words "Hope" written on them.

Materials List 

• Video camera on a tripod
• white board (appropriate marker)
• Various Bible costumes and props per the Parade Script (attached)
• "Floats" (wagons or other wheeled carts)
• Room set up materials, including: backdrop, tape, video camera, tripod
• Monitor and cables to view the video after the parade
• helpers 1) parent to run video camera 2) helper to work with second group & be parade manager  3) second commentator "color commentary")
• confetti or streamers (optional)

Drama Workshop Notes

This lesson plan, like many others for a Drama Workshop, assumes your workshop has a stash of costumes ready to use. While the set-up and prop-needs may seem elaborate for one class, in Rotation you will be doing this lesson with several different classes. That said, your costumes and props do not have to be elaborate and can be comical. The "floats" can be humorously simple — David in a red wagon being pulled by Saul, a kitchen cart, Ruth and Esther in a cardboard box. Let your imagination have fun and it will be a lesson they will never forget.

The parade has more characters than the typical class, which is part of the fun! Students run off-camera and change roles, then parade back on-camera. They don't have lines to read, so they can focus on how to act and react.

The Commentator must be able to read and should be someone who understands they too are acting. The Commentator and "crowd" are seen in the foreground. See the attached Parade Script for more presentation tips. 

Having a tripod for your video camera (or smartphone with video capability) is a great asset for any Sunday School drama or video workshop, and will come in very handy for this particular parade drama. The camera operator will only have to pan slightly to the left and then follow each parade character as they come onto the route. Invite a parent to be your camera operator so that you, the teacher, are free to direct. 

Lesson Plan 

Open 

Welcome students and outline today's drama activity for them. Tell them that they are going to be the scripture reading today — in the form of a parade. (You will look at specific scripture during the reflection.)

Set-up and Practice

Review the "parade order" you have written on the board and assign roles. 

Now split into two groups, each with a teacher/helper in charge of prep and move to different areas to prepare for their assigned roles:

Group 1: Heroes and Zeroes
Group 2: Commentator and Crowd

Prepping Group 1: Heroes and Zeroes

Line up the paraders in the order in which they appear on the parade route (as listed in the attached script). Go over what each character will do as they parade in front of the camera.  Make suggestions and have them briefly act out their part. Remind them that the Commentator will be talking about them as they come down the parade route and that they can silently react to what the commentator says.

It is important that your instructions for "what each character does" are also written on the "parade order" which you have pre-written on the board. This will remind the students how to act just before they go on-camera at the beginning of the parade route.

Now have each parade actor pick out their costumes and props. Each actor may have two or more costume changes to organize. Then have them return back to the parade order line to practice.

Practice how they will parade in front of the camera.

Tip: It will help to have a "parade manager" at the beginning of the parade route to tell the paraders when to start down the route.

Prepping Group 2: Commentator and Crowd

Read through the script with the Commentator and Crowd. Make suggestions for how they are to act. The crowd doesn't look at the camera, but the Commentator can look at both the parade and the camera (just like we see on tv).

The Commentator needs to take their time, and not rush the parade. They should look to see if the next "float" of heroes and zeroes is ready before continuing on in the script. They may have to improvise a couple of comments ("nice weather for a parade"). The Commentator can speak into a fake microphone, but needs to be close enough to the camera so that their voice is heard over the parade.

OPTION: If you have an extra helper to act as "color commentary" that will help slow down the Commentator, and add humor and teaching points as well.

The crowd's role is to react to and be exuberant for the heroes, and visibly "disappointed" by the zeroes. They only need to listen to the commentary to know how to act. They do so by being seated in the foreground of the camera-shot, being sure not to block the view. They always applaud God, and can shout the occasional comment, like, "Love You, God!" and "Boo Ahab!" Just remind them not to drown out the commentary. They can toss confetti or streamers.

Parade Practice

This will be fun!  This is a form of "rush drama" where the camera keeps rolling (unless things go bad and you need to pause), and the kids rush behind the scenes to change their character and props, then re-appear on camera. This works if you have a parade manager and because the kids don't need to memorize lines.

Videotape the Parade!

Reset all the costumes and props. Make final adjustments to the script and commentary, then yell "Action!"

Watch and Reflect 

View the video and then ask the parade characters the following questions:

To God: Why were you so patient with all these leaders and people?  

To All:  Why is God patient with us? Can't he just do what he wants?

To Isaiah: How did it make you feel to share the good news of the coming Messiah?

To All: What does Christmas feel like: let's write down some words.

Next,  I'm going to read Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, and as I do, I want you to look at the words we just wrote down about Christmas and see which ones also describe how Isaiah 9 makes us feel. 

To All: Who are you in this parade?

Closing Prayer:

God, help us be in your parade. Help us make you our leader, and only follow you. Help us make you #1 in our lives, putting you first before all our other needs. Help us to make time with you in prayer and worship and learning #1 in our lives. Emmanuel, be with us we pray. Amen.

 
Additional Suggestions 

Younger Students: Reduce the number of characters/floats in the parade. Pause the camera while kids change characters and prepare for their role.

Written by:  Neil MacQueen

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