The Rotation.org Writing Team Drama Workshop writers are always looking for new ways of"dramatizing without traumatizing" the teacher and students with stiff staging and lines to remember. In this lesson, the projected video becomes your stage, backdrop, and script. This allows you to concentrate on discussing the lyrics to this powerful song and come up with meaningful movements. Coming up with "motions to song" is a powerful old Sunday School activity that this lesson updates with modern technology and a modern song. It's definitely not "Kumbayah" —which your older students will especially appreciate!
Rotation.org Writing Team
Jesus Heals the Ten Lepers
"Chain Breaker" Drama Workshop
Summary of Activities
Students will compare the story of the Ten Lepers to the lyrics from Zach Williams' Christian contemporary hit, "Chain Breaker." Then, projecting the official "lyrics" video of the song on the wall, students will cleverly act out key lyrics from the song while being videotaped.
The "projection drama" technique described below does not require memorizing lines. It can scale to various class sizes and age ranges.
Scripture for the Lesson
Lesson Objectives
See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives. One of the goals of this particular workshop is to create an "ear worm" of the song's catchy lyrics, and hitch them to the imagery and meaning of Jesus' healing of the lepers.
About "Chain Breaker"
Chain Breaker is the huge debut hit from Christian country rocker, Zach Williams, In late 2016 and early 2017, it reached #1 on three charts and can be heard on Christian radio stations around the US and Canada. The tune is catchy and contemporary. The lyrics are powerful, and easy to remember and sing. And it is already making its way into worship as a modern "hymn."
This lesson uses the official "LYRICS" video of the song provided by the songwriter. By projecting them onto the wall and stepping into the projection light to perform actions, your students become part of the video. More about that below.
"Chain, Pain, Prison-shaking, Freedom, Saving, Chain Breaker"
In biblical times, leprosy was often thought to be the result of a person's or their family's sin. It forces sufferers into a life of separation and destitution. Leprosy was both a literal pain and a form of chain (captivity) that Jesus broke that day on the road. It was a sign that people are not defined by their problems, chains, sins, or lost-ness, but by their loving, healing Savior.
IF YOU’VE GOT PAIN, HE’S A PAIN TAKER
IF YOU FEEL LOST, HE’S A WAY MAKER
IF YOU NEED FREEDOM OR SAVING, HE’S A PRISON-SHAKING SAVIOR
IF YOU GOT CHAINS, HE’S A CHAIN BREAKER
IF YOU BELIEVE IT
IF YOU RECEIVE IT
SOMEBODY TESTIFY
About the "Projection Drama" Technique
The teacher projects the official music lyric video of Chain Breaker onto the wall using an LCD projector. As the video dramatically presents the music and lyrics, students step into the video "on cue" to perform actions that match the video and lyrics. As part of their Bible study, they have decided what actions to perform. Wearing white t-shirts, they appear to become part of the video. See the prop and costume notes at the end of this lesson.
This technique lets students take part in dramatizing the lyrics without having to learn a script or sing (unless they want to). Motions and actions can be as simple or complex, as many, or as few as your time, talent, and student age allows.
Attached to this lesson is a "script" of the lyrics with graphics from the video. You will use it for pre-performance discussion, and for writing down who will be doing what during which parts of the video
The drama should be videotaped, preferably with a video camera that does well in "low light" (as the rest of the room will be dark), and can pick up the song's audio as it is being played back by the video clip. The kids will really enjoy seeing themselves perform the song, and it will help them remember your lesson all the more.
Technically, the set up is easier than it looks. You simply need an LCD projector connected to a tablet or laptop computer. The computer has the video clip on it. You'll also want a nice set of amplified computer speakers
The video clip is freely available on YouTube. If your drama classroom does not have an internet connection, you can either download the video clip and copy it to a laptop or tablet computer connected to your LCD projector for playback, or plug your iPhone into your projector (with an adapter) and use your cell phone's internet connection to stream the video.
If you do not have access to an LCD projector, you can stream the music video to a large screen TV. This will not have the same effect as having the kids "in" the projection, but you can invite them to act out key action/lyrics while kneeling beneath or standing next to the TV. But trust us on this: you will want to FIND an LCD projector so your kids can stand "in" the video. If you don't have a portable projector, ask your members and friends, or borrow one from a local sales company or school. They are more common than you might think.
Preparation and Materials
- Read the Bible Background and scripture.
- Print the Lyrics Handout
- Download or prepare to stream the Chain Breaker music video from YouTube, projecting it on the wall with an LCD projector. (See how to download a YouTube video.)
- Prepare a way to videotape your presentation.
- Have a collection of various sized white T-shirts.
- "Bandage" props -either cloth strips or toilet paper. See notes at end of lesson.
Lesson Plan
Open
Welcome your students and explain how today's lesson will unfold.
Warm up ideas and actions:
- How would you act out breaking a chain with a large hammer?
- How did forgiveness on the cross "break the power (and chains) of sin and death"? (Rom 6:10)
- How would you act out looking "lost" ? "Pointing the way" ? "Looking thankful" ?
Read the scripture, the watch the "Chain Breaker" music video.
After reading and watching, give students a copy of the Lyrics Handout. It has discussion questions for each lyric. You don't have to discuss all of them.
Preparing for the Videotaping
Using the Lyric Handout, decide which lyrics you will act out. Assign "who" will do "what" and write it on the handout. Keep motions short, large, and singular. For example, for "chain breaker" dramatically and slowly swing toward the middle of the screen (where the chain is seen) like you have a heavy sledge hammer to "break" the chain.
You do not need or want actors and motions for every lyric. Pick your spots for the actors to rest and get ready for the next action in the song.
Students can "step in" from the side of the projection on cue to perform, than step back. Students can also be crouched/seated on the floor beneath the projected screen area and pop up on their cue.
Practice, then Videotape the Performance
Put tape on the floor to mark out the center of the stage where no one should stand. Put tape on the floor to mark the outside edges of the recorded/projected area so students can see where to stand or not stand. Use the rehearsal to adjust the distance of the LCD projector and your video camera from the acting area.
To rehearse, playback and project the music video as you call out the "who" and "what actions" you all agreed upon in the script. The song is only about 3:30 minutes long, so you can practice it twice before doing it "for real." Practice with the lights on.
After rehearsing, turn off the lights and videotape their "for real" performance. Don't worry about flubs. The point is to create an indelible and meaningful memory of the story and song.
Reflect
View the videotaped performance.
Recap some of the questions/observations found in the Lyric Handout Discussion column.
If time, video Zach Williams' 3 minute video discussion on YouTube of what the song meant to him. It's inspiring.
Adaptations
For Younger Students: Have teens and adult helpers "lead" the actions in front of the projection. Reduce the number of actions and adjust how you wish to phrase some of the discussion questions found on the handout.
For those short on time: Act out only the "white background" graphics. Practice just once. Reduce or eliminate the "opening" warm-up exercises.
For those with larger groups: Split into two performance groups and let them come up with their own set of actions. Let each practice separately with the lights on, then let each perform with the lights off and video camera rolling.
White T-Shirts, White Bandages, and Prop Suggestions
Wearing white t-shirts creates the fun effect of making the projected video appear "on" your students.
Students will be "popping up" at certain points in the video (as many or as few as you prefer). Keep their actions simple because the lyrics come quick. On the Lyrics Handout, there is space for you and your students to WRITE IN the "who" and "what" actions to perform at key points in the video.
Some suggested actions and props:
Chain Breaker: The song's title is repeated several times and is the last line of the song. You may choose to pantomime it in different ways, including, introducing a cross as the symbol of that which breaks the chains.
Chains, Pain, Freedom: When this is repeated at the end of the song Lepers can step on screen and "burst" out of their bandages. Use toilet paper which is easy to break and will appear like bandages.
Jesus: Consider having someone in a white robe step into the project at key points, reaching out. Jesus can invite people to join him on "it's a better life."
Important Equipment Tips:
Be sure your laptop or tablet computer is connected to a nice set of amplified computer speakers so you can enjoy the song! ...and so that your video camera can pick it up. Many LCD projectors have speakers, but they are usually mono and poor quality.
If you don't have an internet connection in your classroom, either download the video to your computer (which will be connected to the projector), or stream the video from your iPhone (which is connected by adapter to your LCD projector). See links below for help!
Tell the students as they act to look above or to the side of the projector's light to avoid looking directly into the light as it is very bright.
Resources
- Zach Williams' website. Buy the song and his album!
- This lesson's Lyrics Handout.
- Youtube link to Chain Breaker's Official Lyrics Video.
- How to download a YouTube video for viewing offline
- How to connect your iPhone, Tablet, Laptop, or DVD Player to a TV or LCD Projector
Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2017, Rotation.org Inc.
