Rotation.org Writing Team
Parable of the Good Samaritan
A Video and Newsroom Drama Workshop
Summary of Activities
Students will watch and discuss a wonderful animated retelling of the Good Samaritan parable found on YouTube. They will then record a "News Broadcast" featuring interviews with Jesus and some of the parable characters.
Note: See this post below for a Pre-K to first grade "story table" option for the News Broadcast.
Scripture for the Lesson
The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV-Updated Edition)
Memory Verses:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27
"Go and do likewise." Luke 10:37
Lesson Objectives
See the Good Samaritan Bible Background at Rotation.org for insights on this story and this set's complete list of objectives.
Preparation and Materials
- Read the Bible Background and scripture.
- Preview and prepare to show "The Good Samaritan" video on a big screen TV or a projection device in your classroom.
- Print several copies of the Good Samaritan News Broadcast Script (including copies to write on for the anchor, Jesus, and reporter).
- Newsroom sign such as Newsroom 9, {Your Church Name} Newsroom, {Your Sunday School Name} Newsroom, Jerusalem Newsroom
- Newsroom and Jericho Road scenery and props: news desk, 2 or 3 toy or real microphones, news logo and backdrop, a wilderness backdrop for the Road
- Costume suggestions and props: (use Bible-times clothes or modern-times clothes or a combination)
- News anchor: an oversize tie and coat
- News Reporter: trenchcoat and hat, notebook
- Jesus: Bible-times robe
- Beaten man: "bloody" cloth, clothes to be stolen, money bag
- Robbers: dark sunglasses or masks (such as bandanas)
- Priest: fancy Bible-times costume
- Levite: fancy Bible-times costume
- Good Samaritan: plain costume, roll of gauze bandage, money bag, stick-horse donkey
- Inn Keeper: apron and plain costume
- Video camera or cellphone to make a recording of the news program (with power cord, so your battery doesn't run out mid-class)
- Posterboard to make cue cards for parts of the script (see script)
- TV/large screen to show the animated Bible story and your news broadcast. This screen can also be a prop behind the news anchor.
- Snack (optional - for reflection)
Lesson Plan
Opening
Welcome students and explain what they're going to be learning and doing today:
- Watch a short video by Crossroads Kids about the Good Samaritan. This will also serve as the scripture reading for this lesson.
- Help create responses for the characters in the story to use during news broadcast interviews.
- Record the news broadcast.
- Watch their broadcast and reflect on it.
Show the Video Clip: "The Good Samaritan" (the scripture for today)
Introduce "The Good Samaritan" video from Crossroads Kids' Club ministry as your Luke 10 scripture reading for today. (4 minutes, on YouTube at https://youtu.be/MLzdQtetedc) Tell them you'll be quizzing them about what they hear in the video after it's over.
Five Questions after the video:
(1) Complete the expert's answer to Jesus: How do you love God? “With all your heart, soul, ______ (strength), and _________ (mind) AND by ______________________ (loving your neighbor as yourself)." The answer starts at 40 seconds into the video. Note to your students that this is known as the "Great Commandment" and that the parable essentially answers the question, "How do I love God?"
(2) What "strengths" can a person have, and how can they use them to love God? (A strength might be something you are really good at, like coming up with great ideas, being able to earn money to share, being good at comforting others.)
(3) What is YOUR strength that could be used to help others?
(4) Complete this sentence from the end of the video: "We obey God when we ___________________." (show love). The answer is heard at 3:37 in the video. If they don't remember it, play it again (if time permits).
(5) According to Jesus, what makes a person a better follower of God? The Jews thought they were better at following God than the Samaritans, and the Samaritans thought they were better at following God than the Jews. (This question isn't in the video but the answer is certainly suggested by it!)
If you have time and want to read the story from the Bible as well, do so now as a group.
The Good Samaritan News Show!
1. Introduce the Activity
- First, rearrange your room a little bit into a "newsroom" and a Jericho Road scene right next to each other, explaining how the news broadcast will take place.
- Explain that one student will be the "news anchor" at the desk, and others will be either reporters or characters in the story being interviewed. Some students may take on multiple roles depending on the size and age of your class.
- Explain that the broadcast will be recorded and played back at the end of class.
- Explain that in the next step of the lesson, everyone will help decide some of the what the actors will say in the broadcast.
2. Quickly do an overview and complete the script
As you read through the script, work together to fill in the lines that are missing (including the Priest and Levite's excuses, and Jesus' response).
Tips on Assigning Roles and Recording the News Broadcast
Assign the Anchor Person and Jesus roles to readers who can use the script at the news desk.
Assign the REPORTER role to a good reader who will be comfortable consulting their "reporter's notebook" (which is the script) for what to say. If your students are quite young, assign the REPORTER role to a teacher who can asking "leading questions" and help the characters respond.
Assign the Director Role to an adult. The Director has a copy of the script and "cues" the anchor, reporter, and camera person. They also help arrange the "background" actors in the scenes.
If needed, allow other costumed students to join in the action. No reason you can't have several Priests and Levites or "friends who were with the Samaritan" acting out the scene. The Reporter can also ask the “extra” actors some on-camera questions. There can be two anchormen in the newsroom, or two reporters. Fit the script to your students.
The REPORTER can also silently position actors for their next Jericho Road scene when the camera is off of them.
3. Start the News Broadcast!
Once all the characters are ready for their interviews, the Director gets everyone to take their places on- and off-camera, asks for quiet, and then gives a countdown to the cameraperson and the news anchor.
Important Recording Tips:
Use an actual video camera whose recording can be PAUSED while you get your actors set up for the next interview, then unpaused to continue the recording without creating a new file.
if you're using a cellphone's video feature to make your video recording, you CANNOT PAUSE the recording. Instead you can use one of two recording techniques with your cellphone:
1. If the actors are ready to speak, briefly place your hand over the camera lens as you turn from the newsdesk to the "reporter in the field" to create a transition.
2. Press "stop" on the recording and reposition the camera and actors, then start a new recording. This will create separate video files which you can view in sequence at the end of the lesson.
You can also download an "app" that adds a pause button to your cellphone's video recording capabilities! See this app recommendation at Rotation.org.
Always start recording a few seconds before the on-screen action begins.
Keep the camera rolling as much as you can even when kids mess up. It's part of the fun. Just remember to show them your "keep going" hand motion ahead of time!
Keep the camera "still" when pointed on the news anchor and move around for a *live* effect during the interviews on location.
Reflection and Closing:
Have everyone grab a snack and settle into their seats to watch their news broadcast. Some of the reflection was provided by the interviews and anchor. Emphasize key insights as you view the video. Afterward, ask this final question:
Ask: What lessons does Jesus want us to remember from this parable?
Possible answers:
- Be like the Samaritan.
- Don't ignore people's needs.
- Godly love doesn't know boundaries.
- Don't judge people based on where they are from or how they look or where they worship.
- Love everyone!
- It's not enough to say you believe, you have to show it.
- Go and Do Likewise
Close with a prayer asking God for the strength and courage to be like the Samaritan.
Tech Help for Showing a YouTube Video and Connecting Your Camera to a Classroom TV
If your classroom doesn't have wired or Wi-Fi Internet access, you can use your cellphone's Internet connection to access YouTube (learn how here) and play videos on a larger screen (learn how to do that here) by using a special inexpensive cable that connects your phone to your TV.
If you need to download a video from YouTube and play it on a device in your classroom read this how-to article at Rotation.org.
Connect your cellphone or videocamera to your classroom TV by using a simple HDMI to Camera/Cellphone adapter cable available at online retailers (like Amazon) and in many office supply stores. (While you're there, pick up extra long cellphone cord so you can move around the classroom without draining your battery.) See our easy how-to instructions in this article.
Adaptations
For younger students:
Younger students and non-readers will perform more of the "background" roles (such as being the Levite or Samaritan). No reason you can't have several Priests! Bring in some teens or older elementary students to perform the roles of the Anchor and Jesus. Additionally, you can change the Reflection question into a "what do you remember from the video?" exercise.
See the post below for a Pre-K to 1st grade "story table" option for the News Broadcast.
For older students:
Add a scene where the Reporter interviews the Samaritan about what motivated him to help.
Suggest they "make the video for preschoolers" and challenge them to speak in words and explanations that a preschooler would understand. If possible, invite some preschoolers in to watch the video with your students.
For those with more class time:
Rehearse before recording the news broadcast.
Create an additional video clip re-enacting in slow-motion the part of the parable that takes place on the Road to Jericho while an off-camera actor reads the scripture.
Have a variety of costumes and props and let the students be creative in dressing and developing their characters for the broadcast.
For a shorter/simpler lesson plan and News Broadcast:
Reduce the number of questions after the scripture video clip.
Do the News Broadcast with action figures, letting readers narrate the script as younger children move the props.
For at-home use:
Create an additional video clip re-enacting the parable scripture using various toy figures, LEGOS, or action figures, or having live actors "pantomime" the action as they hear it narrated.
Have families record different scenes from the script, and then put them all together in one video. Have a Zoom watch party for all the families to enjoy the finished product together.
Crossroads Kids have a Colouring Page and a Wordsearch to accompany their video.
Written by Luanne Payne, Neil MacQueen, and the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright Rotation.org Inc.
