Here in Rotation.org's "Pulling Back the Curtain" forum we've been looking at the "how-to" of writing creative Sunday School lessons. We've looked at examples of actual lesson ideas that came about through our Writing Team brainstorming process, provided Brainstorming guidelines, and we've looked at how a good Bible Background, especially its word studies, can spur creative thinking.

In the following article, our Writing Team's lead writer, Neil MacQueen, describes a technique he uses that lets words from the scripture text itself "trigger" creative thoughts. Originally written for our writers, it has been updated for all our members. Your own insights are welcome by 'reply.'

Update: A one-page version of this article is available as a training handout in our Paste in My Hair Teacher Handouts forum. There's also a companion article: How to Stoke Your Creativity with Word Studies.

Creative teachers are always looking for lesson insights, questions to ask, and activities inspired by the scripture text. “Low Hanging Fruit” is a creative brainstorming technique that helps you do just that.

What is "Low Hanging Fruit"?

"Low Hanging Fruit" is a fun term for words in the assigned scripture that I will often "pick out" and think about because they have or will usually spark some creative lesson idea brainstorming

FOR EXAMPLE, take the word "ring" in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Objects in any passage are usually great "low hanging fruit" to pick because they can be shown, made, acted with, and made to represent an important idea. A ring, for example, is something you can make, wear, or give, and its symbolism is eash to understand. The ring is also part of an important moment of action in the story --the father GIVES ACCEPTANCE to his son the sinner. Such an object and idea can inspire reflection questions too, such as, "what 'ring' do YOU wear to show you belong to your Father in heaven?"

This is brainstorming! What actually ends up in the lesson about a "ring" is up to the lesson writer. In fact, you may go a completely different direction and focus on some other low-hanging fruit in the parable, such as, the older brother who is outside the door, or receiving the Father's rob, or the pigs.  When you brainstorm with low-hanging fruit, you let the words, images, and scripture flood the room.

Shepherds in Speedos?
Sometime the "low-hanging fruit" of a passage is an odd word or the "Greek meaning" behind the English word.  For example, in the Luke 2 passage (described below) the Greek word for "with haste" in the very familiar verse "the shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem," is "spyudo."  Most of the ancient languages in Europe use a form of that word which comes down to us as "speed." But the goofy kid in me can't help but pronounce and see that "low hanging fruit" as "speedo." The shepherds in their speedos keeping watch by night? It's funny stuff like that which our students won't soon forget when we have a good laugh about it. I can see a game where the kids have to slip on a speedo to get to baby Jesus --and that makes me think of the how do we put on our "speedos" (racing clothes) to go find the real meaning of Christmas?  Yes my friends, the Greek is often more interesting than we think! (Read my "How to Easily Do Word Studies" article!)

There are many different types of "fruit" to pick -- each one which can inspire many different uses. In addition to Objects, there are Actions, People, Surprises, Conflict. Words that reference Water or Light or Geography. Words that convey Emotion or Time. And key words that have interesting synonyms or memory verse potential. You can see the full list on the graphic in this article and below in the examples. (I'm sure there are other types, feel free to post them.)

• Objects
• Actions
• People
• Surprises
• Conflict
• Words the reference water, light, or something geographical
• The fig tree (sycamore) that Zaccheus was ripening in
• References to the appearance of something, color, texture, shape, distance
• Sounds, music, singing, instruments
• The "dance" (hover, jiggling) that God was doing over the face of the waters.

The process of identifying and thinking about various words in the text will not only produce creative thoughts, it also gives you a deeper experience of the passage in preparation for teaching it.

And that's why we do our own studying and creative thinking -- even when we have a lesson plan given us or think we already know the passage -- because picking and tasting the fruit is often the very thing that stokes our brainstorming and creative ideas.

The Importance of Knowing Which "Baskets" You Need to Fill

Identifying key words in the text is only part of the "low hanging fruit" brainstorming process. It really helps to PRIME your creative thinking about each fruit by knowing what kinds of creative activities you're looking for (and not looking for, such as "yet another craft").  So before I start picking fruit, I'll make a mental note of the different types of creative NEEDS I have, i.e., art projects, games, skits, cooking projects, memory verse work, creative scripture reading ideas, and of course, great discussion questions. In keeping with the "fruit picking metaphor," I call these creative needs my "BASKETS."

Those of you in the Rotation Model will recognize the names of our various "workshops" on the baskets. A workshop is a classroom and lesson plan devoted to a specific basket (learning medium). But... when I'm brainstorming a Rotation lesson set, a word like "ring" might end up in several baskets in different ways. For example, I may use the ring as a project in the Art workshop, as a discussion prop and question in the Cooking workshop, and as a key action in the Drama Workshop. It just depends on what I think up and ultimately decide to do in each workshop. It's also nice to put whatever you decide is a "key fruit"  (such as "ring") into multiple workshop lessons in different ways. This creates continuity between lessons and broadens your students understanding over several related lessons.

If you're writing or teaching in a traditional Sunday School (one lesson plan for a story), you can use this "baskets" concept to MAKE YOURSELF look for a different creative approach. For more ideas about what you can do in any "workshop" visit our "ideas for different workshops" at Rotation.org.

The point of "baskets" is to let your creative needs guide your brainstorming about how each low-hanging fruit can inspire your lesson(s).

The other point of having various "baskets" to stay out of creative ruts and expand the ways your students are learning in your classroom. In keeping with our metaphor, if you're not "hungry" for acting out a scripture, then you may miss the powerful fruity idea of having the kids re-enact the scene of the Father graciously giving his forgiven son an abundance of gifts and throwing a party, ...and the follow up question about "how we honor the ring and robe we've been given, and share our father's grace to others."

Once you have your creative baskets lined up, it's time to start picking the fruit from the text and brainstorming which of your baskets your fruits can go into -- keeping in mind that one fruit can go in many baskets. This is brainstorming, so let it fly and sort out your final choices afterward.

Example of Fruits and Baskets using Luke 2, Angels and Shepherds.

Below is an example of how I picked fruit from the story of the Angels and Shepherds in Luke 2 and some of the initial ideas and questions is spawned.

Low Hanging Fruit in Luke 2's Angels & Shepherds passage

An excerpt of the Luke 2 passage with the words highlighted that have caught my creative attention:

...keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, (yikes!)

praising God and saying, (note to self: where's the singing )

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  (note to self: favor?)

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go..."

...So they went with haste

Now here are those same highlighted words, with a note about the "type" of fruit they are, and some preliminary BRAINSTORMING:

at night -- (Time) The shepherds were in the dark, night before the dawn, perhaps by a small campfire. Kind of a scary time if you're watching sheep. Isaiah talked about people walking in darkness would see a great light. Kids tend to be scared of the dark so I'm thinking about how I can turn off the classroom lights or create darkness to illustrate what they might have been scared about. I'm thinking about how to have a bright light we can switch on, maybe backlight the angels as they shout and sing. What can't you see in the dark? What are you/other people "in the dark" about when it comes to God? How is Jesus like light in the darkness (Isaiah says the Messiah will be like that). Can we put a bright light shining up from the manger?

shone around -- (Light) I'm still thinking about the light. "Angels" means "messenger" in the Greek. What message does God want us to hear and shine a light on? Kids love flashlights. Flashlights can be purchased cheap in bulk and decorated. Angels are often described as being endowed with a heavenly light, a glow, a countenance. Can/should other people be able to see your faith "glow"? Putting messages on kids using glow paint? Blacklight might be interesting to demonstrate helping us "see" what others cannot and it would make the glow paint look awesome. Can we see the message through the distraction of Xmas? Helps kids see that Xmas lights are intended to represent this "shone" glow, message of light. Hmmmm....

terrified --- (Emotion, Action) Why are angels (God) scary? What does "terrify" mean, look like? What scares you the most? What would be "scary news" about Jesus (instead of 'good" news). Perhaps this is the reason God came as a baby, because arriving as an adult might have been scary and not so rich in meaning.  Need to look at the Word Study for this word and various synonyms. What are we afraid of?  Why does God seems kind of scary?

cause great joy -- (Emotion, Action) What would that joy look like, act like, pose like? Is it something we can capture in video or in a painting? What does joy feel like, TASTE like? What causes you great joy? What's the difference between what people thinks makes them happy vs what makes God happy? Is there a difference between "happy" and "joy"?  What do the angels and God look like or act like or want to do when they are full of joy?

a sign to you -- (Action, Object) I immediately thought of signs we hold up or give to others. Xmas is full of signs. What signs do people ignore or miss? Thinking of that skit idea where kids hold up signs with "crowd reactions" which the audience says and acts out loud.  "Terrifed!"  "Great Joy" "Suddenly"

baby -- (Person, Emotion) What's not scary about a baby? How does holding a baby make you feel? Can we have a real baby come to class? I've carried baby's in a manger relay before.  This baby is the light, so maybe depict it with light instead of doll in skit?

wrapped in cloths -- (Object) a diaper!  kids think diapers are funny and yucky. What does it say about God that he entered the world in a diaper? Diaper-wrapping relay game station? What else can we do in a relay game to mimic "getting ready for the Messiah."

Suddenly -- (Time, Emotion) what does loud and abrupt sound like? Show us how you react to it. Why did God suddenly send more "troops"?  Apparently God likes to sometimes surprise us! Could you miss it?  We can practice making "sudden" noises. Startling those who are "asleep." What's so sudden and shocking about this message?

praising God and saying Glory... (Action, Emotion) -- were they singing? shouting? chanting?  The major translations just say "saying." So of course, "Mr Curiosity" had to do a word study and the answer I found was so fascinating that I made it a new entry into the WT's Bible Background on the passage (which includes the note that Daniel describes a visit by an angel where the angels voice "roared like a multitude").  This seems like a good commercial for the church -- we are more "roary" together. That would be fun to practice!

on earth peace -- (Geography, Action) my mind immediately goes to the peace symbol and an image of the earth (so art?) "peace" is an interesting word study (wholeness being one of its synonyms in the Gr. and Heb). "Shalom" in Hebrew letters?  But this isn't world peace, it's the "peace" as Jesus gives (Jn 14:27), which is the peace of not needing to be afraid or troubled Jesus says.

favor - "blessing" is a better word. See my notes on "rests" below.

rests -- what does it feel like to have something good "rest" on you? Ever had a baby snuggle you?  (rest = descend, cover, embrace)  "Embrace" like the light that shone around us? That's a kind of embrace from heaven too. How else are we embraced in this life?

Let’s go -- (Time, Action) something you say when you're excited. Can be acted out (who can look the most excited). Notice it's "we," not "I go." What does God want us to "go" to? Fill in the blank and act out, "let's go _____."

with haste  -- (Time, Action) The Greek word here is "spyudo" -- from which we get "speed," but I can't keep chuckling about what the word really looks like, "speedo." Can you imagine a skit or game in which the kids have to slip on a speedo over their close in order to make the journey to Bethlehem. That would certainly be forever memorable!  And I would love to attach meaning to "speedo" by asking the kids how they are racing to find the true meaning of Christmas. What obstacles are in the way of our speedo shepherds?

Sorting the Low-Hanging Fruit

Once the brainstorming is over, it's time to decide which "fruits" are worthy of developing into an activity (and will likely require more brainstorming), which seem to have generated great discussion insights and questions, and which need to be tossed in order to keep the lesson focused. "Creative but distracting" is not what we're looking for.

Following Up with Key Word Studies

Looking up the meaning of keywords in the scripture is often a great way to further understand what's being said, and generate more creative inspiration. Farther down this page, I talk about how to easily do a word study. (Yep, it involves looking at the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek. It's easy and super-illuminating!)

Not every fruit has to produce an "activity."

Lesson plans have other creative needs that your low-hanging fruit can help fill.  These "other" baskets or lesson needs include creative questions, talking points, ways to read scripture.

And many key fruits and brainstorms are simply there to lead you to other thoughts and stoke your background in preparation for teaching.

Notes about the different types of low hanging fruit
Objects, Water, Time, People, etc.

The following describes what I think the different types of fruit (action, time, water) can look like in a scripture text. Time words, for example, can be hiding in the text. Are there other kinds of fruits? Yes and please suggest them!

Water -- rain, storm, river, to drink, lake, sea, waves, cool, living, life-giving, swallowing up, well. Parting waters.  Water is one of the Bible's premiere metaphors. It's often part of a miracle story and can be a sign of God's care. It's also easy to bring into a classroom and play with, or toss a blue tarp on the floor and shake to make waves.

Food -- to taste, smell, make, share. The food may not be mentioned in the story, but you can be sure it was there, such as, in the home of the man let down through the roof. it's related to hospitality and sustenance. Manna, Bread of Life, Broken.   Food can be prepared, smelled, tasted, shared. Ingredients/flavors can represent ideas: joy, fear, sour, surprise, sweet. Food can be an art medium. The experience of working together and eating together can teach a principle.

Traditions and Culture: What was the job of a Pharisee? Why did they ask Jesus so many questions?  Role of women. What was a Samaritan? Outsiders. Viewpoints on disease (and those who became outcasts, unclean). The politics surrounding Jesus' claim to be the Messiah. Esau's birthright. Ruth's rights. Why Elijah didn't like the Baal worshippers. What's a Pharisee. What's the Temple. What's a Gentile.

People -- take note of names (and what those names mean in translation), relationships (mother? son? fellow townie?) Take note of their societal and religious status and what was expected of them. What did they dress like (costumes) and act like? Given their status, what's surprising about them in the story? People and Traditions/Culture are often together, such as "woman at the well" who probably shouldn't have been talking to a man alone there. Why was she alone? Who else is unseen in the background of this story? Which one are you in the story?

Actions - got up, stood, walked, run, go!, traveled, shook, bowed, raised, hurried (which can also be a "time" word), waited, opened, closed, etc. Actions can not only be thought up or mimicked in scripture reading to help memory. They can be acted out in a skit. Actions can be the action of people or things. They can be included in the text or imagined behind the text. They represent ideas and reactions to dialog and events. They can demonstrate people's attitude or change of heart. When Jesus forgave the man --what action do you think the man took next? How did the man (us) walk now, talk now, hold his head up now? (Let's take turns seeing who can show us what he looked like then.)

Reactions and Emotions -- Take note of these whether included in the text or when they can be implied or imagined in the text. How did that lawyer feel when Jesus told him to "go and do likewise?"  What was Moses' reaction to the burning bush? Emotions and reactions can be imitated during a Bible reading with face and body and sound, or they can be acted in a skit. They can be photographed and then captioned.

Objects -- Any inanimate object found or implied by the context of the story. Tent, money, robes, staff, pottery, cups, food, homes, roof, walls. gates, wells, grain, stars, cross, stones, burning bushes, sheepfolds, walls, tables in the presence of my enemies, House of the Lord. Most Bible stories are full of objects but not every object needs to be in your lesson. The idea is to use them to brainstorm.) An object can become a prop for the teacher, part of an art project, or acted with. Objects can also have symbolic/metaphorical significance, such as, "what sign of your parent's love do you 'wear' like Joseph's coat?"  "Upon this rock"... could be an art project with rocks, or simply a set of rocks with questions written on each as a discussion activity.

Geography and Scenery -- are we in the mountains or a city? on the road or in a home? Can you show your students a picture of the location? (Temple, Gethsemane) Or is the location only able to be imagined (like "heaven" or mountain top)? Places can be recreated with scenery and props in the classroom. Maps can be drawn that show travel (and form a visual backbone for story remembering. Need a sea or river? ...get out your blue tarp!  Distances can be metaphors for commitment or escape. How far was God willing to go versus how far Jonah was willing? What can you see from up there? What is your "dark valley" or "still water."

Animals -- donkeys, sheep, fish, birds of the air, ravens, serpents. What you know about sheep can tell you what the Bible passage thinks about people (they can get lost, for example). Animals can be symbols (serpent = sin), or metaphors for ideas like status or care, such as a donkey for a king, or birds ministering to Elijah. They can be imitated by students in a skit, or played with on a story-table, or illustrated, etc.

Surprises -- "suddenly angels," the worm sent by God to eat Jonah's shade plant! Things you didn't expect, like catching all those fish, or Jesus talking to the woman at the well, or walking on water, or the disciples yelling "it's a ghost." Or how about the shepherd going off to find the lost sheep. The father welcoming the prodigal home. Why did they? Why didn't they? The unexpected nature of interactions with God. The things we didn't expect to hear or be included on. Called to be different. So many things that Jesus does were surprising to the people back then who first experienced them. Surprises often have Emotion and Reactions in the text (or imagined). But sometimes the surprise is the teaching, such as, "I do not condemn you."

Conflict -- The problem, anger, harsh words, conflict resolution, the difficult decision, chasing, fighting, Peace!, arguing, choices, what are they mad about? What's the danger or cost? How are people feeling, reacting to, resolving the conflict? Should people be arguing, worried? Words of conflict can be read or acted out with emotion and actions. Resolution in the text or imagined can be acted out and spoken, or asked as a question.

Light/Dark -- shone, glory, darkness, early morning light, lamps, stars, flame, fire. These can be acted, become props or special effects. Light is a great metaphor for "guidance." Lights are messages too (indeed, "stars" were sort of like messengers/angels). Darkness can mean "lost" or "unknowing" such as Nicodemus coming at night. How does it feel to be lost? To find the path? To have a light? What/who is that light? What creates darkness?

Time --There are many words that suggest "time" or "timing" in scripture passages. Today, yesterday, tomorrow, future, noon, morning. early, late, night, suddenly. Phrases that suggest something was "in the past" or "is coming." The future. Ideas about waiting, hurrying, patience, pausing, resting, quickly. What time is it now?  Time for God, ...time for doing what's right, time for listening, getting ready, acting. Christmas Time. Waiting, calm, and "being still" are related ideas and can describe a spiritual state as well as become a pose or dramatic action. (Funny that God starts it off with "suddenly.") What's coming that we need to be ready for? What are people not ready for? "Time" words can create timelines: what's past, what's now, and what we need to be and do in the future. Time can also suggest "emotions and response:" Now that this has happened, how should you feel?  and what should you do now?

Keywords/Synonyms -- see my notes about the importance of synonyms below.

Memory Verses -- phrases or sentences that could be committed to memory. If the passage lacks a natural memory verse you can create one in an exercise and put it into an art project or game or add it to a reading, or put it into a song.

Unlocking Keywords and Creative Possibilities by Looking at Their Synonyms

Synonyms are "alternate words that mean the same thing." Synonyms often help explain a key word or concept in a more kid-friendly language.

For example, interesting synonyms for "praising" God include:  cheer, bravo, RAVE applaud, boost. Those are much more "fun" words than "praising" which sounds kind of old fashioned and reserved. Hey Hanna, what would "raving" about God look and sound like?  What does thunderous applause sound like at Christmas time?

Synonyms can inspire activities too. Rewriting the passage using ONLY synonyms is an interesting activity. It's sort of like Mad Libbing a verse.  I like to change the words of songs so maybe we could use synonyms for familiar important words found in familiar Christmas songs to make them fun, meaningful, and memorable.

Thesaurus' are really helpful tools for Bible study. They can be found online. You can also bring them into your classroom to let the kids look up keywords in the scripture.

Another great source of synonyms is to do a Word Study of your scripture using Strongs Concordance. Strongs is a dictionary/thesaurus giving you the English translations (synonyms) of the original Greek or Hebrew words of your text. Because English has nine times as many words as Greek does, that means one Greek word often has MANY translation options. Hebrew has even fewer words, and the meaning of certain Hebrew words is open to debate and often determined by context. Simply put, you can make some really interesting word choices in English to express what you THINK the Greek or Hebrew is trying to say.

For example, the Greek word Luke 2:13 uses for "praise" ("ainéō") can mean, "extol, to sing in honor," or "to promise," to "recommend." So it doesn't necessarily mean the angels were "singing," -- singing is only one possible translation. The Greek word Luke 2:13 uses for "saying" is even more interesting. It's the Greek word "LEYGO" and can mean "put forth, laid out." Like staking a claim. LEYGO is pronounced the same way we pronounce "LEGO" which are bricks we lay out, put forth? Coincidence?  It certainly gets my creative ideas flowing!

The words links above go to the blueletterbible.com's Strongs Concordance tools. The site and tools are pretty easy to use and understand, and they do a GREAT JOB of helping unlock the power of synonyms (translation choices).

There are lots of other keywords in Luke 2's story with interesting translation possibilities -- all of which can be looked up (a Bible skill) and turned into a Bible Game of sorts. And the "triple bonus score" is that we're staying focused on learning and illuminating the actual text!

See our article on Writing a Bible Background for more about how to do Word Studies and some of the online tools available to do them.

How Few Can You Do?

Playing with keywords always makes me think of the fun scripture game: "How Few Can You Do?" It's a simple exercise I originally created for computer workshops to get my kids thinking about and then creating lists of what they think are the "most important" words (meanings) in the text. (It can be done in any workshop, btw.)

Can you get Luke 2:8-15 down to TEN words? How about down to FIVE?  How about ONE? It's a clarification exercise sure to create debate (which is exactly why you play it.)

Picking the Low Hanging Fruit Honors the Text

By letting our lesson ideas be inspired by the words of the text, we are honoring the Word, and helping to plant it firmly in the minds, memories, and hearts of our students -- as well as our own.

I suspect that many of you have already been using low-hanging fruits in scripture passages to fuel your creative thinking.

I hope my descriptions and lists of "more fruit" have been helpful to you. If you have other types of text fruit that stokes your creative thoughts, please share them by replying below.

-Neil for Rotation.org