Drama and Newsroom Lessons and Ideas for Teaching the Story of Creation in Sunday School
Post your drama, newsroom, skits, puppet activities for teaching the story of Creation, 7 days of Creation: Genesis 1 and 2. Adam and Eve, Garden of Eden. Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil, etc., in Sunday School.
Glean what you need, share what you can.
Note: The following Sunday School lesson could be used for Drama or for Puppets (see notes below). Also, refer to the forum for Creation Puppet lessons and ideas.
In this first lesson, we recorded a "radio show" that retold the story of Creation using voices and sound effects. Today, we call this "radio show" technique a "podcast" 
A Story of Creation Sound Effects Podcast
The students use their imaginations to consider God's creativity as they recreate the cacophony and harmony of the six days of creation in this "recorded" sound effects performance. A script for the reading is provided with suggested prompts. Use a cellphone or other recording device to record and playback the performance.
Tips:
- Set up your "recording studio" in a playful way with a microphone (or cellphone) on a stand, a table with sound effect objects, signs that say "On the Air - Recording in Progress," and some faux sound panels (like bubble wrap hung on the wall behind the voice actors.
You can set up several "pretend" microphones for each vocal talent, but record them all using just one microphone (or cellphone).- If you plan on using this technique several time, it is recommended that you purchase an inexpensive "podcast style" microphone with its own stand. This will help share the mike and get kids in a playful but productive mood.
- Assign some students to be the vocal talent, and others to do the sound effects.
- Assign a leader to be the "Director" and teach the kids to start when you point and stop when you mime "cut."
- Using a LAPTOP's recording feature instead of a cellphone allows the Director easier control over the stop/record control than a cellphone would. Get a microphone to plug into the laptop.
- The blue microphone pictured below is a child's toy widely available on Amazon. It has its own built-in speaker and sound effect settings. This inexpensive microphone can be used to create God's voice and you'll find is useful in many other dramas! It doesn't plug in to a cellphone or laptop but those devices can record what comes out of this microphone.
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a
Background comments on the story:
- God speaks creation into being from chaos. He is an artist.
- The first chapter of Genesis is written in a poetic, liturgical form. It is not meant to be science. It is a statement of faith.
- God valued the world. He saw that it was good, and He trusted it to us. God did not create the world and then abandon it.
- Read Genesis 2: 4b-25. Note that a different storyteller tells another version of the creation story, with more focus on the creation of humans. The stories don't conflict, they just have different emphases.
Supplies List:
- a cellphone or other recording device (see tips above)
- Copies of script for everyone
- Pencils
- Whistle
- Objects that make sound effects:
A bowl of water for Day 1 to splashing in.
A cymbal or bells
Paper to tear for "separate"
Various hand instruments your church may have, like wooden blocks.
(Many of the sound effects will be made by the students with their own voices. They will be experiment with all of the sound effects objects and decide as a group what sound(s) is appropriate for each day of creation.) - Flip chart
- If you choose to extend the session, collect materials to make puppets/artwork for the six days of creation (markers, scissors, glue, stapler, posterboard, craft sticks, construction paper, large pieces of nylon net, crepe paper streamers, glitter, sticks, leaves, feathers, ...) and a big blanket or some sort of screen to form a "backstage" area.
Lesson
Opening:
Greet the children and introduce yourself and explain what they'll be doing and learning about today.
Podcast Preparation:
Read the scripture: Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a
Discuss before acting out the story:
Characters: God, all of creation
On the flip chart, list things that were created, in order by day.
Warm-up exercises:
- Interpretive movement: talk about what chaos would have been like, and then let the children feel and create the movements and sounds they think embody chaos. Have a whistle handy to stop the activity when it becomes too chaotic!
- Experiment with all of the sound effects objects. Come together as a group and agree what sound(s) is appropriate for each day of creation. Decide who will be responsible to make each of the sounds for the taping. (Try to use sounds, not words, to make the noises for the things created.)
Assign parts, rehearse script with sound effects of your choice, then record the script.
Afterward, listen to the recording. Ask, "Does it sound the way we want it?"
If time permits, reassign parts and sounds and record a different version of it-- reassigning roles.
Pulling it all together (closing discussion):
- What did God create?
- What does it mean that we are made in God's image?
- I wonder what it feels like to create? What did we create today? Is our imagination part of being created in God's image?
- A steward is someone who manages another's property, finances, or other affairs. Read Genesis 1:28b-30. In what ways have we brought the earth and all that is in it under our control?
- What activities are endangering the earth and changing its climate?
- How can you be good steward of the earth and all God has given you in your own neighborhood?
Closing: Enjoy listening to the podcast you created!
The Creation Story Sound Effects Podcast
An Audio Recording Script with Sound Effects
adapted by Amy Crane from Genesis 1:1-2:4a, Today's English Version
(Spaces are left for the students to write in the sound effects they feel would create the appropriate noise, mood, or effect. Use noisemakers, rhythm instruments, objects and voice, but no words.)
All: A story from the Book of Genesis.
Reader 1: In the beginning, when God created the Universe, the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 2: The power of God was moving over the water.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 2: And God said,
God: Let there be light.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 1: And there was light!
Reader 2: And God was pleased with what he saw.
Reader 1: Evening passed and morning came. That was the first day.
Reader 3: God separated the water with a dome, and he named the dome "sky."
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 1: Evening passed and morning came. That was the second day.
Reader 2: Then God commanded
God: Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that land will appear.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 3: And it was done.
Reader 3: God named the land "earth" and the water "sea."
Reader 2: And God was pleased with what he saw.
Reader 1: Then God commanded
God: Let the earth produce all kinds of plants.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 3: And it was done,
Reader 2: and God was pleased with what he saw.
Reader 1: Evening passed and morning came. That was the third day.
Reader 3: Then God commanded
God: Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 3: And it was done,
Reader 2: and God was pleased with what he saw.
Reader 1: Evening passed and morning came. That was the fourth day.
Reader 3: Then God commanded
God: Let the water be filled with many kinds of living things,
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
God: and let the air be filled with birds.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 3: And it was done.
Reader 2: And God was pleased with what he saw.
Reader 1: Evening passed and morning came. That was the fifth day.
Reader 3: Then God commanded
God: Let earth produce all kinds of animal life.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 3: And it was done,
Reader 2: and God was pleased with what he saw.
Reader 1: Then God commanded
God: And now we will make people; they will be like us.
Sound effect: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reader 3: So God created human beings, and made them to be like himself.
Reader 2: And God blessed them
God: Have many children, so that your children and grandchildren and their grandchildren will live all over the earth and bring it under their control.
Reader 2: And it was done.
Reader 3: And God looked at everything He had made, and he was very pleased.
Reader 1: Evening passed and morning came. That was the sixth day.
Reader 4: And so the whole universe was completed in six days.
Reader 3: On the seventh day, God stopped working.
Reader 2: God blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a special day.
Readers 4,3,2,1: And that is how the universe was created.
A lesson written by Amy Crane for Camp Feliciana in Norwood, Louisiana
We are called to be both stewards of God's Creation and messengers of his word to the world.
