Abraham and Sarah / Page | 1

Story Workshop

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All materials are located in the classroom. Time limits are suggestions.

Just get through as much as you can!

Activity #1: Room on the Broom(10 min) All Ages

**Materials needed: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

  1. As kids enter, ask each their name, and introduce yourself. Ask, “What did you do in in the opening time today?(Allow time for answers)
  2. Say, “We have been learning that Abraham and Sarah were welcoming and kind to strangers. What is the word that starts with “H” that means to be opening and welcome? (Hospitality!) Today we are going to read the story, Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson to think more about the power of hospitality. Based on the cover, do you think this witch is a good witch or a bad witch and why? Let them answer and encourage all answers)
  3. Read slowly, changing voices for each animal. Point to each word as it is said. Make sure each child can see the pictures
  4. Ask: (Let them answer and encourage all answers)
  5. Someone summarize the story for us.
  6. Was the witch in the story good or bad? Tell me why.
  7. What was your favorite part of the story?
  8. What was your least favorite part of the story?
  9. Tell me about a character in the book you remember.
  10. What do you imagine happened after the book ends?
  11. Where do you see hospitality in this story?
  12. How did Abraham and Sarah show hospitality? (They shared a meal with strangers)

Activity #2: Make an Audio Book! (15 min) All Ages

**Materials needed: technology item that can record voices and connect to internet (laptop, tablet, cell phone, etc.)

  1. Say, “When Abraham and Sarah were alive, they did not learn stories the way we do today. People did not write anything down, rather they told each other stories. This is called Oral Tradition. Today, stories are still told by people telling them. Let’s listen to an audiobook version of Room on the Broom. Close your eyes as we listen to the story and imagine you are on the broom. Pay close attention to how this sounds, because we will make an audiobook of our own!”
  2. Listen to:
  3. Say, “Now we are going to record our own version of the story. Let’s work together to figure out how to make this sound great! We will only have one take, so we need to be a team that works together!” Encourage creativity with voices and sound effects!
  4. Older Children: Divide the book either by page or by character depending on class size. Hit Record on device and go for it! When done, save clip on device.
  5. Younger Children: Depending on reading ability you can have the kids do sound effects as you read the story or you could assign each child a page, and they can make up the words the pictures make them imagine! When done, save clip on device.
  6. Say, “This is so wonderful! We will send this clip to your parents and you can listen to the story together!”

Activity #3: Character Feelings(5 min) All Ages

**Materials needed:Copies of Cat, Witch, and My Feelings Handout, coloring utensils

  1. Say, “When we listen to stories, our feelings change. This is same for any story. Feelings are really important to all of us. Everyone has feelings and they are all important! This story made me have many different feelings. I am curious what you felt. Let’s look at these sheets to describe the cat, the witch, and our feelings. You can pick which one you would like to work on.”
  2. Depending on time, children may do more than one.
  3. Say, “In the story of Abraham and Sarah they had many different emotions throughout their journey. What do you imagine Abraham and Sarah felt when…
  4. God told them they had to move away from their home
  5. God told them they would have a baby
  6. They welcomed people to their home.

Activity #4: Closing Prayer (5 min) All Ages – PRAY BEFORE PARENT PICKUP

  1. After cleaning up, have the kids hold hands to pray together. Ask for a volunteer to close our time in prayer. If no one volunteers say: “Dear God, thank you for our time together today at church. We are very thankful to have technology to help us learn. We are also thankful for all the different feelings we have. Be with us this week as we try to show hospitality like Abraham and Sarah.
  2. PLEASE NOTE: On September 7th, you will be dismissed from class by a CE person at around 10:45am for communion. Please try to be finished up by then!

Extra Time: Story Cubes (10 min) All Ages

**Materials needed: Story cube game

  1. After praying, get Story Cubes. Say, “With our extra time, let’s play Story Cubes. This game reminds me about Oral Tradition, which is how stories were passed on during the time of Abraham and Sarah. Everyone will roll a dice. Use the picture to start or continue a story.” Additional rules are in game bag.
  2. Also see Extra Activities Printout in Binder front cover!