| We are frequently asked for suggestions on how to engage children in the wonderful activity of Bible-mates™ Storytelling. Our direct experience using the finger puppets with children has taught us that the greatest learning and the most fun come when we make the puppets personal. As the storyteller becomes a Bible character and begins to share his or her thoughts and feelings, the children are drawn into the reality of the Bible character’s life |
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| Introduction: |
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| When introducing the Bible-mates,™ we recommend small groups whenever possible. We have found that groups larger than twelve children can often impede the personal experience for each child. We have focused our attention on children ages five to eight years of age; their response to meeting Bible characters up close and personal has been awesome. We also see great potential in teaching young adults the art of Bible-mates™ Storytelling to younger children. Many teenagers thrive on dramatic interpretation; younger children are always a captive audience for this age group. As long as their fundamental knowledge is sound, our feeling is let them go for it. |
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| Content: |
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| Storytelling always begins with introducing the Bible characters to the children and sharing with them all that history and tradition has passed on to us. The teacher as storyteller creates the setting by describing in detail the circumstances. The story of “The Last Supper” is a particular favorite. For example, after describing the joy of Palm Sunday the teacher / storyteller becomes Jesus introducing his twelve “best friends” to the children. This introduction includes all the good, the bad and the ugly details that have captivated us for over two thousand years. As the children meet each apostle the puppets are passed around so that each child can experience the “feel” and the “fit” of each individual finger puppet. The child can hold and become one of the Twelve Apostles. There is always great delight expressed when a child shares the same name as an apostle and the “stories” that flow from them when they know family members and friends with these historic names are delightful. Be prepared for their wonderful comments on the finger puppets hair, eyes and clothing. |
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| Review: |
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| The ability for children to connect to the historic men and women of their faith history is compelling. They love the tactical nature of the finger puppets and often engage in spontaneous dialogue and contact. We encourage the children to reenact the Bible story themselves. This provides us with the opportunity to evaluate the impact and the accurateness of the learning. |
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| Summary: |
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Bible-mates™ Storytelling:
- The learning is FUN
- The effort is EASY
- The outcome is AWESOME
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| Recommended Stories: |
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Bible-mates™ Storytelling:
- Adam and Eve / Creation story
- Moses and the Ten Commandments
- The Nativity
- Jesus’ Baptism
- Choosing the Twelve Apostles
- The Last Supper
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