Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Bible Story: Luke 2:41-52
Key/Memory Verse: Luke 2:52

PURPOSE

The children will explore the story of Jesus in the Temple and also their own call to be in the Father’s house. They will then collect their feelings and reflections in list poems.

Objective(s) for rotation

After completing this Rotation, participants will be able to:

• Locate the story in the Bible;
  
• Identify the book of Luke as a New Testament Gospel;
  
• Tell the story of Jesus in the temple as a young boy;
  
• Explore the ways this story shows us that Jesus is human as well as divine;
  
• Identify Jesus' priority to learn in the house of God and relate our need to do likewise;
  
• Realize that participation in a community of faith helps us to learn our identity as a child of God;
  
• Compare Mary and Joseph's search for Jesus to our own search for God's presence in our lives.
  

Objectives for the Creative Writing workshop

In addition to the above, after this workshop the children will

• have a better understanding of who Jesus is,
  
• have reflected upon their call to be in the church as part of a community of Christians.
  

PREPARATION

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Chalk
  
• Chalkboard, newsprint, or whiteboard
  
• Dictionary
  
• Markers
  
• Newsprint or whiteboard
  
• Paper
  
• Pencils or pens
  
• Thesaurus
  

Advance Preparation Requirements

Read the Bible Background.

Review the information on list poems and poetry writing:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/karla_home.htm
http://www.netaxs.com/~katz/teachers.htm (Page down to the information on list poems)
http://www.babinlearn.com/pdf%20files/Poetry/THE%20LIST%20POEM.pdf

Write on the board or newsprint “Why I come to church:”

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Welcome the children and open with prayer.

Brainstorm ideas about why the children come to church and list them on the board or newsprint. Accept and write down all suggestions.

Introduce the lesson to the children: Today we will reflect on why we come to church – to be part of a community, to worship, to learn in Sunday School – as we learn about Jesus when he was just a bit older than you are (about the age of a sixth grader).

Review the Bible background with the children about why families would go to Jerusalem for Passover. Then distribute Bibles and read Luke 2:41-52.

Discuss the story:

Why did Jesus go to the Temple?

Why did he stay?

Who was he meeting with in the Temple? What sort of people do you think they were?

Why do you come to church/Sunday School/worship?

What do you enjoy about being here?

What sorts of people form your church community?

Do you encourage your parents to bring you here or to make sure you are here for Sunday mornings or other times and events? Why or why not?

Introduce the idea of list poems by asking the children what sorts of things they make lists of and why people make lists. [See http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=894 , Session One, for more discussion and introductory ideas, if needed.]

Explain that a list poem is a poem where each line is an item on a list. It does not need to rhyme, but it should include interesting details and precise language to show the reader what the poet has noticed or what the poet is thinking about a subject. Read a list poem from one of the web sites or a book if time and interest permit.

Dig - Main Content

Tell the children that they will be dividing into groups and writing list poems about the Bible story or about their own experience at church based on our earlier brainstorming, additional brainstorming, or their own lists and ideas.

Begin by adding more to the first list of why the children come to church. Have them add descriptive words, phrases, and items relating to the senses and feelings. Encourage them to think about good action words (verbs) and descriptive words (adjectives and adverbs) for the list, not just people and things (nouns).

Brainstorm another list or two, depending on the size and age of the class and the amount of time available. Possible topics include Why I worship, What I like about church, What Jesus may have learned at the Temple, What Jesus and the leaders talked about, Who is Jesus, and Where I find Jesus. Remind the children that they do not need complete sentences, but that they do need to use precise, descriptive language.

Divide the class into groups of four or five and give each group one of the lists to work on for their poem. Have them read aloud their list. How does it sound? Would it be better if the items in the list were rearranged, perhaps in order of importance, or maybe to have a surprising item at the end? Add more descriptive words and feelings. Delete things that do not seem to fit. Provide the groups with Bibles and dictionaries and thesauruses to help them think of additional items for their list poem.

Ask each group to share the draft of its list poem with one other group. Ask the groups to give each other positive feedback as well as suggestions for improvement. Suggestions for improvement could include noting items that are confusing, phrases that could be more powerful or descriptive, and things that might be added to the list. Have them incorporate those suggestions.

If time permits, have everyone copy the poem neatly and possibly even illustrate it.

Reflect - Closure

Bring the class back together. Have each group share its poem, either by having one person reading it, reading it in unison, or having the group members take turns reading the items in the list. Congratulate all on their efforts.

Close with prayer:

Father, thank you for this opportunity to learn more about you, your Son, and the community you have given us. Help us to have the desire to spend time with you, worshiping you and learning more about you, just as Jesus did when he was a boy. Amen.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

Have the entire class work on one brainstorm list and one poem together.

Have older children and adults work with individuals or small groups as scribes.

Adaptations - Older Children

Allow the small writing groups to come up with their own topics and brainstorm list rather than doing it as a class.

Have each child work individually on the poem of his or her choice after the lists have been brainstormed, or allow him to come up with his own list.

SOURCES

Ideas for Writing Poetry in the Classroom: http://www.netaxs.com/~katz/teachers.htm

Janeczko, Paul B. A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2005.

The List Poem: http://www.babinlearn.com/pdf%20files/Poetry/THE%20LIST%20POEM.pdf

Poetry Writing with Karla Kuskin: http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/karla_home.htm

Rubenstein, Susanne. “Put that on a List: Collaboratively Writing a Catalog Poem.” http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=894

CONTRIBUTOR: Amy Crane