Rotation.org Writing Team

JACOB AND ESAU

PUPPETRY WORKSHOP

PART ONE – ALIENATION

PASSAGES

Story

The Part One verses are about ignoring God’s plan …and rifts happen. (Alienation)
Genesis 25:19-34 (Birthright)
Genesis 27:1-35 (Blessing)
Genesis 27:41-43 (Fleeing)

Key/Memory Verse

Genesis 28:16: “Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place – and I did not know it!’” (NRSV)

PURPOSE

Each child will create a storytelling kit to retell the story of Jacob and Esau to parents, siblings, and friends. They will develop an understanding of the story as they consider the characters and their motives. Furthermore, in retelling the story to others, the children experience another way to bring God’s Word to others.

Objective for Rotation

The children will:

Find the stories of Jacob in Genesis, in the Old Testament.
Identify the following characters and place them correctly in the story: Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, Jacob, Laban, Rachel, Leah.
Discover God's plan at work in the lives of these characters, despite their imperfections.
Understand that a loving, forgiving God is at work in their lives. We need patience, persistence, and courage to wait for God's timing.

Objectives for Puppetry Workshop

At the end of the session, the students will be able to:

Retell the story using a storytelling kit.
Understand that telling Bible stories is a way to bring people to God.

PREPARATION
Read Bible Background and all the Scripture passages: Genesis 25:19-34, 27:1-33:17.

Materials List

4 clothespins for each child (the 6-inch “old fashioned” kind called “doll clothespins” in craft stores)
doll clothespin stands (also available in craft stores or a lump of modeling clay for each clothespin to be used as a stand)
markers
cardstock
fun fur (a small piece for each child) or some sort of brown fuzzy fabric
ziplock bag for each child
optional: small pieces of fabric, yarn, glue sticks, chenille stems (cut into short lengths to be arms for the puppets)

Advance Preparation Requirements

Make your own storytelling kit to use to tell the Bible story. Practice using it to tell the story. Make a simple kit; if your example is too elaborate, some children may feel they cannot “do it right.”

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Explain the purpose of this workshop: “Today you are going to make a storytelling kit to help you retell the Bible story to people you know. Telling others Bible stories is a way to share your faith and to bring people to God.”

Scripture/Bible Story

Explain that Jacob and Esau’s story is a long one and that we will only have time to read a portion. Distribute Bibles. Read the Scripture together: Genesis 27:1-19.

Then, have everyone set the Bibles aside and listen as you tell the story using the storytelling kit you made prior to class. Begin by introducing the Isaac and Rebekah puppets and then their children: Esau (firstborn and due to inherit everything and rather red and hairy) and Jacob (the younger son and Rebekah’s favorite). Tell/show how Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup and explain what a birthright is. Then recap the scripture you just read – use a folded piece of cardstock for the tent – Esau and Isaac can be in the front talking as Rebekah eavesdrops and then runs to get Jacob working on her plot. Drape a small piece of fun-fur or fuzzy fabric over the Jacob puppet to make him “hairy.” Conclude with Esau’s anger and Rebekah’s sending Jacob off to her brother Laban.

Dig - Main Content

Review the story.

Who are the characters? [Jacob, Esau, Isaac, Rebekah]
What was the problem?

Tell the children they will make puppets of the four characters in this story so that they can retell the story to others.

To make the puppets, the children will use markers to draw facial features and clothes and hair on the clothespins. (Or, if time permits, they can wrap small squares of fabric around the clothespin and attach yarn hair with a glue stick.)

When the puppets are finished, give each child four small balls of modeling clay for the people to “stand in” to hold them upright (or use clothespin doll stands).

If some children finish decorating their puppets before everyone is done, they can decorate their cardstock tents.

Talking points while the children are working:

Remind the children that the Bible has a clear physical description of Esau – red and hairy.
I wonder why Jacob let Rebekah talk him into tricking Isaac?
Do you think Jacob wanted to trick his father?
Was Esau right to be angry? Angry enough to want to kill his brother?
Why was the birthright important? Did Esau value it? I wonder why not? When would the birthright really be worth something? (After Isaac died.)
Have you ever wanted something so much you did something foolish to get it?

Reflect - Closure

Pulling it all together:

Divide the children into pairs and have them take turns practicing telling the story to each other using their kits. Encourage them to create appropriate dialog for their characters. The listening partner may coach and prompt, but should mostly be a listener.

Congratulate all on a job well done! Tell them that they should tell the story to at least one more person today so it will be truly “theirs” (that is, they will have learned it by heart). Give each child a ziplock bag to carry the kit.

Review the memory verse: Look up Genesis 28:16 and read it together from the Bible.
Explain that this is something Jacob said later in his life when he encountered God.
I wonder, was God in the place where Jacob and Esau were in today’s story?

Did they acknowledge God’s presence and power? I wonder why not?
Do you remember what God told Rebekah about the two babies in her womb? Read Genesis 25:22-23.

Close with prayer, asking God to help the children have patience, persistence, and courage to wait for God’s timing.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Older children:

Consider having them add chenille-stem arms to the clothespin puppets.

Younger Children:

For classes composed primarily of pre-readers, show the children how to find the passage in the Bible (for example, “Genesis is the very first book in the Bilbe. ‘Genesis’ means beginning. Each book of the bible is divided into sections called chapters. Look for the big black number for chapter 27.”) and then have them do it. After everyone has found the passage, have them close their Bibles and listen while you read.

Children in this age group will have a variety of abilities with small motor skills. Be ready to help before someone gets frustrated. Congratulate effort, not results.

Instead of having them retell the story to partners, divide the class into groups so that you have one adult for each group to “moderate” the retellings. Ask each child in the group to retell the story using his or her kit. Or if no one wants to tell to the group, lead the entire small group in a simultaneous retelling and demonstration of the story (do this several times if no one wants to solo).

SOURCES

Senyard, Jamie. Four Faithful Friends Lesson Plan Set from River Community Church: Art Lesson (source for puppet instructions). http://rotation.infopop.cc/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=120606712...76068121&m=452609763

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

PART TWO - RECONCILIATION

Part Two is about how God’s plan is in progress in spite of poor choices, and also a glimpse of what happens when we trust. (Reconciliation)

Story
Genesis 29:15-30 (Jacob marries)
Genesis 31:1-3 (LORD commands Jacob to return home)
Genesis 32:3-7a, 22-30 (Jacob goes to meet Esau, wrestles with God)
Genesis 33:1-4 (Jacob and Esau reconciled)

Key/Memory Verse

Genesis 28:16: “Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place – and I did not know it!’” (NRSV)

PURPOSE

During this puppet workshop, the students will hear and discuss the story of Jacob and Esau's reconciliation. Then they will use puppetry to retell/interpret the story in their own words. In so doing, they will grow in their understanding of God’s work in the lives of Jacob and Esau in spite of their imperfections, and God’s power to work in their own lives.

Objective(s) for Rotation

The children will:

Find the stories of Jacob in Genesis, in the Old Testament.
Identify the following characters and place them correctly in the story: Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, Jacob, Laban, Rachel, Leah.
Discover God's plan at work in the lives of these characters, despite their imperfections.
Understand that a loving, forgiving God is at work in their lives. We need patience, persistence, and courage to wait for God's timing.

Objectives for Puppetry Workshop

Have an insight into the feelings of Jacob and Esau regarding their separation and reconciliation.

PREPARATION

Read the Bible Background and all the Scripture passages: Genesis 25:19-34, 27:1-33:17.

A Note about Creative Dramatics with Puppets

With this method, children/puppets act out the story using their own words. The teacher may prompt or ask questions to move the action along: “What do you think Esau said to Isaac when he showed up with the favorite dish he had prepared and was expecting to be blessed? How do you think Esau felt when he found out the blessing had already been given? How can your puppet show that with its actions?” “What do you think Jacob said to God when God told him to go home? Do you think he went happily?” “Jacob, how do you feel after being blessed?” (This is called “side coaching.”)

These are informal productions. Props and scenery elements mentioned in the story will not be used. Encourage the students to use their imaginations and think of ways to help the audience to “see” these things.

Everyone must participate in some way. Not everyone has “lines” to speak: Jacob’s wives and children do not have to say anything (but some may want to speak), but they should react appropriately to what others are saying. The audience has an important job, too: interaction and reaction during the performance and feedback afterwards.

Review with the children where on stage each scene takes place. For example, show them where Isaac’s tent is and where Jacob’s sheep field is.

Encourage the students to think about why a character did or said something.

The action should follow the Bible story, but everyone should use his or her own words.

Materials List

Bible times puppets (such as the small Bible-Times puppets from One Way Street – www.onewaystreet.com or 800-569-4537) or other hand puppets
Puppet stage or long table covered with a tablecloth or piece of fabric
Narrator’s script
Handkerchief or scarf
Cardboard
Black construction paper
Cotton balls
Craft sticks
Tape
Scissors
Crayons
Glue

Advance Preparation Requirements

Make sheep puppets or prepare materials for early arrival activity as described below.

Early Arrival Activity

Make sheep puppets. Precut 3 inch circles from cardboard. Children cover cardboard with cotton balls, add four black construction paper legs and a pear-shaped head and ears. Draw a face using crayons. Tape a stick to the back and allow the glue to dry while the group hears the story.

Children should write their names on the backs and take the sheep home after class.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Today we will look at the second half of the Bible story of Jacob and Esau where the two brothers finally get back together again.

Briefly retell the story of Jacob and Esau from Part One or ask the children what they remember about the brothers and their parents.

Tell the children that we will read today about how Jacob the trickster was tricked. Read the Scripture: Genesis 29:15-30.

Tell the children the rest of the story – how Jacob grew wealthy working for Laban, how God told Jacob to “Return to the land of your ancestors and to your kindred, and I will be with you” (Genesis 31:3) and how he went with his wives and children and herds, how he sent gifts ahead to try to ease Esau’s anger (he heard Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men!), how he wrestled with God and finally how he and Esau were reunited with hugs and tears and forgiveness.

Review the characters: Jacob, Esau, God, Laban, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, Bilhah, Jacob’s sons.

Dig - Main Content

“Today we will recreate what may have happened in the story of Jacob and Esau. There is not much dialog in the Scripture we read, so you will need to think about what Jacob, Esau, and the others said and thought.

Introduce puppets, puppet care (they are an investment and must be treated with respect), and puppet techniques

Puppet warmup. All of the children should participate at the same time; this is fun in front of a mirror so students can see how the puppets look. If there are enough puppets, let each child have a puppet (any puppet) to practice manipulation. If there are not enough puppets, have everyone practice with “invisible puppets” (hand held like a puppet). Do this around the puppet stage/table. Demonstrate how to move the puppets. Have all the puppets jump, nod, shake their head, act happy, act sad, act afraid, act mad, pray, look surprised, hug, cry, herd sheep, and so on. If you are using moving mouth puppets, also practice saying things like “hello!” and “I forgive you.” If desired, the warmup can be done in a “Simon Says” game format.

Assign parts. If you do not have enough children or puppets, one or two puppets can stand in for the crowd of children and wives and servants. Everyone can move a few stick sheep puppets. If there are more children than puppets, some can watch while the others do the puppet show. (The audience is a very important job!) Then, reassign parts and do it again. (Let those who watched the first time have first choice on parts for the second performance. If more than one child wants a part, draw names.) Or, switch puppets halfway through the story.

Have the children create movement and dialog as the scripture/narration is read. See the script that follows or create your own. Encourage creative dialog. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers.

Encourage them to hold their puppets tall and to speak loudly and clearly, but remind them that this is not expected to be a polished performance. If the children’s heads are showing behind the puppet stage or table, that is okay.

If time permits, do the puppet show several times, allowing the children to discuss and create different dialog each time.

Suggested Narrator's Script - adapted from Genesis 25:19-34, 27:1-33:17, NRSV

[Suggested actions and responses are in brackets. Pause in the narration and encourage the students to use their imagination to expand upon the little bit of detail in the Bible. “God” can be a voice from “off stage” or a puppet “on stage.”]

This is a story from Genesis about Isaac and Rebekah and their two sons Esau (the firstborn) and Jacob, and it’s also about Jacob’s family.

[Each puppet should come up and ‘bow’ when introduced.]

Esau and Jacob were twins, but they were very different. When Esau and Jacob grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.

[Puppets improvise to show their different characters.]

Once when Jacob was cooking a lentil stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished. He was so hungry, he would give anything for a bowl of stew! So he did.

[Act out selling of birthright, Genesis 25: 29-34.]

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim, he called his elder son Esau to him and asked him to fix his favorite food and bring it to him so he could bless Esau before he died.

[Isaac sends Esau for food. Rebekah listens in background.]

Now, Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau. So when Esau went to hunt for food for Isaac, Rebekah told her son Jacob of her plan.

[Rebekah and Jacob plot and then deceive Isaac as described in Genesis 27:5-29.]

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, whom he though was Esau, Esau himself came in from hunting.

[Isaac and Esau figure out what happened.]

Now, Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau planned to kill Jacob. Rebekah heard of the plot and sent Jacob to her brother Laban in Haran to find a wife – and hang out safely for a few years.

[Jacob travels.]

When Jacob met Laban’s daughter Rachel, it was love at first sight.

[Handshakes, hugs, introductions and ooey-gooey looks.]

Jacob and Laban made a deal. Jacob would work for Laban for 7 years herding sheep and then he could marry Rachel. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

[Sheep herding and baaing and more ooey-gooey lovey-dovey looks.]

Finally the seven years were over and Jacob was ready to marry his sweetheart. But Laban played a trick on Jacob and gave him his older daughter Leah instead.

[Wedding scene with Leah puppet covered with a handkerchief until it is too late. Laban explains that it would not do for the younger to marry before the older and tells Jacob he can work seven more years for Rachel.]

Time passes. Jacob’s family grows. And he becomes richer as his sheep flock grows, too.

[More baaing plus some babies crying and yet more ooey-gooey lovey-dovey looks.]

Then one day, the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your ancestors and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

[Jacob and wives and children and sheep parade across stage or around room. Lots of baaing and babies crying.]

Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau to let him know that Jacob and his animals and family were coming. The messengers return with word that Esau is coming to meet them, and has 400 men with him.

[Messengers go to Esau. Return with bad news. Panic ensues. Jacob prays, reminding God of the covenant promise. Jacob sends sheep and other animals ahead as a gift to Esau.]

Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. He went on ahead of his wives and children. He bowed to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother.
But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

[Act out. Then Jacob introduces his family.]

And so, after all those years, Jacob the trickster returns home and is warmly received by his brother.

The End.

[All bow.]

Review the memory verse.

If time permits, ask for volunteers to say the verse alone, or practice using the echo method. Have the children echo the verse as you say it, phrase by phrase. After they seem familiar with it, have them say the entire verse in unison.

Our memory verse comes from the Jacob’s ladder portion of the story, which we did not look at. Can you think of any other places you saw God in Jacob and Esau’s story?
Do we always see God’s hand actively working in Jacob’s story, or was waiting sometimes necessary?

Reflect - Closure

“Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place – and I did not know it!’” (Genesis 28:16)

Has God ever been with you and you weren’t aware of it (at least not until later)?
How do we know we can count on God to be there when needed?

Close with prayer, asking God to help you and the children to sense God’s presence in your lives and to be confident that God will take care of you.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

If time is short, focus on the second half of the story; begin with “Now, Esau hated Jacob ...” in the script.

Adaptations - Younger Children

Younger children may need more side coaching of suggested dialog and actions.

Adaptations - Older Children

Allow one of the students to read the narrator’s part and possibly do the side coaching.

SOURCES

For additional information on using puppets and drama to bring Bible stories to life, see Amy Crane’s Puppet and Drama Workshop Instructions http://rotation.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/564606234/m/5066088121

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CONTRIBUTOR: Amy Crane

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