ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

PSALM 8
CREATIVE WRITING

PASSAGE

Story: Psalm 8
Key Memory Verse: Psalm 8

PURPOSE

See Bible Background.

Objectives

See Bible Background.

Objectives for Creative Writing Workshop

At the end of this lesson the children will:

Find Psalm 8 in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Contemplate God’s amazing creation to discover a feeling of wonder.

Explore our relationship to God.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background

Materials List

Bibles
Chalkboard, dry erase board, or easel with a writing implement
Crayons, markers, colored pencils
Paper, one 8 ½” x 8 ½” sheet per child
Scissors
Stickers
Tape or glue
Thesaurus
Yarn

Advance Preparation Requirements

Cut paper to specified size.
Create a triarama as an example. Read the lesson plan for directions. Check out the Crayola* site listed below for a picture of a completed triarama.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Greet the children as they enter. Give each child a compliment that includes an adjective. Example: “Hi Abby, I like your pink dress.” After all the children have been greeted, ask the children what adjective you used to greet them. If they are unsure what an adjective is, explain that an adjective is a describing word, like a size, color, or shape. Tell the children that adjectives help us to describe something in more detail.

Dig - Main Content

Have the children find Psalm 8 in their Bibles. Before reading it, tell the children to listen for adjectives.

Have the children take turns reading the verses of Psalm 8. Ask them to name the adjectives they heard and list them on the board.

Ask the children which adjectives could be used to describe God and circle them. Ask the children to think of more adjectives they can use to describe God and list those as well.

Tell the children that they will be making a triarama using three of the adjectives they listed or others if they think of them. Show the example. Tell the children that the adjectives they choose should look like the word. For example: the word ‘big’ should be written to fill the space. The word ‘majestic’ could be written fancy with swirls and loops.

Distribute the paper. Help the children fold their papers in half from corner to corner, and corner to corner again so the folds make an "X" on the paper. The "X" should form four triangles. Cut a slit from one corner to the middle.

Tell the children to choose three adjectives to illustrate. Help those who need some ideas. Three of the triangles should be illustrated – the fourth should be left empty as it will be folded under when the triangular pyramid is made.

When the children have completed all three adjectives, help them form the triangular pyramid. The illustrations can be on the inside or on the outside of the triarama, depending on how the child wants to hang it. Fold the blank triangle under an illustrated triangle. Glue or tape the triangle into place. Tape a piece of yarn to the top of the pyramid so it can be hung.

Reflect - Closure
Have each of the children choose their favorite adjective to share with the class. Have each child say a one line prayer such as “God you are ______ (fill in adjective)” and have the class respond with “Thank you, God.” Close the prayer with your own adjective.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

Explain to the children what an adjective is - a word that describes something. It could be a color, shape, size, texture, and so forth. Give some examples by using adjectives to describe objects in the room. Write the adjectives for God in the triangles and allow the younger children to illustrate them with colors and stickers.

Adaptations - Older Children

Encourage older children to use a thesaurus to find more adjectives for the ones already listed. Discuss what definition (what the dictionary says) and connotation (the emotions we ascribe to words) have to do with the adjectives they choose.

SOURCES

Managing the Whole Classroom by Creative Teaching Press

Completed Triarama illustration can be found at http://www.crayola.com/educators/lessons/display.cfm?id=57

[*Crayola is a registered trademark of Binney & Smith.]

CONTRIBUTOR: Stephanie Smith