ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

PSALM 8
DRAMA

PASSAGE

Story: Psalm 8
Key/Memory Verse: Psalm 8

PURPOSE

See Bible Background

Objectives for Rotation

See Bible Background

Objectives for Drama Workshop

Children will contemplate the awe and wonder of God’s creation by exploring Psalm 8 through dramatic reading and expressive movement.

PREPARATION

Read Bible background.

Gather supplies.

Materials List

Bibles
Copy machine
Markers -- two colors
Paper
Poster board
Scarves, various colors -- one per child

Advance Preparation

Write the words to Psalm 8 on the poster board, using one color marker for the first sentence and a second color for the second sentence. Continue to alternate colors and lines for the remainder of the Psalm.

Print copies of Psalm 8 as a take home handout.

Practice the suggested movements to the Psalm or create others if desired.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Gather the children together and welcome them. Begin with introductions. Ask the children to say their name and one wonderful thing God has created.

Pray: “Majestic and awesome God, when we think about your amazing creation we are filled with awe and wonder. Thank you for being such a creative God. Open our hearts and minds this day as we learn more about you.” AMEN.

Say: God is an amazing God. There are so many fantastic things God has created. When we think about all of them, it is mind-boggling! Many years ago, long before Jesus was born, the Hebrew people looked up at the night sky or at a sunrise or at the fish in the sea and they thanked God for creating such a fantastic world. When they saw what God had done and thought about it, they were filled with awe and wonder! They just had to praise God! They wrote these praises down and used them in worship as songs or poems. These special praise songs or poems are called Psalms. Many of them are collected together in one book in the Bible – the Book of Psalms. We still use Psalms today when we worship God.

These Psalms were written many years before Jesus was born. Where would we find this book in the Bible? (Old Testament) It’s easy to find the book of Psalms. If you open your Bible about in the middle you will probably open it right at the book of Psalms, or very close.

Help the children locate Psalm 8 in their Bibles. Most Bibles will indicate that Psalm 8 is a Psalm of David in small print beneath the title.

Many of the Psalms in the Bible were written by David. (Children may recall the story of David and Goliath or King David.) David took care of his father’s sheep when he was young. There were probably many nights when he lay on the cool grass, looking up at the night sky. Perhaps it was on one of those nights that David wrote Psalm 8.

Ask: Have any of you ever been far away from the city at night? What is it like? Sometimes when we see something such as a huge night sky full of stars, we are overwhelmed by all God has done, by how powerful God is. Listen for the things that amazed David as I read the Psalm.

Have the children close their eyes. Read the Psalm through completely once. Read slowly and dramatically. Have the children open their eyes.

Ask: What did David think about when he looked at the heavens? (How amazing God is, how small we are …) Sometimes when we see the vastness of the sky and the universe and all that God has created, it can make us feel very, very small. David is amazed that a God so huge can still care so very much for us. I wonder if you have ever felt anything like that?

Dig – Main Content

Divide the children into two groups and assign each group a color that matches the color marker used on the poster. Have the two groups face each other. Place the poster where both groups can see the words. Have the first color group read the first line in unison … “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” Have the second color group read the second line … “You have set your glory above the heavens.” Continue in the same fashion, alternating color groups until the entire Psalm is read.

Creative Movement to Psalm 8

Slowly read the first line of the psalm incorporating motions that reflect the words/phrases in the psalm. Instruct the children to follow your movements -- just like a mirror -- while reciting the line to the Psalm together.

Repeat with each line of the Psalm, having children follow your movements. After several lines, children may begin to take turns creating movements and having the group mirror them as they recite the words.

Suggested movements for Psalm 8 include:

Lord - arms outstretched at sides with face looking up
Majestic - bring arms in to center of body and sweep upward and outward
All the earth - sweep arms from center to sides
You - point away from self
Glory above the heavens - lightly clap hands together above head, then wiggle fingers and spread out over head
Out of the mouths of infants - pretend to rock a baby
To silence the enemy - bring index finger to mouth in “Shhhh” motion
Look at the heavens - put hands to forehead and look upward
Work of your fingers - move hands forward while wiggling fingers
The moon - cup one hand and raise above head
The stars - raise hands above head and alternately flick fingers of both hands
What are human beings - lift hands to sides with palms facing up, shrug shoulders
You are mindful of them - point away from self and bring both hands to forehead
That you care for them - cross arms over chest
Made them a little lower - arms at side with palms down, press lower
Than God - lift arms over head and look up
Crowned them - pretend to place crown on head
With glory and honor - lightly clap hands together above head, wiggle fingers, and spread out over head
Given them dominion - place one hand in front, palm up, then repeat with other
Over the works of your hands - sweep arms from center to sides
All things under their feet - bend down and touch feet
All sheep and oxen - place hands at forehead with fingers pointing out like horns
Beasts of the field - move hands as if walking
Birds of the air - lift hands above head moving index and middle fingers up and down
Fish of the sea - move hand up and down to simulate waves
The paths of the sea

Creative Movement with Scarves

Next give each child a colored scarf. Repeat the movements and recitation, line by line using the scarves to enhance the movements.

Reflect – Closing

Gather up scarves and put them away. Bring the children together for closing.

Ask: I wonder what David was feeling when he wrote this Psalm? I wonder which part of the Psalm is the most meaningful to you? I wonder when you might think about these words again?

Close with a circle prayer. One at a time, have each child complete this sentence …”I praise you God because you are ...”

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Have children present the creative movements to Psalm 8 in worship to accompany a dramatic reading of the Psalm.

Adaptations -Younger Children

Shorten the Psalm to verses 1, 3-5 and 9.
Read the verse out loud and have the children echo it.

Adaptations – Older Children

Encourage the children to memorize the entire Psalm.

Send a copy of Psalm 8 home with each child.

During the Creative Movement part of the lesson, keep the children in their assigned color groups. Allow 5-10 minutes for each group to create movements corresponding to their assigned color lines. For other ideas, consult a book on “signing” or visit an American Sign Language website. Have each group recite the Psalm while incorporating the movements they created.

Divide the children into pairs and have them stand facing each other. Have the children recite the Psalm, one line at a time with accompanying movements. The children facing one another should mirror the movements of their partners as they recite.

SOURCES

Flodin, Mickey. Signing Illustrated: The Complete Learning Guide. New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 1994.

American Sign Language website: http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

CONTRIBUTOR: Jaymie Derden