Implementing Godly Play in the Classroom:
To introduce and implement Godly Play into a school requires support from all staff, parents and the community. The school needs to decide how it will fit in with the current curriculum by firstly seeing how Godly Play supports the children (Berryman, 2009). Over several months, teachers need to complete the transition by shifting to "the rest of the method and then to the whole curriculum after you have set up the room" (Berryman, 2009). Teachers need to have regular meetings at least once a month to discuss the theory and practice of Godly Play. This is critical to its success in the school (Berryman, 2009). Training is important for all teachers as it will lead to mastering the techniques of Godly Play (Berryman, 2009). The involvement of parents will help in the success of the implementation. They need to be familiar with how Godly Play works, which can be done by workshops and adult-centred sessions to discuss and understand the method and process of the session (Berryman, 2009).
http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/godly-play-training/
http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/starting-a-godly-play-program/
The Parable of the Lost Sheep is presented to the children in a Godly Play session. If the school's access to Godly Play branded materials is limited then the storyteller will use materials at hand and/or donations of wooden figures and fabric given to the school. Otherwise the Godly Play materials will be used for the story. A teacher's aid or volunteer helper will take on the role of door greeter to greet each child and monitor behaviour during the session.
http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/godly-play-training/
http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/starting-a-godly-play-program/
The Parable of the Lost Sheep is presented to the children in a Godly Play session. If the school's access to Godly Play branded materials is limited then the storyteller will use materials at hand and/or donations of wooden figures and fabric given to the school. Otherwise the Godly Play materials will be used for the story. A teacher's aid or volunteer helper will take on the role of door greeter to greet each child and monitor behaviour during the session.
Teaching Luke 15:1-7 in the Classroom
(Based on Berryman, 2002)
Getting Ready:
At the end of recess, students will line up at the classroom door, ready to enter into the Godly Play session. The session begins as the children enter the room. Students will be greeted individually at the door by the door-greeter (teacher's aide or helper). Children will then gather around the storyteller (teacher) in a circle. They are shown how to sit with legs crossed and hands in laps, sitting quietly (Berryman, 2002). The storyteller says "We are now ready for the story" (Berryman, 2002).
Presenting the lesson:
The storyteller shows the children a gold box from all different angles and says "I wonder what could be in this box, its gold and gold is very precious so it could be a parable because parables are also very precious". The storyteller continues to look at the box and 'wonder' about the contents of the box and what the significance of a parable is. "Let's open it and see if there really is a parable inside" the storyteller says as she/he places it in next to them.
She/he puts the lid in front of the opened box and pulls out a large, green fabric square. The storyteller expresses open-ended 'wondering' questions and thoughts, "I wonder what this could be...it's green all over", "It could be the top of a really big tree, or a leaf from an even bigger tree", "Let's look at the other side...it's green too"
"Maybe there is something else in this box to help us tell our parable" The storyteller pulls out a long brown strip of fabric and 'wonders' what it could be. They suggest a stick or a branch. They pull out another one and another one until they have four strips of brown fabric and they are arranged in a square formation on the green square. "Let's make a gate so people can get in to the inside and out to the outside". "I wonder who could live in this, people or animals?". They look in the box and pull out some sheep, "Animals, sheep live inside". The sheep are placed flat inside in the square and the gate is closed. A black piece of fabric in an irregular shape is pulled out and described as dark, with no light. It is placed on the green square.
"Once Jesus was talking to many tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and teachers of the law began to complain, "Look, this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!" They were talking about Jesus. Then Jesus told them this parable:"
"Once there was a man, who had one hundred sheep"... the teacher shows the sheep and the man in the paddock. "What would happen if he lost one of his sheep?". Teacher shows all the sheep move out of the paddock in a line behind the man and one goes under the black fabric. "Shouldn't he leave his ninety-nine sheep out in the open to go find the lost one until he finds it?" The man is shown moving all over the green square looking for the lost sheep while the remaining sheep are left alone in a big open space.
After a long time searching, the man finds the missing sheep and puts it on his shoulders. "And when he finds it, he is so happy that he puts it on his shoulders and makes the journey back home. When he returns he calls all his neighbours and friends and says 'Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep!'"
Jesus then said to the Pharisees and teachers, "In the same way, I tell you, heaven is a happy place when one sinner decides to change or be found by God. There is more joy for that one sinner than the ninety-nine good people who don't need to change".
Wondering:
The storyteller sits back and looks at those sitting in the circle, "I wonder what you like best about this story" she/he says. She/he listens to the responses and affirms their favourite part. "I wonder what the most important part is?", again she/he listens to the responses of those who have a response. "I wonder where you are in this story?" and lets the children imagine themselves in the story and who they might be. The last question is asked; "I wonder if there is any part we could leave out, and still have the entire story we need?” She/he lets them think about any details that they feel are unimportant in the story. She/he listens to every answer and repeats them; never saying one is wrong or right but accepts each.
Responding:
The storyteller puts away the parable and shows the children where it goes so they know where to find it. She lets the wondering sink in and asks everyone to think about what work they might like to do in response to the lesson. There art supplies and story boxes for responding time and each person can do any work they wish. They have absorbed the story and are ready to respond according to their choice and needs.
The Feast:
After fifteen minutes, the teacher calls the class to attention to tell them that it is time to pack away their materials and work and gather back in a circle to get ready for the feast.
The storyteller sits in the circle and models how to sit with legs crossed and hands in laps. Everyone is served with bread/crackers and juice or water. They storyteller tells everyone to wait as we need to pray before we eat. "It's so nice to have everyone here that it makes us happy. We are going to pray. You might like to pray out loud or pray just to yourself. You might not want to pray at all, and that's okay too. When you finish, say "Amen" out loud so we know when everyone is finished". The storyteller waits until everyone has finished and says "Thank you, God, for this time together". When the storyteller says "Amen", everyone shares in the feast.
When the feast is finished, everyone puts their rubbish in the bin. The storyteller calls for attention once more to say "It's time to say goodbye." She/he holds out their hands for each child to touch them and they exchange a warm smile and say goodbye. "It was a pleasure to have you here today, thank you for being with us".
Getting Ready:
At the end of recess, students will line up at the classroom door, ready to enter into the Godly Play session. The session begins as the children enter the room. Students will be greeted individually at the door by the door-greeter (teacher's aide or helper). Children will then gather around the storyteller (teacher) in a circle. They are shown how to sit with legs crossed and hands in laps, sitting quietly (Berryman, 2002). The storyteller says "We are now ready for the story" (Berryman, 2002).
Presenting the lesson:
The storyteller shows the children a gold box from all different angles and says "I wonder what could be in this box, its gold and gold is very precious so it could be a parable because parables are also very precious". The storyteller continues to look at the box and 'wonder' about the contents of the box and what the significance of a parable is. "Let's open it and see if there really is a parable inside" the storyteller says as she/he places it in next to them.
She/he puts the lid in front of the opened box and pulls out a large, green fabric square. The storyteller expresses open-ended 'wondering' questions and thoughts, "I wonder what this could be...it's green all over", "It could be the top of a really big tree, or a leaf from an even bigger tree", "Let's look at the other side...it's green too"
"Maybe there is something else in this box to help us tell our parable" The storyteller pulls out a long brown strip of fabric and 'wonders' what it could be. They suggest a stick or a branch. They pull out another one and another one until they have four strips of brown fabric and they are arranged in a square formation on the green square. "Let's make a gate so people can get in to the inside and out to the outside". "I wonder who could live in this, people or animals?". They look in the box and pull out some sheep, "Animals, sheep live inside". The sheep are placed flat inside in the square and the gate is closed. A black piece of fabric in an irregular shape is pulled out and described as dark, with no light. It is placed on the green square.
"Once Jesus was talking to many tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and teachers of the law began to complain, "Look, this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!" They were talking about Jesus. Then Jesus told them this parable:"
"Once there was a man, who had one hundred sheep"... the teacher shows the sheep and the man in the paddock. "What would happen if he lost one of his sheep?". Teacher shows all the sheep move out of the paddock in a line behind the man and one goes under the black fabric. "Shouldn't he leave his ninety-nine sheep out in the open to go find the lost one until he finds it?" The man is shown moving all over the green square looking for the lost sheep while the remaining sheep are left alone in a big open space.
After a long time searching, the man finds the missing sheep and puts it on his shoulders. "And when he finds it, he is so happy that he puts it on his shoulders and makes the journey back home. When he returns he calls all his neighbours and friends and says 'Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep!'"
Jesus then said to the Pharisees and teachers, "In the same way, I tell you, heaven is a happy place when one sinner decides to change or be found by God. There is more joy for that one sinner than the ninety-nine good people who don't need to change".
Wondering:
The storyteller sits back and looks at those sitting in the circle, "I wonder what you like best about this story" she/he says. She/he listens to the responses and affirms their favourite part. "I wonder what the most important part is?", again she/he listens to the responses of those who have a response. "I wonder where you are in this story?" and lets the children imagine themselves in the story and who they might be. The last question is asked; "I wonder if there is any part we could leave out, and still have the entire story we need?” She/he lets them think about any details that they feel are unimportant in the story. She/he listens to every answer and repeats them; never saying one is wrong or right but accepts each.
Responding:
The storyteller puts away the parable and shows the children where it goes so they know where to find it. She lets the wondering sink in and asks everyone to think about what work they might like to do in response to the lesson. There art supplies and story boxes for responding time and each person can do any work they wish. They have absorbed the story and are ready to respond according to their choice and needs.
The Feast:
After fifteen minutes, the teacher calls the class to attention to tell them that it is time to pack away their materials and work and gather back in a circle to get ready for the feast.
The storyteller sits in the circle and models how to sit with legs crossed and hands in laps. Everyone is served with bread/crackers and juice or water. They storyteller tells everyone to wait as we need to pray before we eat. "It's so nice to have everyone here that it makes us happy. We are going to pray. You might like to pray out loud or pray just to yourself. You might not want to pray at all, and that's okay too. When you finish, say "Amen" out loud so we know when everyone is finished". The storyteller waits until everyone has finished and says "Thank you, God, for this time together". When the storyteller says "Amen", everyone shares in the feast.
When the feast is finished, everyone puts their rubbish in the bin. The storyteller calls for attention once more to say "It's time to say goodbye." She/he holds out their hands for each child to touch them and they exchange a warm smile and say goodbye. "It was a pleasure to have you here today, thank you for being with us".
This is a video of the "Parable of the Good Samaritan" presented by a storyteller in a Godly Play session:
(GodlyPlayFoundation, 2013).
(GodlyPlayFoundation, 2013).