During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
*If you are using paper or cardboard, have the story drawings from the previous lesson available for the children who return to class this week. You will not need your picture story.
Before the children arrive, tear out the picture pages from the end of this lesson and separate the pictures. Use these to practice telling the story of Paul’s shipwreck as it is found in the Connecting section. Practice reading the story with emotion in your voice. It should take only 3–5 minutes to tell this story. If you have been using the optional images from The Action Bible, use those instead of the tear-out pages.
Let the words you speak always be full of grace. Learn how to make your words what people want to hear. Then you will know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
The words we use to communicate with others are important. It is also important for us to use the right words to express our thoughts because that is the best way to get others to listen to us. When telling a story, we can carefully craft our words and the way we speak to keep the attention of our listeners.
Think about a story from the Bible you know. What emotions and interesting details do you see when you read it? How could you use your voice to communicate these details with others? When you use your voice in interesting ways, others will want to listen to the stories you tell. They will also understand more about the story. The next time you pick up the Bible, read its words with expression and think about what is happening in the verses you read. This will help you, and anyone listening, to better understand God’s Word.
Encourage families to tell a story using interesting words and actions. Explain that the children are learning about different ways to tell stories and that seeing different types of stories will help them to become better storytellers.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet the children as they enter. Have the children sit in pairs, and have them tell their partners the parts of a story they remember.
You have already heard Paul’s shipwreck story. Today, I will tell the story using interesting voices.
For example, if I tell you a part of the story that is very exciting, I will use a voice that sounds very excited. If I tell a scary part of the story, my voice will sound as though I am scared. By adding different voices, I can make the story more interesting for you, the listener.
Use the pictures from the tear-out page at the end of this lesson or the optional images from The Action Bible. Be sure to show the children each picture as you tell the story. Also, be sure to use emotion in your voice.
The angel said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must go on trial in front of Caesar. God has shown his grace by sparing the lives of all those sailing with you.”
Acts 27:24
You have heard the true story from the Bible of Paul’s shipwreck many times. Now, it is your turn to tell the story. I will show you each picture again. You will have 1–2 minutes to look at each picture and tell your partner what happened in that part of the story. Do not forget to use your voice to make the story more interesting for the listener.
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, allow the children to cut or tear out the pictures. Then have them use the pictures to practice telling the story.
Show the children the image from Lesson 9, Picture 1. Ask that 1 partner share what happened at the beginning of the story. Give them 1–2 minutes to share with their partners. Then show the children the image from Lesson 10, Picture 2. Ask that the other partner share what happened in the middle of the story. Give them 1–2 minutes to share with their partners. Continue showing the children the remaining pictures in order and alternating partners. For each picture, allow 1–2 minutes for the partners to share the details about that part of the story.
You now know the story of Paul’s shipwreck well enough to tell it to other people. Today we will talk about how to use interesting words, actions, pictures, and ways of speaking to tell stories.
Have the children form groups of 3–4. The children will stay in these groups for the rest of the lesson.
The Bible tells us that how we communicate with others is important, especially when we are sharing God’s truth with others. Listen to this verse:
Let the words you speak always be full of grace. Learn how to make your words what people want to hear. Then you will know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
What you say and how you say it can affect how people hear your story. Let’s talk about different ways we tell stories. Think about stories you have heard in the past.
What did each storyteller do to cause you to want to listen to the story? Was it something about the way the story was told? Were there interesting words that caused you to want to listen?
Allow 2–3 children to respond.
Have you ever seen a story acted out? Have you ever heard a song that told a story? We can use acting, pictures, music, and interesting voices to help us tell stories.
No matter what you use to make a story interesting for the listener, describing the details of a story can help.
What are some of the details in Paul’s story?
Allow 2–3 children to respond.
The author of the story described the wind and where the ship was going. These descriptions made the story more interesting. Another way to make a story interesting for the listener is to act it out.
Optional: If possible, share the image from The Action Bible.
Let’s practice telling the story of Paul’s shipwreck using acting. We did this as part of the last lesson. Before telling a story using actions and words, it is important to think about who the characters are in the story. The characters in Paul’s story include: Paul, Julius, the prisoners, and the other soldiers.
Give the children about 15–20 seconds to decide who in their groups will act out each role in the story.
Just as I did in our first activity, I will hold up the picture cards. I will show each card for about 2 minutes to give you time to act out that part of the story.
Hold up each picture, 1 at a time, in order. Then, allow about 2 minutes for the children to act out what happened in that part of the story. Walk around the space as the children act out each part of the story.
Acting out a story can be a lot of fun! It can also help the listener to better understand the action in a story. Stories like Paul’s that have a lot of action are easy to tell using actions.
There are other ways to share stories, but these ideas will help you to begin telling your stories to others.
Have the children stay in their groups for this activity. If you have been using paper or cardboard, give the children their picture stories. If you are using dirt and sticks, give the children a moment to remember their stories.
If there are any children who have not been present for all of the previous lessons, have these children think of a story they know that they would like to tell their group. They could be stories from their imaginations or stories of events that have happened in their lives. They do not need to draw their stories.
Now it is your turn to decide how you want to tell the story you created. You may choose to use:
Give the children about 20 seconds to decide how they will tell their stories.
Now you will practice telling your story in your group. Choose 1 child to go first. I will tell you when it is time for the next child in your group to tell her story.
Give the first child in each group about 2 minutes to tell her story. After about 1 and a half minutes let the children know they need to finish their stories. Then ask the second child in each group to tell his story. Continue giving each child 2 minutes to tell a story until all of the children have had a turn. Be sure to tell the children they may take their story pictures home with them.
It was so nice to hear all of your stories! Remember, the next time you tell a story, you can tell it in a fun way to make it interesting for your listener.
Our memory verse this week reminds us that stories can also help us remember things that have happened in the past.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them.
Psalm 19:1
Say this verse with expression. Have the children repeat this with you 3 times. Then end class by saying this blessing, based on Colossians 4:6, over the children.
Blessing: May you use words people want to hear to tell your stories. May you ask God to guide you to know when and how to communicate through stories.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
