From The Association of Christian Teachers' website - September 2008 These 'easy-to-stage' Christmas plays are for use with groups of 7 to 11 year-olds, either in a school or church setting. Each play is introduced with a story version to read, followed by suggestions for flexible drama games and activities exploring the biblical themes of the storyline, photocopiable scripts and interactive poems. The book also includes suggestions for stage layouts, costumes, props and poster templates. There are three plays to choose from. 'Have you seen Christmas?' tells the story of homeless Luke and his scruffy dog (Christmas). The dog goes missing on Christmas Eve, Luke's young friends search in vain for Christmas throughout the city. At last, they find the dog (and the true spirit of Christmas) in a most unexpected place. 'The earth looks forward to Christmas' is based on some of the Bible readings traditionally used at a service of nine lessons and carols. Planet Earth is dismayed at the unkind behaviour of humans towards one another since their creation. But, cheered by Isaiah's vision of a peaceful world, he impatiently awaits the birth of a very special baby. 'Jump for joy!' is a nativity play that begins with the birth of John the Baptist and ends with the birth of Jesus. Mary and Elizabeth tell the family stories to Jesus and John, now lively young boys, as they sit together around the campfire on their way to Jerusalem. A useful and practical book for those producing a Christmas play with junior children within school or church. Reviewed by Rachel Davey, Class Teacher and co-ordinator for RE and PSE, Baden Powell Primary School, Cardiff From: The Methodist Recorder, 01 December 2005 The endlessly inventive output of Bible Reading Fellowship's Barnabas imprint is joined by Story Plays for Christmas by Vicki Howie, described as 'Three plays complete with stories and interactive activities' for the 7-11 age-group. Have you seen Christmas? tells the story of homeless Luke and his scruffy dog (a splendid opportunity for someone to dress up and be as lovable and comic as they like); The earth looks forward to Christmas has planet earth asking God for help and receiving the answer of the baby Jesus; and Jump for joy! shows eight- and nine-year old Jesus and John, with their mothers Mary and Elizabeth, meeting up as they all made their way to Jerusalem and reminiscing around a camp fire. As well as the stories, scripts for the plays and suggestions for stage layouts and costumes, there are poster templates and poems - with lots of jumping for absolutely everyone in the final Jump for joy!. The endlessly inventive output of Bible Reading Fellowship's {Barnabas} imprint is joined by {Story Plays for Christmas} by Vicki Howie, described as 'Three plays complete with stories and interactive activities' for the 7-11 age-group. Have you seen Christmas? tells the story of homeless Luke and his scruffy dog (a splendid opportunity for someone to dress up and be as lovable and comic as they like); The earth looks forward to Christmas has planet earth asking God for help and receiving the answer of the baby Jesus; and Jump for joy! shows eight- and nine-year old Jesus and John, with their mothers Mary and Elizabeth, meeting up as they all made their way to Jerusalem and reminiscing around a camp fire. As well as the stories, scripts for the plays and suggestions for stage layouts and costumes, there are poster templates and poems - with lots of jumping for absolutely everyone in the final Jump for joy!. -- Quote Source. Methodist Recorder These 'easy-to-stage' Christmas plays are for use with groups of 7 to 11 year-olds, either in a school or church setting. Each play is introduced with a story version to read, followed by suggestions for flexible drama games and activities exploring the biblical themes of the storyline, photocopiable scripts and interactive poems. The book also includes suggestions for stage layouts, costumes, props and poster templates. There are three plays to choose from. 'Have you seen Christmas?' tells the story of homeless Luke and his scruffy dog (Christmas). The dog goes missing on Christmas Eve, Luke's young friends search in vain for Christmas throughout the city. At last, they find the dog (and the true spirit of Christmas) in a most unexpected place. 'The earth looks forward to Christmas' is based on some of the Bible readings traditionally used at a service of nine lessons and carols. Planet Earth is dismayed at the unkind behaviour of humans towards one another since their creation. But, cheered by Isaiah's vision of a peaceful world, he impatiently awaits the birth of a very special baby. 'Jump for joy!' is a nativity play that begins with the birth of John the Baptist and ends with the birth of Jesus. Mary and Elizabeth tell the family stories to Jesus and John, now lively young boys, as they sit together around the campfire on their way to Jerusalem. A useful and practical book for those producing a Christmas play with junior children within school or church. Reviewer: Rachel Davey, Class Teacher and co-ordinator for RE and PSE, Baden Powell Primary School, Cardiff Review posted on: 11 September 2008 -- Rachel Davey Association of Christian Teachers
