Scripture Puppet Show

About this article

If you are looking for a tried-and-true Scripture activity for your students, check out this idea for a puppet show from Patrick Daniels, a teacher of twenty-three years. This resource includes the purpose of the activity, grading criteria, and directions for students. Suggestions for the Scripture stories are included as well. The author uses this with chapter 7 of the Understanding Catholic Christianity course, but it may work with any type of Scripture study as well.

This assignment allows students to use their own creativity in the understanding and application of the Scriptures. Their grade for this assignment will be based on their ability to do the following tasks:

  1. Involve all members of the group.
  2. Create a dialogue (script) that covers the key point of the Scripture passage.
  3. Create puppets that help tell the story in an interesting manner.
  4. Present their show to the class.
  • Students are to form small groups of three to five people.
  • Each small group chooses a story to depict using puppets.
  • Each group retells the story in a modern setting by writing a group script.
  • The groups each brainstorm ideas for creating puppets that will be useful in the retelling of the story.
  • Each group practices and presents its Scripture puppet show.
  • The length of each show should be 3 to 10 minutes.

Suggested Stories:

Old Testament

  • the Creation
  • the Fall of Adam and Eve
  • Cain and Abel
  • Noah and the ark
  • the Tower of Babel
  • Jacob and his brothers
  • Moses and the Pharaoh
  • David and Goliath
  • the Book of Job
  • the Book of Daniel
  • Samson

New Testament

  • the birth of Jesus
  • the temptation of Jesus
  • the parable of the sower
  • the parable of the lost sheep
  • the parable of the unforgiving servant
  • the parable of the workers in the vineyard
  • the Last Supper
  • The trial of Jesus
  • The death and Resurrection of Jesus
  • the conversion of Paul

Acknowledgments

Published February 20, 2000.