FAITH QUEST

This lesson plan is copyrighted and belongs to the Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian,

Cary North Carolina. It may be used for non-profit uses only.

THE LAST SUPPER

 

APOSTLE’S PLAYHOUSE

 

Scripture:  Luke 27:7-23 or Mark 14:12-26.  In these few verses, much is covered.  The first few verses set the stage.  It is the Jewish festival of Passover and the disciples prepare to eat the Passover meal.  The next section is the actual sharing of the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus gives new meaning to the elements of bread and wine that are used in the Passover meal.  The last section deals briefly with Jesus’ betrayal and the disciples’ response to Jesus’ words.

 

            Key Verse Luke22:17,  “Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks to God.  Then he told the apostles, ‘Take this wine and share it with each other.’”  (Contemporary English Version)

 

Concepts:       

1.  The Last Supper was a Passover meal in Jerusalem before the  crucifixion.

2.  The bread and wine are special symbols and we treat them with respect.

3.  Communion is remembering Jesus.

 

Objectives:   1.

1.       Through the use of a drama technique called “Frozen Picture”, the children will experience the Last Supper.

2.      The children will have a better understanding of who the disciples were and what part they played in the Last Supper.

Procedure:

Welcome and Introductions:

1.  Welcome the kids and introduce yourself.  Wear your name tag.  Make sure that everyone is in the right classroom!  Kids will either already have name tags on, or will get a name tag from their shepherd.  Make sure that you know everyone’s name and greet the students individually.  Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week that may not know you.

 

2. Start the “lesson time” with prayer.  Ask for volunteers, but plan on praying yourself.  A prayer thanking God for the sacrament (use that word – kids need to hear communion referred to as such) of Communion would be appropriate.  Thank God for giving us special symbols to help us remember Jesus and to remember how much God loves us.
Bible Story:

 

1.  Spend some time on the scripture passages referenced above.  Have the kids use their Bibles and locate the above story.   If this is the first week of the rotation, have the kids either follow along as you read the story or take turns reading verses for the class.  Younger kids might not be able to read, but they should be encouraged to find the passage and follow along.  The shepherd can help the class use their Bibles. Highlight parts of the scripture that reinforce the lesson concepts (listed at beginning of this lesson plan) that are demonstrated in these passages.

 

If this is NOT the first week of the rotation, after the kids locate the Bible story in their Bible, have them retell the story in their own words.  You may want to have some questions prepared to help them understand the sequence and encourage them to recall what they have learned in other workshops.

 

2.  Show the kids a copy (as large a copy as you can find, or numerous copies that groups of                   2 or 3 can share) of Da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper.”  Have the kids note how many people are in the picture.  Do they know who the people are?  What is happening in the picture?  What is on the table?

 

3.  Tell the kids they are going recreate that painting and that they are going to assume the poses of the people in the painting.  Before they make the “Frozen Picture,” they will read or hear a little bit about the character/disciple they are going to become in the painting.

 

Application:

 

1.  Prior to starting the ‘acting’, take a few minutes to share some information with the kids about Da Vinci and the famous painting.  There are many children’s art books at the library that contain information about him and show pictures of other famous paintings (Mona Lisa).  Tell the kids where he lived, when he lived and any other information that you think they might find interesting or you feel reflects the concepts of this lesson.

 

2.  Ask the kids again who the people in the painting are.  You might want to write them down on a large chart pad or poster as the kids give the names.  After the kids have given you as many names of disciples as they are able to, tell them the names that Da Vinci used.  We know this information based on other pictures that Da Vinci painted in which he identified those same characters.  (They are sitting in the following order from left to right:  Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, Jesus, Thomas, James the Greater, Philip, Matthew, Thaddeaus, Simon.)

 

3.  Drama!  Decide who is going to play the 13 characters (12 disciples and Jesus).  Have other children set up the scene (see painting for details and props required). 

 

4. Give each character their short ‘monologue’ so they can read through it to prepare.  If you have a really large class, one person could read and the other person could be the character in the painting.  If the group consists of some nonreaders, you can act as Narrator and read the entire script while kids act out the scene. You might also assign some kids to help with costumes.  Try and get costumes that match the colors in the painting as near as possible.

 

5. Decide the best order to have the characters “get into the painting”.  This may not really matter – you will need to help the kids assume their poses once all the characters are in their general location.  Perhaps some of the kids who are not “painting characters” could help pose the painting – checking it against the copies of the painting they examined earlier in class.

 

6. Give each disciple and Jesus his/her monologue.  For the younger classes (1^st and maybe 2^nd), you will probably need to read the part for them ( the shepherd could also take turns reading them).  You could also have different people (men, women, kids, etc.) read the parts and tape record.  Give each child a sign or placard with the disciples’ name on it to hold as the monologue is being read.  After the monologue is read or listened to, have that character go and take their place in the “painting”.  Remove the signs with the disciples’ names before posing in the painting.

 

7.  Once all the characters are posed, take either a digital camera or a Polaroid picture of the scene.*  Do not use a video – still life is what is being looked at here!   Keep all the photos from each group and display them week by week!  

 

8.  Clean Up!  At 10:30 you will need to have kids put away costumes, props and clean the area.  Be sure to leave time for reflection and closing!

 

Reflection Time: 

1.  Shepherds will pass out the journals and pencils/markers.  The children should spend a few minutes reflecting upon the morning’s lesson – What did they learn about a particular disciple?  Who was their favorite disciple?  What was happening at the Last Supper that Da Vinci captured in his painting?

2.  Ask the kids to close their journals and prepare for the closing prayer.

 

Closing: 

The closing is to be a worship experience for you and the children.  The workshop as a whole is modeled after a large corporate worship service.  We praise and pray together in the Great Hall, the children are “preached to” in the Bible Story and Application part of the lesson, reflection time provides a chance for the children to “connect” with the lesson and a chance for confession, and the closing is the place for corporate prayer, praise, lifting up and dismal.  PLEASE DO NOT SKIP A CLOSING!

1.  Ask each child to share a detail from the painting that they noticed.  Remind them that God notices the many “details” of our lives just as they noticed details in the painting.  Remind them that the bread and wine in the painting are special symbols for us – they remind us of Jesus and what Jesus did for us.

2.  Say the Key Verse together.  (See above).  You may want to have this verse printed on a banner and hung in the room or have it on slips of paper that each child can read and take with them.

3. Pray!  Ask the kids if they have any prayer requests.  Thank God for the time spent learning and being together in fellowship. 

 

Teacher preparation in advance:

1.      Prepare an opening prayer in case nobody volunteers to pray.

2.      Write your key scripture verse on a banner and/or print strips of paper with the key verse on them.

3.      Find some information about Da Vinci either in books from the library, home or internet.  There are lots of different children’s art books that should have information about him and other famous paintings.

4.      Find pictures that show Da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper”.  Make these larger on a copy machine that enlarges.  Use color copies if possible.  You may want to check out a few books from the library that would contain this famous painting.  The Museum of Art might have a poster or could order one for you.

5.      Gather costumes from the costume box and supplement with others if needed.  Keep in mind the ages of various classes you will be having with regard to size.  There are more costumes in the storage closet up in the audio room if needed.

6.      Prepare signs with the names of the characters (disciples names and Jesus) if you want to use that idea. Make tent cards from poster board in 8x11sizes, folded lengthwise.

7.      Prepare the tape recording of the monologues, or read through the monologues if you choose to read them yourself.  If you have the shepherd help you read the monologues, be sure to give them to the shepherd at the beginning of the class so that the shepherd will have time to read through the monologues they will be sharing.

8.      Decide what props, tables, chairs, etc. you will need to pose the painting.  Gather these and decide how to use them – with younger classes or classes with fewer numbers you may want to have the scene already set.  You may find that you will not have time to have the kids set the scene, get costumes and do monologues.  The most important parts of the lesson are the monologues and taking the photo.

Materials:

drama props

costumes

biographical information on DaVinci

books, posters, copies of “Last Supper” painting by DaVinci

paper strip with Key verse printed on it (?)

Polaroid or digital camera

Bible

Monologues cut into sections for each disciple

tape recording of monologues (if you choose to do this)

placards or signs with names of disciples

 

References:

Who’s Who in the Bible, Reader’s Digest, 1994

(Monologues written by Toni Dattilo based on information in the above cited reference)

 

DISCIPLE’S MONOLOGUES FOR “LAST SUPPER” FROZEN MOMENT

The disciples are listed in order as they appear in the painting, left to right, as you look at the painting.

 

Bartholomew: 

My name is Bartholomew.  I am the son of Tolmai and one of Jesus’ not so well known disciples.  I am often listed after Philip in the gospels.  Some people say I am also the disciple called Nathaniel.  I once asked Philip, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  I now know that Jesus is something good that came out of Nazareth!

 

James the younger, of the lesser:

My name is James – James the younger!  I am called “the younger” so that you won’t confuse me with the other James.  He is a fisherman – I am not.  I am sometimes called Jesus’ brother.  I stay in the background and keep pretty quiet.  Jesus is the important one, the Son of God, that people come to hear.  I am happy to just watch, listen and learn.

 

Andrew:

My name is Andrew.  I like to tell people that I was Jesus’ first disciple.  I am a fisherman, like my brother Simon Peter.  We make our living fishing the Sea of Galilee.  When I realized who Jesus was, I immediately went to my brother Simon and said, “We have found the Messiah!”.

 

Judas:

My name is Judas.  I am close to Jesus – very close.  I am important to all the disciples too because I am the treasurer of the group.  I have great hopes for Jesus.  He is going to be a great leader and get rid of the Romans!  Of course, he may need my help………

 

Peter: 

My name is Peter – that is what Jesus called me.  Before I met Jesus I was called Simon.  The first time I met Jesus he said that I should be called Peter, which means rock.  I know that Jesus is the Messiah, but I sometimes forget and doubt him.  I really wanted to be able to walk on the water like Jesus did that time in the boat, but just as I nearly reached Jesus, I was afraid and I began to sink into the water!  I wish I could be strong and not feel unsure. 

 

John:

My name is John.  I am the brother of James and the son of Zebedee.  I am one of Jesus’ first disciples.  Like my brother James, I am a fisherman.  I have seen many wonderful things that Jesus has done.  I even saw him bring Jairus’ daughter back to life!   Just this morning Jesus asked Peter and me to go and prepare the Passover meal we are now sharing.  We found everything just as Jesus said we would!  Jesus is very special – I wonder what will happen next.

 

Jesus:

I am Jesus of Nazareth.  I have gathered my friends in this place tonight to share this last meal with me.  They do not know all that is to happen in the next few days, but I do.  Tonight I will share with them the simple food of bread and wine.  I will use those simple foods as symbols to help remind my friends of me when I am taken from them.  I want to remind all who love me that even simple things like bread and drink can help them remember and have faith.

 

Thomas  (with finger raised):

I am Thomas.  I am not one of the more well-known disciples, but I have spoken out one or two times.  For instance, just in the past few days, Jesus decided we had to return to Jerusalem.  Many of the disciples think Jesus is crazy for wanting to go to Jerusalem – there are people here who want to arrest and execute him!  Well, when I realized just how serious Jesus was about coming here, I told the others, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  I love Jesus and will stand by him. 

 

James:

My name is James – yes, another James!  I am the brother of John - you have already met him.  I am, or was, a fisherman.  I fished with John, Peter and Andrew.  I am older than John – guess that is why the other disciple names James is called the younger!  Like John, I am very close to Jesus.  I have seen many of the miracles that Jesus has done – not all of the disciples can say that.  Once Jesus called John and me the “sons of thunder.”  I guess that means Jesus knows we can get a little worked up about things!  I am embarrassed to tell you this, but once John and I even went so far as to ask Jesus if we could sit at his right and left, places of great honor, when Jesus got his kingdom! 

 

Phillip:

I am Phillip.  I live in the same fishing village, Bethsaida, as Andrew, Simon, James and John.  I know a lot about the scriptures and I knew that Jesus was the one the prophets foretold.  However, I don’t always seem to understand what Jesus is trying to tell us.  Like that time Jesus fed the 5,000.  I was worried about how much we could buy with the little money we had.  I couldn’t even imagine that Jesus’ miracle was feed to them all!  I wonder what will happen at this meal…

 

Matthew:

I am Matthew.  I was a tax collector.  People do not like tax collectors.  I was not a good person before Jesus called me.  I collected more than I had too – I lived a good life!  I was astounded when Jesus ate at my house that time.  What a wonderful thing that was.  Jesus told me to follow him, and I did! 

 

Thaddeus:

I am Thaddeus.  I am not one of the disciples that most people know.  My name is hardly mentioned in any of the stories that are told about Jesus.  Some people call me by the name Jude, the son of James.  However, there are already two James who are disciples, so that makes things sort of confusing!  I am one of those disciples who followed Jesus, but didn’t take a leadership role.  Like James the Younger, I watched, listened and learned.  Those are important things too, sometimes even more important than doing!

 

Simon:

My name is Simon.  I am known among us disciples as the ‘eager one.’  At one point in my life I was sure that Jesus was the leader we were looking for to help us force the Romans out of our land.  However, now I am not so sure that Jesus is that kind of leader.  My eagerness has changed – I am even able to call Matthew, the changed tax collector, friend.  I would have never been part of a group with him before I met and followed Jesus.  I sometimes wonder where my new ‘eagerness’ will take me.