CHRISTMAS
The Christmas Story
Improvisation
Mary is visited by an angel. How does she feel when she sees the angel? What do they say to each other? What is Mary's reaction when the angel tells her that she is going to be the mother of the baby, Jesus.
Mary tells Joseph about the angel's visit. He finds it hard to believe at first, until an angel convinces him of the truth in a dream.
The Romans declare that everyone must return to their birthplace to be registered for taxation. That means a lengthy trek to Bethlehem, which will not be easy for Mary, who is expecting the baby at any time.
When they eventually arrive there, Mary and Joseph try to find somewhere to stay for the night. Innkeepers express their regret and try to suggest other alternatives. Eventually the stable is suggested.
Herod hears that some Wise Men are seeking a new born king. This angers him, as he is the King. He sends his men to find them. They bring the Wise men to him. He is keen to find the baby, too and tries to give the impression that he would like to worship him. He asks the Wise Men to inform him when they find the child.
Some shepherds on a hillside are visited by the Angel Gabriel who tells them where the Messiah has been born.
The scene in the stable. Plan a crib scene using children as models. Show where the shepherds, Wise Men, Mary, Joseph and the animals are standing.
The wise men have found the child and discuss what they have seen. An angel warns them that Herod is planning to harm the child. They decide to head back home as fast as they can.
An angry Herod is suspicious when the Wise Men do not return. He orders his soldiers to kill all new born babies.
Mary and Joseph are told by an angel that Herod is planning to harm the child. They escape before he can find them.
Other Christmas Ideas
Imagine that some children followed the Wise Men to the stable. They tell their friends what they saw.
A friend from a far off country has never heard about Christmas. What do you tell that friend?
.Imagine that they had television or radio at the time of the first Christmas. How might it have been reported? Who might have been interviewed and what might they have said?
A Story For Development by Improvisation For a Christmas Production
'The Magic of Christmas'
Suzie and Sam are writing the last of their Christmas cards. They talk about the cards they have been sent and remember some of the people to whom they have sent cards. They ask their mother why people send cards and give presents at Christmas. (Discuss this with the class. The child playing Mum can represent the opinions of the group in her answer.)
Some friends knock at the door. They are carol singing and Mum invites them in. They talk about the charities will benefit by the donations they receive and why they have chosen them.
The postman arrives with a parcel and a Christmas cake, which has the message, "Must be eaten at once".
They do not know who it is from, but reach the opinion that someone must have forgotten to put a label on it.
Mum shares the cake with the children, who happily remember the people who have sent them cards and discuss some of the Christmas scenes depicted on them with their visitors.
One card is rather odd. It has no Christmas message on it at all, but simply contains a photograph of a strange old man dressed like a wizard.
The children are a little frightened at first. Mum tells them not to be afraid, for it is from Uncle Silas, a notoriously eccentric member of the family (on their father's side, she hastens to add) who lives in a dark and dreary castle somewhere in the Scottish Highlands.
He is a recluse, who has little time for the human race, let alone for children.
He has never been known to leave the castle which is, she thinks, a good thing on the whole, for he is, by all accounts, a most unpleasant fellow.
The children cannot understand why he has sent them a card, but mum reminds them that, "There is no mention of Christmas on it and the card is probably intended to make them feel miserable."
One by one the children begin to feel tired and are on the verge of nodding off to sleep when Suzie notices that Uncle Silas has disappeared from the photograph, leaving only an empty shape.
Uncle Silas appears and tells them that now they have eaten the cake they are in his power. He uses his magical powers to transport them to his Scottish castle.
They find themselves in his gloomy castle.
He boasts that he has imprisoned people and things that represent Christmas in picture frames using the magic that carried him from his castle to their homes in a photograph. He hates Christmas. He says he will bring each Christmas scene to life for the last time and as midnight strikes on Christmas Eve, he will destroy them all and Christmas and all it represents will be lost forever .
The children, along with the audience, view each picture in turn, watching the figures come to life and act out their scenes.
Scenes Can Include The Following:
Musical and drama activities performed by each class.
Short scenes acted out by groups within classes, who may decide for themselves which aspects ought to he included and which ought to be omitted.
Christmas carols.
Novelty Songs (e.g. 'When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney.')
Ending
Uncle Silas reminds everyone that Christmas will be destroyed once the final scene has been revealed.
The picture frame shows the Nativity. The characters represented in it tell Uncle Silas why he cannot destroy Christmas.
Uncle Silas, now convinced that he is trying to rid the world of something far more powerful than his own magic, declines to attempt to work his wicked spell and decides that there is a lot to be said for Christmas after all.
They all sing a happy Christmas song together.
© Andrew McCann