I made the changes to the script as I mentioned I would last year in "The Reenactment of the Last Supper" by simplifying the words. It went perfectly and no one stumbled or needed help in reading. I also lengthened the play to add the scenes of the arrest in the Garden and the Crucifixion. It now takes an hour.
It appeared to be the perfect amount of time for the play as the children weren't begging to stay in their costumes as they usually are. I am thinking of perhaps adding the Resurrection but doing that in another session. That's something for me to consider in the future. My schedule is full for Lent. This week we have our First Reconciliation during class time. That has worked out so much better for us than doing it on a Saturday. The week after that we will do the "Meditations of the Passion," and the next week, the "Liturgy of the Light Ceremony."
This is how I dressed the prayer table for Lent. I've kept the True Vine cross with grapes on the prayer table and have made two posters. One is "What is Lent?" and on the back, "When is Lent?" On the right is a poster of the Paschal Candle. I've included the question on the bottom of the Lent poster, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?" Then I asked, "Why did the Jewish leaders want Jesus crucified?" I wanted to make sure they understood these difficult responses before doing the Reenactment of the Last Supper. I was happy in that at least three could answer each of these questions. I've found that even though I can't always elicit answers from the others, they are thinking hard but just can't form the words. Also, I have all 2nd graders this year. In the past I've had 3rd graders as well and they ask very deep and thought provoking questions.
I set up the low tables before the children come in with the script booklets and names of the apostles, Mary and Mary Magdalene. I've always included these women and it was especially appropriate this time because we did the crucifixion and I wanted them to be at the foot of the cross.
On the small table above is the wine chalice and the plate we will use. I bring in Strawberry Lemonade for the wine and two bags of 20 tortillas for my two classes on Wednesday and Thursday. I have 9 children in the Wednesday class and 15 in the Thursday class. I lay one tortilla on the plate and a little lemonade in the chalice, telling the children that this is a play and they can pretend to break a piece off and take a sip. They usually don't want to pretend with the tortillas.
They take the play very seriously and I stand on the side directing the scenes for those who didn't know it was their turn to speak. I forgot to mention that I also lengthened the play by adding many narrations so that everyone would have a part. So now they can't loose their place. Children with reading and learning disabilities will need the extra help, of course. I also added under their Apostle name on the name tags, the number of their narration part and the two who are soldiers who arrest Jesus.
When the Reenactment is over they ask if they can have a tortilla and they also get to enjoy the Strawberry Lemonade in paper cups - a little celebration for getting through the play and a job well done.
It appeared to be the perfect amount of time for the play as the children weren't begging to stay in their costumes as they usually are. I am thinking of perhaps adding the Resurrection but doing that in another session. That's something for me to consider in the future. My schedule is full for Lent. This week we have our First Reconciliation during class time. That has worked out so much better for us than doing it on a Saturday. The week after that we will do the "Meditations of the Passion," and the next week, the "Liturgy of the Light Ceremony."
This is how I dressed the prayer table for Lent. I've kept the True Vine cross with grapes on the prayer table and have made two posters. One is "What is Lent?" and on the back, "When is Lent?" On the right is a poster of the Paschal Candle. I've included the question on the bottom of the Lent poster, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?" Then I asked, "Why did the Jewish leaders want Jesus crucified?" I wanted to make sure they understood these difficult responses before doing the Reenactment of the Last Supper. I was happy in that at least three could answer each of these questions. I've found that even though I can't always elicit answers from the others, they are thinking hard but just can't form the words. Also, I have all 2nd graders this year. In the past I've had 3rd graders as well and they ask very deep and thought provoking questions.
I set up the low tables before the children come in with the script booklets and names of the apostles, Mary and Mary Magdalene. I've always included these women and it was especially appropriate this time because we did the crucifixion and I wanted them to be at the foot of the cross.On the small table above is the wine chalice and the plate we will use. I bring in Strawberry Lemonade for the wine and two bags of 20 tortillas for my two classes on Wednesday and Thursday. I have 9 children in the Wednesday class and 15 in the Thursday class. I lay one tortilla on the plate and a little lemonade in the chalice, telling the children that this is a play and they can pretend to break a piece off and take a sip. They usually don't want to pretend with the tortillas.
When the Reenactment is over they ask if they can have a tortilla and they also get to enjoy the Strawberry Lemonade in paper cups - a little celebration for getting through the play and a job well done.
Reenactment of the Last Supper - 2020
My aide and I getting the children ready to begin. As there are no parts for the Apostles except John and Peter, the other children have
a few narrations each. We're showing them how to look for them.
