Emma raises her hand middle of my Daniel lion's den story goes "Can we BE the lions instead of just sitting here?"
About to say no like always because dramas are chaos and take forever and someone ends up crying.
But then look around and these kids literally falling asleep. Marcus making airplane noises with his pencil. Tyler staring at ceiling like there's movie playing up there.
You know what? Fine. Let's try it.
"Okay Emma you can be lion. Who else wants to be lions?"
Every single hand shoots up. Even quiet kids who never volunteer for anything ever.
Half hour later had most ridiculous chaotic amazing Daniel production ever. Kids crawling around roaring like actual lions. Daniel dramatically praying in corner. King pacing wringing his hands like world's ending.
Complete madness. Also most engaged I'd seen these kids in months.
That's when hit me. Been doing story time totally wrong. Instead having kids sit there like little statues should let them jump up and BE the story.
David Goliath thing is perfect because every kid wants be either brave hero or scary giant. Made giant shield and sword for Goliath out of cardboard boxes from supply closet.
Goliath stomps around yelling about how he's gonna crush everyone. Kids eat this up. David starts scared hiding behind other Israelites.
When David finally steps up fight everyone goes absolutely crazy. Goliath falls down spectacularly.
Last time we did this Marcus fell down so dramatically he knocked over three chairs. Kids thought it was hilarious. Just rolled with it.
Noah's ark gives kids permission crawl around making animal noises for Jesus basically. Elephants stomping trumpeting. Lions roaring. Monkeys swinging chattering.
Tyler who cannot sit still gets stomp around being elephant twenty minutes. Perfect match for his energy level.
Had one kid insist on being giraffe which meant she walked around with arms stretched way up high whole time. Looked ridiculous but she was totally into it.
Kids remember stories way better when they've acted them out instead just heard them sitting still.
Even shy kids participate because they're part group effort not performing solo spotlight.
Marcus went from disrupting story time to asking if we can act out more Bible stories every week.
That's when you know something's actually working instead just keeping them busy.
For teachers discovering movement beats sitting still, leaders learning chaos can be good actually, anyone tired of watching kids fall asleep during Bible stories.
