Storm on the Lake: Ideas for Infant Teachers

• Without reading the story to the children, set out your props of a generous box (the boat) and huge wafty piece of blue material. Tell the story with the children as the (unprepared) cast. You might begin, "Here is a story about something that happened with Jesus." Tell the story as dramatically as possible, with the children acting the parts. Although there are only a token number of 'friends' in the boat with Jesus, all can participate by adding to the dreadful storm noises. The story will never be quite the same twice!
• Immediately afterwards, have a time of reflection round a candle. Invite the children to think about what feelings Jesus' friends might have had at the rage of the storm, when Jesus was sleeping and when the storm calmed down.
• To consolidate and give time for the story to become personal, give the children an activity - making a boat from card, cutting it out and attaching it to a 'stormy' background with a split pin, so that it rocks. The children could take this home with a challenge to try to remember the story and tell it to someone at home.

With years 1 and 2 you might additionally:

• Read the story from a simple but accurate text. You might like to use the version on the Infants section of this site.

• Have circle time, during which the children could relate the story to their own experiences of fear and relief.
• Use the worksheet. This is designed to recall the main elements of the story and requires each child to remember a personal experience when they have been helped, or have helped someone else who was frightened. This is the work kept for assessment of the child's insight into the story.