Told David and Goliath last week. Read it straight from Bible. Kids stared at ceiling. One fell asleep on floor.
Next week told same story. Used voices. Did actions. Made sound effects. Kids were leaning forward entire time.
Same story. Just told it different. Changed everything.
Use Different Voices for Characters
Goliath gets deep voice. Really deep. David sounds young and nervous at first then brave. King Saul sounds old and worried.
Makes characters feel real not just words.
Kids laugh at silly voices. Don't care. They're listening. That's what matters.
Kid told me my Pharaoh voice sounded like his grumpy uncle. Fine. At least remembered Pharaoh existed.
Add Sound Effects
Moses parts Red Sea? Whoooosh. Water everywhere. Walls Jericho fall down? CRASH BOOM. Thunder on mountain? Rumble rumble CRACK.
Kids perk up at sounds. Makes story feel alive.
Just use your mouth. Don't need speakers or equipment. Kids think it's cool anyway.
Made donkey sounds during Palm Sunday once. Kids couldn't stop laughing. Still remember that story months later because of stupid donkey noises.
Get Them Moving
Tell kids "March around like you're at Jericho." They march. "Pretend you're fishing." They cast imaginary lines. "Be the wind in storm." They whoosh around.
Moving keeps them way more engaged than sitting.
Had all kids walk between chairs pretending cross Red Sea. Made water sounds while they walked. They were so into it. Wanted do it three more times.
One kid asked if could be fish in Red Sea instead. Sure kid. Be a fish. Whatever keeps you engaged.
Use Props You Have Around
Five loaves two fish? Hold up goldfish crackers and some bread. David's stone? Show rock. Joseph's coat? Wear colorful jacket.
Don't need buy anything fancy. Use what's around.
Used broom handle as shepherd staff once. Kids didn't care wasn't real ancient staff. Thought was cool.
Kid asked if could hold prop during story. Let him. He paid better attention than ever before.
Show Them Don't Tell Them
Don't say "David was brave." Act it out. Show small kid facing huge giant. Show him not running away.
Don't say "disciples were scared." Make scared face. Crouch down. Shake.
Kids get emotions when see them. Not when just hear about them.
Kid asked why making scared face. Explained disciples thought boat was sinking and they'd die. "Ohhh" he said. Got it immediately.
Pause at Good Parts
"David picked up stone... put it in sling... swung it around and around... let it fly..."
Stop between parts. Let them wait. Build tension.
Kids lean in during pauses. Even ones who know story already. Waiting see what happens.
Paused too long once. Kid yelled "TELL US ALREADY." Okay maybe five seconds is long enough.
Make It About Them
After story ask what it means for their lives. Not just what happened back then.
David faced giant. What giants do they face? Bullies? Fear? Hard situations?
Jesus fed people. How can they share what they have?
Connect it or they forget it.
Kid said his Goliath is his mean neighbor. Asked what his slingshot could be. Said being kind even when neighbor's mean. That's exactly right.
Tell It Like You Mean It
If you're bored they're bored. Simple as that.
But if you're excited? If you care? They feel it. They care too.
Be enthusiastic. Move around. Use energy. Show these stories matter.
Not just old stories. Real things that happened with real God who's still real today.
Volunteer read story once like was reading phone book. Monotone. Boring. Kids fell asleep. Literally.
When tell story like actually matters? Kids pay attention.
What Doesn't Work
Reading King James Version word for word. "And it came to pass..." Kids are gone.
Too many extra details. Names they can't pronounce. Backstory they don't need.
Just tell main story. Details can come later.
Making it moral lesson before even finish. Let story be story first. Talk about meaning after.
Standing in one spot not moving. Boring. Move. Use space. Be animated.
Practice Helps
First time told story I messed up order of events. That's fine. Got better.
Practice at home. Try voices. Figure out pauses. Plan sound effects.
Don't memorize script. Just know what happens. Then tell it natural.
Used to be terrible at character voices. Now kids ask for voices. "Do Goliath voice!" They request it. Got better by practicing.
Mistakes Are Fine
Said wrong name? Kids correct you. Good. Means they know story.
Forgot what's next? Ask kids what happens. They tell you. They're involved now.
Voice cracked? Laugh about it. Keep going. Not about being perfect.
Kid corrected character name I said wrong. He was right. I thanked him. He was so proud he knew better than teacher.
Why It Matters
Kids need know Bible stories. Foundation of everything.
But if bored won't remember them. Won't care. Won't see how matters.
Make stories engaging. Make them fun. Make them stick.
Kid went home told parents whole story because was so excited about it. That's what want.
Kid connects Bible story to something in their life. That's goal.
What Use for This
Don't need special materials really. Just stories and creativity.
Gospel Project shows how stories connect bigger picture. That helps.
Kids Sunday School Place keeps age appropriate. Good for younger kids.
Grow Curriculum has ideas for making stories interactive built right in. Gives suggestions. Parent resources good too because kids want stories retold at home.
Read story first yourself. Think how make engaging. Try it with kids. See what works. Do more of that.
What Really After
Not checking box that told story. Want story get through to them.
Want them know stories. Love stories. See themselves in stories.
God helped David? Helps them too. Fed five thousand? Cares about them too. Calmed storm? Has power over their stuff too.
That's transformation not just information.
When kid sees ancient story matters for their life today? That's the moment. That's what after.
Worth practicing silly voices. Worth making sound effects. Worth chaos of getting kids involved.
These stories aren't just stories. They're truth about God who's real and active and powerful.
Kids deserve hear them in way that grabs them and doesn't let go.
