Nativity play kit

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By David Clayton, Garry Slack and Helen Watts

This on-screen kit will help children to write a play script of the Nativity story and perform it. It contains extracts from The Shining Signing Star (by Garry Slack), signs to go with the script, a song from the play, background scenes and character cut-outs, plus tips for performing a play and how to rehearse effectively.

This is not intended for use as a single lesson; it will be a unit of work developed over several days or even a week or two, depending on your desired outcome.

Shared teaching and learning

Before reading

Discuss with the children what a play script is and how this differs from narrative. Tell the children that this unit of work will help them to write their own play scripts for the Nativity story and look at the contents of the kit and relate these to the things they will need to consider when writing their play.
Look at the way the extract from The Shining Signing Star is set out. Make a list of key features which you can use when writing your own play scripts.
Ask the children to share the story of the Nativity as they remember it. Make a list of characters and settings from the story. Cross-reference these with those in the kit.