Our Easter Play

by Brian Ogden

Published 20 November 2009
This is a play written to meet the needs of Early Years learning at Foundation and Key Stage One, but of equal value for pre-school nursery groups. It uses popular nursery tunes to tell the story of Easter through the eyes of Peter. Adult participation in songs carries the story line whilst young children participate through simple action. The material is field-tested within the age group. The resource includes music notation and photocopy permission on song sheets and templates. It is suitable for Head teachers, RE coordinators, Foundation and Reception teachers, KS1 teachers and pre-school nursery teachers working with 4-6s in Foundation/Reception and Year One classes and pre-school children. This book offers an easy-to-perform play that teaches the story of Easter through simple drama and original songs set to popular traditional tunes. It introduces the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day through the experiences of Peter, ending with the breakfast on the beach. The drama is carried by an adult taking the role of narrator.
The play can be performed with groups of any size and simple directions, together with ideas for costumes and props, are given to ensure that children are given the opportunity to participate fully in the performance. Also included are tips for setting the stage and plotting the performance, and photocopy permission for all scripts, song lyrics, photocopy sheets and music notation.

Our Christmas Play

by Brian Ogden

Published 17 September 2010
This title presents a play written to meet the needs of Early Years learning at Foundation and Key Stage One, but of equal value for pre-school nursery groups. It uses popular nursery tunes to tell the story of Christmas through the eyes of Joseph. Adult participation in songs carries the story line whilst young children participate through simple action. This title includes the material field-tested within the age group. Resource includes music notation and photocopy permission on song sheets and templates. This is an alternative to the popular "Nursery Rhyme Nativities" which has sold over 6500 copies. It is suitable for head teachers, RE coordinators, Foundation and Reception teachers, KS1 teachers and pre-school nursery teachers working with 4-6s in Foundation/Reception and Year One classes and pre-school children. "Our Christmas Play" is designed to teach the nativity through song and simple drama with the story of Jesus' birth being told mainly through the eyes of Joseph. The play is based on narration with two adults acting as the main narrators. Where children are given speaking lines, the lines are designed to be easy to remember and perform.
The material is ideal for an assembly presentation, as the basis to develop a classroom project linking RE and PSHE/Drama at Foundation and KS1. Simple directions, together with ideas for costumes and props, are given to ensure that the children are given the opportunity to participate fully in the performance. There are also suggestions as to how the play can be performed with the use of puppets, and instructions for making simple puppets as a class activity. Photocopy permission is given for all music notation and activity instructions.