Our Easter Play: An Easy-to-perform Nursery Rhyme Play for Easter(Nursery Rhyme Plays)

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.

About the Author :
Brian Ogden was for many years a teacher and RE advisor for the diocese of Peterborough and Chelmsford. He is author of many popular books in the Barnabas range and a regular speaker in schools, typically sharing his stories and his work with more than 7,000 children in the course of a year.

Review :
From The Association of Christian Teachers - March 2010 The story of 'Our Easter Play' is seen through Peter's eyes, with an adult-read narrative. Peter, John and the woman who recognises Peter have simple speaking parts and there are unlimited miming parts as the other disciples and the 'crowds'. The four songs are set to well-known nursery rhyme tunes such as Three Blind Mice, and cover the journey to the Upper Room, Jesus washing the disciples' feet, Peter and John finding the tomb empty and the breakfast on the beach. There is no song about the crucifixion, but three suitable songs are suggested if required. The music is melody line only with guitar chords and the song words and music are photocopiable. Clear stage directions appear throughout. .The book includes a useful list of props and, for some reason, the template for a paper fish. (A line drawing for the suggested friezes of the Easter Garden and the post-resurrection lake scene might have been more useful for the artistically challenged!) There are no children on stage during the Good Friday narrative, and suggestions for appropriate Easter music at this point are included. Notes explain which FS early learning goals and KS1 RE requirements are covered. At my school, Brian Ogden's Nursery Rhyme Nativity was successfully and enthusiastically performed by Year 1 so I know the idea works! This is a faithful retelling of the events surrounding Easter, but with no explanation of why Jesus was arrested and put to death. This would need to be covered in another way. Reviewed by Marian Smith, Class Teacher and Subject Leader for RE and Music, Elmgrove First School, Harrow, Middlesex