We've done a fair amount of godly play stories at home and I've taught lots to groups at church. But, I've been wanting to teach a group in our home - a godly play party. When I received the Godly Play book 7 on the saints it seemed like great material to try this out on. So we had a Saint Valentine Godly Play party with a few friends on Valentines Day.
We kept the traditional godly play pattern of story, work and then feast. The whole party was after school and not much longer than an hour so that we could be done before dinner time.
I told the story of Saint Valentine (notes on materials below).
For work I had a few options, but also was fine with them just going to play together at whatever they chose. The options for work were telling the story, playing doctor with Rowan's doctor set (Valentine was a doctor), looking at books about various saints, and making valentines (thanks to Jim's Grammie who sent us an amazing box of supplies!)
The feast was simple - I made popcorn and apples. A friend brought some heart cookies.
Overall I was happy with our time together. I'm still not as crazy about the format for these stories and would prefer more action with the figures (and perhaps more figures from the story). The kids did very well, even though a few of them aren't in godly play on a regular basis. Our time together didn't have the sacred feel that Sunday mornings of godly play often have. Part of this was because of the setting and partly because I didn't use the liturgy I normally do with godly play (we didn't light a candle together/ change the light, pass the peace, etc.) I'm not sure that I would do this differently if I was doing it again. I was fine with it having more of a party feel.
Has anyone else tried having godly play with more than your own children in your home? If so, how did it go? What did you like and what would you change?
Notes on Materials:
St. Valentine is made on a bendy rope and wood doll
like these. He is dressed in white wool with a wool felt stole, robe and hat. His hair is wool yarn. The Godly Play curriculum dresses him as a roman. He would not have worn priestly garb much as he had to be secretive (Christianity was outlawed during his time). However, I chose to dress him as many statues and artwork of St. Valentine are depicted - in red priestly garments.
The Crocus is stitched from wool felt. This falls from the note that Saint Valentine sends to a little blind girl and is the first thing she sees upon being miraculously healed.
The Note says 'From your Valentine' and I tied it with a red ribbon.
The Mortar and Pestle are to represent how Valentine was a doctor. I need to look for a small one of these - I borrowed a friends large one for the story.
by Martha Zimmerman, but also added some of my own. I made fourteen thinking we would do one a day, but they didn't get finished in time and we did several a night sporadically over the past week.
by Robert Sobuda and/or Saint Valentine
by Ann Tompert with the boys later. I like both of these retellings, probably enjoying the mosaic illustrations of the former and the text of the latter best. Tompert does a nice job of sharing the story while alluding to the historical uncertainty behind specific events. I was planning on reading Topart's book to Jonah's class today as it is a very ecumenical group of families, some of who would be less familiar (and perhaps comfortable) with the stories of the saints.
For work I had a few options, but also was fine with them just going to play together at whatever they chose. The options for work were telling the story, playing doctor with Rowan's doctor set (Valentine was a doctor), looking at books about various saints, and making valentines (thanks to Jim's Grammie who sent us an amazing box of supplies!)
