"1. Select a story with care; then adapt it for telling.

2. Tell the story, emphasizing the essential parts. 3. Let the children divide the story into pictures or

scenes.

4. Have a discussion of what should take place in each scene.

5. Let volunteers from among the children act out one scene as they think it should be done, using their own words.

6. Develop criticism by the other children with suggestions for improvements.

7. Have a second acting of the scene for improve

ment.

8. Let each of the other scenes be worked out in the same manner.

9. See that every child has the chance to try out many parts.

10. Play the story through many times. Change it often according to the criticism, until the children recognize the result as a product of their best effort.

11. With the help of the children change the words into Biblical form.

12. Let the group assign definite parts to be learned for the final performance." Used by permission of University of Chicago Press.

5. Costuming.

(a) For Bible Stories. Costumes for dramatizing Bible stories are not a necessity. Some stories can successfully be dramatized without any costume. If

any is used it should be simple. The children themselves should be put to the task of choosing their own costume. This can be done by them if some wise suggestion is made by the teacher or reference is made to customs of dress in Bible times. Care should be taken not to stress the costume. If the children think most of how they appear they fail to live the life of the character they represent. A mere sash around the head will often satisfy and will help to produce the proper atmosphere of the play. It is highly important that the selection of the costume be made when practice begins on a play that is purposed to be given publicly. This will enable the children to live over the lives of the characters they represent and to be less conscious of how they are costumed.

Since most of our dramatization will be based on Bible stories the costumes will be simple and easy to prepare. The Hebrews were simple in their dress and habits of life. Nothing is definitely known about the dress of the Hebrews from the Bible record. Our artists, however, have gleaned from ancient architecture and have given us the common accepted simple Arabic costume. The outside garment of the Jews was a long loose robe, often highly striped with some brilliant color with white. A good representation of this may be made by using a blanket or couch spread. Throw one end over the left shoulder. Pass it across the front of the body and under the right arm; then throw across the back and to the left shoulder again. Another easy representation is by use of a long gown or bath robe banded with a girdle at the waist. For

Crowns for kings, helmets

the head dress a turban can be made from a strip of cloth rolled about the head. Sandals were the common foot wear, for both men and women. These were strapped about the feet and ankles. House slippers may be used for the sandals with straps to represent the oriental custom. The dress of men and women was very much the same. for soldiers and ornaments of all kinds should be supplied. Colored beads, rings and bracelets were common to men and women. These effects can be produced by children making these ornaments from gold and silver paper. It can readily be seen that with this simple costume the children could easily make their own choices after the teacher has made wise suggestions. A poor costume chosen and made by the child will have more educational value than a very fitting one selected, made and placed upon the child.

(b) For Missionary Stories. Where a missionary story is to be dramatized or a missionary pageant is given the following national costumes will be found helpful.

Make the kimonos for children under ten years old of bright flowered material. Those over ten should have gray, brown, or darkish-colored cloth. The general shape may be taken from a large kimono. The girls have the long flowing sleeves and wide sashes or obis which go around the waist and tie behind. 1 From "Children at Play in Many Lands," by Katharine Stanley Hall. By permission of the Missionary Education Movement.

The boys have tight sleeves and no sash, but a narrow band of the same material which fastens in front.

Girls over fifteen should wear the modern school girls' dress of Japan. It consists of the kimono, which must be of some dark material, and a full plaited skirt, red in color. The skirt has openings on the two sides, and is fastened on over the kimono by tapes made of the same material, two tying in front and two at the back.

The straw sandals may be bought at a Japanese

store.

1

KOREAN

Costume for Girls. Very full baggy trousers, made of white cloth, coming down to the ankles; over this goes the outer skirt; it is not seamed up in the back, and is more like an apron; it has long tie strings of the same material which lap over at the back and tie in front. Any light, pale-colored material may be used; blue, pink, or yellow is good. The jacket is low-necked and has elbow sleeves. It is tied in front with two sets of tape strings made of the same material. Outer skirt and jacket should be of the same material.

Costume for Boys. Long, very full trousers, made of white cloth. They are held in place by a strip of muslin or belt. The long outer coat comes down to the ankles; the sleeves are rather tight and come down to the wrist. The coat is double-breasted and ties in

1 From "Children at Play in Many Lands," by Katharine Stanley Hall. By permission of the Missionary Education Movement.

front with two tapes of the same material. Any lightcolored material may be used.

CHINESE

1

The costumes for the girls and boys can be made practically the same. Use blue cotton cloth; of course, other colors may be used, but the dull blue is more characteristically Chinese. Both boys and girls have long trousers. The girls have a band of embroidery or plain material around the bottom of theirs.

The boys have rather long coats. They are fastened together by loops made of tape and knotted tape buttons on the right side, closing up to the throat. Over the coat the boys wear a vest, sleeveless, buttoning also on the side. Often the vest is made of black cloth.

The girls have short coats, coming just below their hips. They fasten like those for boys. The sleeves are straight, and do not come into a tight cuff at the wrist. Often the girls' coats are edged with embroidery or plain material. Black is very effective.

Hindu Costume for Girls. One piece of cotton goods, about a yard wide and ten yards long, of any color. More effective ones could be made with borders. The sari is wound around the waist. The first winding should be rather tight. A number of plaits are laid in the back and more in the front, and should reach below the ankles, leaving sufficient material to

1 From "Children at Play in Many Lands." Used by permission.