Queen+Vaideihi+Play

=**Title: Queen Vaideihi Shadow Puppet Play**=

**Status: MODERATED**

Objective:

 * After this lesson, the student will understand the story behind the Meditation Sutra

Materials:

 * Stage (alt. a rear projection screen)
 * Butcher paper (8 feet x 3 feet)
 * Tape
 * 2x 5 feet long PVC piping
 * Script: [|Queen Vaideihi Play]
 * Pens
 * Projector capable of "flipping" the picture for rear projection
 * Chopsticks (ten or so, depending on use)
 * Black heavy stock paper
 * Scissors
 * Brads (to make articulated limbs)
 * Powerpoint presentation of the [|scenary]
 * Laptop

Preparation:
This is at least a 4 day lesson: 1 to start and design the puppet 2. to finish the puppets, 3. to rehearse and 4 to present.
 * If desired and if needed, create the "screen" by:
 * 1) Putting down a large 8x3 ft table on its side. (table top toward audience)
 * 2) Taping the PVC pipes vertically to the table legs
 * 3) Tape the butcher paper across the pipes
 * Setup the projector for rear projection
 * Connect the laptop to the projector.
 * Bring up the powerpoint presentation on the laptop

Method:

 * 1) Opening Gassho,
 * 2) Introduce or Review (verbally) the Meditation Sutra
 * 3) One of the 3 Pure Land Sutras
 * 4) Unlike the others it tells a story with Shakamuni Buddha in it.
 * 5) It has a section where the Shakamuni Buddha talks of images of the Pure Land to comtemplate which will bring about Enlightenment. That is why sometimes this sutra is called the "Comtemplation Sutra"
 * 6) Show the San Jose Betsuin video (13 min)
 * 7) Explain the parts of the script. Assign parts (does not have to be the final assignments)
 * 8) Read the script.
 * 9) Have the students design and make the puppets. They may choose to articulate the arm or not.
 * 10) Assign to teams for each character.
 * 11) Use pencil to draw out the outlines.
 * 12) Cut out
 * 13) Put chopsticks on the bottom so they can be moved. Use tape to put them on well.
 * 14) The key is that the students design the puppets although to save time (especially for the younger grades, they may already be outlined. )
 * 15) Rehearse.
 * 16) You need at least 3 puppeteers and one person to control the powerpoint
 * 17) Practice a scene at a time.
 * 18) Invite other grades/parents to a presentation
 * 19) Present.
 * 20) This may be recorded.
 * 21) Review
 * 22) Ask the students what they liked, what they learned. This maybe done at the beginning of the next section.

Evaluation:

 * Review.

Note:
It is possible to record the whole thing in order to present it to a larger group. This presentation will only work for about 16 people in the audience as the screen is small.

Author:
Mas Nishimura nish221.at.gmail.com, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 2014 ||