by Courtney Kirk | Aug 2, 2018 | Contains affiliate links, I may receive commission., Crafts & Activities, Teaching, Teaching Resources
How often do you see visitors with their kids trying to talk them into going to their bible class, but they are shy and uncomfortable so they quietly protest? This week I was sitting in my adult class just before time to start when I overheard a visitor sitting behind talking to his dad about his first grade daughter. He said, “I thought I was going to have to bring her to class with me until she saw they were playing with Play-doh in her class!” He continued to say, “Usually I tell her she can go to her class or mine and that my class will be boring to her, we don’t get to play. Her response is typically, ‘We don’t get to play in my class either.'” So both this dad and daughter were thrilled when she was playing with Play-doh. He got to enjoy his adult class knowing his daughter was enjoying her children’s bible class.
Was she just playing? Not at all! She was using a Play-doh mat I created of Psalm 23 with these party sized Play-doh cups. She got to give the lamb a tail, make a river and more. She was learning scripture and having fun doing it! Who says Bible class needs to be boring? Not me! Let’s make Bible class a place our kids and their friends actually desire to be. We are not “entertaining” kids, we simply recognize how children learn best and “teach” this way. Your teaching does not have to include Play-doh, but it should capture children’s attention and make them desire to participate.
I’m attaching a copy of the Psalm 23 Play-doh mat I used this week. Feel free to download, copy and use as much as you would like. Send it home with kids to play at home. Want it to last? Laminate it! It’s super easy with a Home Laminator like this one from Amazon and it’s inexpensive. I am working on a full set of 24 at the moment since my kiddo’s enjoyed it so much. You can find all of these as they are uploaded to RaiseKidsForChrist.com on the Story Mats page. I will post when they are ready in the event any of you are interested in using them for your classes or to simply send home with families as a way of intentionally bringing God’s word into the home each week. (This may be a great idea for children’s gifts this Christmas with a small party sized Play-doh.)
Psalm-23-Play-doh-mat.pdf (11749 downloads ) If you are not part of the RaiseKidsForChrist.com community, subscribe here for free downloads and one weekly email with updates of freebies, children’s ministry resources and so much more!
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by Courtney Kirk | Nov 6, 2017 | Teaching, Teaching Resources
How much thought goes into your children’s ministry? Since you are reading this article, I’m guessing you have dedicated some time to this effort. Thank God for you! If we are going to reach children before the age of 13, then we better have a plan. And we better be checking back against that plan to make sure we are staying on course. And we better check our stats and see if what we are doing is effective, because if it’s not, we better adjust.
To effectively reach children, we need to understand children and teach them in a manner that they learn best. So often, we are given a book with lessons and teach straight out of that. There are some great materials out there! Fantastic ideas, but are you teaching them in a manner that really reaches your children, excites them and stays with them? I started down this path when I had a severely ADHD child in one of my classes. The teacher asked me what she could do to keep this child from distracting other kids. I had to give this a lot of thought and prayer. I researched the topic and decided, the kids needed something in their hands.
This led me to Play-doh lessons. It worked great! I made up Play-doh mats for each lesson. All the teacher had to do was read the bible story with enthusiasm, stopping at key points to let the kids create what was on their mats, something from what they just heard. For instance, when we taught on the creation, they would go to the box labeled “Day 1.” In the box would be a light bulb. The kids simple shaped their play-doh over the light bulb on their pages. In the box labeled “Day 2” they filled the cloud with Play-doh. And it continued. This was so simple and the kids loved it!
How did it help with learning? First of all, it was hands-on so every child, from the shy and quiet to the loud and wild, was seated and participating. This is kinesthetic learning. They saw the lesson on their papers and created the pictures so now we are reaching our visual learners. Then we have the story being read aloud and the teacher asking questions allowing kids to answer and repeat. This is auditory learning. I discovered that through something as simple as Play-doh, we were able to cover all three major learning styles. After months of this, I checked in with the classes and was honestly amazed! The kids had retained so much of what they were taught. It was i
I was afraid the Play-doh might get mundane so I added kinetic sand, Silly Putty, play floam and white erase boards. By rotating these things out from week to week, the kids never got tired of one thing; in fact, they got excited when it came back around to their favorite. By the way, the play floam is an all time favorite! I also took out the mats and simple read from the scriptures telling the kids what to create. This worked well. I’d make it too so the kids could watch me and follow along. Plus, they could see that a camel doesn’t half to look like an actual camel. They get a good giggle out of what our items wind up looking like in the end.
On top of it all, this makes lesson preparation incredibly easy. Once you have a set of each in your class, you are set! Review the bible story, select the verses you will read (with enthusiasm) and which you will stop at to create something while reinforcing this part of the lesson. I’ve never had a simple and more effective class than I do now!
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by Courtney Kirk | Nov 3, 2017 | Three on Thursday
TICKLES…
TIPS... As we teach children to know and love God, we are often humbled. The things we learn as teachers. We walk into our bible classes prepared, or so we think. Then there is that one child that could ruin everything if we let him/her. Either this child came to class super hyper and disruptive, pouting and whiney or perhaps picking on other kids. We have seen it all. This is when we say a quick prayer under our breath! “Dear Lord, Please give me patience so I don’t ring this kids neck out…” Just kidding! It probably sounds more like, “Dear Lord, Please give me patience and wisdom so that all of the kids here today learn about you.” When we think we’ve got it figured out God reminds us that we still need help. It’s humbling. Thankfully, He is there to help us through it. Never dismiss the power of prayer with a humble heart.
For this “trouble” child at the moment, you may need to change gears quickly in class. I often have Play-Doh,Silly Putty or other hands on items that can be passed out sooner than later on any given day. Make sure everyone gets this so no one is singled out. Then, have them “create” something that pertains to the lesson of the day. It gets everyone focused.
TRUTH…
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. -James 4:10
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