Pretzel Sunday
Each year, during Lent, all classes get together and make pretzels. We explain the significance of Lent and fasting. We talk about Passover and unleavened bread. We explain that the shape of the pretzel signifies praying hands. Then we bake, eat, and enjoy! We also have a pretzel quiz at the end. The older students help the younger and it is a great lesson.
Teaching the children to pray the ACTS way.
A simple outline for prayer is:
A- Adoration or praise
C- Contrition or I’m sorry
T – Thanksgiving
S – Supplication or requests.
Each Sunday, for four weeks, we discussed one of the letters and what it means in children’s terms. Then we developed a part of a prayer for the letter. On the 4th Sunday we finished our prayer and made copies for the children to take home. Here is their prayer: I love you God and your son Jesus. I’m sorry for any bad things I’ve done. Thank you for our families, pets, friends, food, our homes, our health, our wonderful church, and for giving us your only son, Jesus. We pray for good crops, good water, that we follow your laws, that we read and follow your word, and that you keep our loved ones safe and healthy. All this we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Pretty deep from children 3-6!
The Wedding Feast
We did a unit on Parables and the Parable of the Wedding Feast was great. One of the students dresses as a bride and one as a groom. All came in their very best clothes and, after reading the parable, we talked about what sacraments were and specifically the sacrament of marriage. We then had a special snack which included a wedding cake. The table was elaborately decorated and plenty of pictures were taken. One of my students volunteered that they were never getting married!
The All About Me Cross
At the beginning of each year or when a new student joins the class, we make an “All About Me Cross”. This asks about such things as the child’s favorite color, favorite food, and what they’d like to be when they grow up. This helps us get to know each other and is a great ice-breaker. On the last Sunday of the church school season, we look back at each cross and find out what has changed and what has stayed the same. The children get very excited when things have changed!
Noah’s Ark
We spent several Sunday’s on Noah. The children made masks of their favorite animals; we made doves, and an Ark. The High School Class put together a diorama for my class and did a skit on the Story of Noah. When it was time to load the Ark, my class put on their animal masks and boarded the Ark. We sang the Lord Told Noah song that many of us learned as scouts. We ended the day with a snack of juice and animal crackers. The children really remember this story and were thrilled to share their class with “the big kids”. We even have a room divider that is the Noah theme as a reminder of their favorite story.
