Journey Land Workshop Leaders Needed Starting January 16th

Our elementary children attend Journey Land on Sunday mornings. Each week, they get to visit a different workshop, a class that is designed around a particular learning style. This style of ministry we often say has, "the creativity of VBS with the depth of Bible Class".

The workshops are very easy to teach. Teachers receive a curriculum guide with a full lesson plan. They then prepare one REALLY GOOD lesson, and, teach it for 6 weeks. Teachers love that they can put the time and effort into that one REALLY GOOD lesson and perfect it as they go through the rotations.

We only have two openings on our team right now! That's really amazing to me because more and more, our teachers are saying this is so easy and fun, they want to just keep going with it!

For this next rotation, we need a STORY Workshop leader and a THEATER Workshop leader. Our lesson topics will the Trial and Death of Jesus. I have the curriculum ready for the teacher and can even help you work it up over the Christmas holidays.

Let me know if you would like to lead the story or theater workshops. This is your chance to touch the lives of children with the Good News of Jesus!

12 Apostles Game

One of our Bible skills we are focusing on for the next 6 weeks in Journey Land is knowing the names of the 12 apostles and a fact or two about each one.

Click here for a fun computer game I found today that is FREE! This will be good for you 3rd graders and up. Younger kids might be frustrated with the game unless you give them a list of correctly spelled names.

Here is another FREE GAME website, click here. This website actually has two games, one game allows kids to match the apostle with the fact. The other game is a memory game, which may be helpful to younger kids that are just trying to learn these funny Bible names. We will probably use the matching game in "JourneyLand Park" where we review the Bible story, skills and verse in each rotation.

Journey Land Musuem

Each week, elementary children get to attend Journey Land during our Sunday AM Bible Class. The goal of Journey Land is to increase the depth of our Bible study, while, aknowledging every child is different and have their own learning style.

The Journey Land Musuem focuses on teaching children about Bible places and culture. Melissa Green has just finished decorating this room and we think the kids are going to say "WOW"! I know I did!

Our goal is to eventually have all of our rooms with that "VBS flare" so that our children's ministry environment is exciting and attractive to children while taking their Biblical education to the next level.

Thanks Missi for all of your hard work!

Journey Land Rotation Kick-Off: The Last Supper and Arrest

Journey Land, our Sunday AM Bible Class for elementary students Kindergarten - 5th grade, kicks off a new "theme" this next Sunday morning.

For over a year, we have been journeying through the life of Jesus. Sunday, October 24th, we will begin a new theme, "The Last Supper and Arrest". I know it's not the "right time of year" to start into this portion of Jesus life. But, the Journey Land concept is giving the kids real opportunity to dig deep into God's Word and understand His plan.

This Sunday, we will review the objectives from the last rotation and kick-off the follow objectives. You may want to review these at home with your children.
1) Reading with them the passages
a. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey & clears the temple (John 12:12-18)
b. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-10)
c. Last Supper (Mt. 26:20-30; Mk. 14:17-26; Lk. 22:14-30; Jn. 13:21-30)
d. Garden of Gethsemane and Arrest (Mt. 26:35-56; Mk. 14:32-52; Lk. 22:33-
52; Jn. 18:1-11)
2) Practice with them the names of the 12 disciples. Continue to review the books of the New Testament.
3) Practice the memory verses: Luke 22:19b, John 3:16,17
4) Use the Lord's Supper each week to help your child understand what each element represents. It's ok to whisper it in their ear. Remind them that Christians take the Lord Supper to remember that Jesus gave His life for us to deliver us from sin.

New Journey Land Rotations Start Sunday Morning

Every 2 months or so, we introduce a new theme in Journey Land, Sunday AM Bible classes for elementary kids. Here's some information for teachers and parents on our current lesson objectives, memory verse, and other helpful stuff.
Theme
The theme for the next 7 weeks is "Parables of Jesus". This will be the first of two rotations focused on the parables.

Memory Verse
We will emphasize 1 John 4:7 during "The Gathering" before sending kids on their journey. Matthew 13:34-35 will also be introduced in several of the rotations but not be the focus of our memory verses.

Stories Emphasized
We will teaching these parables throughout the course of the next 7 weeks:
1. Parables about using wealth wisely (The Rich Fool – Luke 12:16-21;
The Great Feast – Luke 14:16-24; Shrewd Manager – Luke 16:1-9)
2. Parable about forgiveness and mercy (Unforgiving Servant – Matthew
18:21-25)
3. Parable on whom we should love (Good Samaritan – Luke 10:30-37)
4. Parables on service and obedience (Workers in the Harvest – Matthew 20:1-
16; Talents given to servants – Matthew 25:14-30)

Bible Skills Emphasized
You may remember that we started tracking attendance and Bibles brought to class last rotation. We will continue to do this and emphasize using the children's own Bible's to look up Scriptures. We want all the children to become more proficient at using their Bibles.

This rotation includes some very interesting lesson plans. Not only will the children learn a lot about Jesus' teachings, they will also get to have some pretty neat experiences in Games, Maps and Culture, and Crafts. I hope everyone takes advantage of these great classes for kids!

The Disciple Song

Last Sunday morning, I promised the kids that anyone who could name the 12 disciples (or sing the song) can draw from a prize box. Those sweet, cunning children talked me into a grand prize next, so, anyone that does it can be part of a grand prize drawing.

So, I just looked all over YouTube for a video of the song that we are teaching the children. I didn't find a good one so we will record your children singing the song and I will post it next week for any parent that wants to practice at home.

The kids will have a couple of weeks to show us that they learned the names of the 12 disciples. If they don't know it this week, no worries, they can do it one of the following weeks.

Bring Your Bible Challenge - Week 2

I forgot to look at our chart, so I don't know the actual percentage but we did have a few more Bibles make their way into our classroom.

Mrs. Carri talked to the kids about bringing their Bibles today in Worship 411. She said it was like bringing your gym shoes to gym class, you can still run without them but it works much better when you have the right equipment.

A friend of mine, Lynn Leaming, mentioned that bringing our Bibles to Bible class is like having all your books (supplies and homework) for school, you wouldn't think of going to school without those things.

So, let's instill in our children the value of having their own personal Bible's with them in class. Good job to the kids and parents that stepped it up this week!

From 2006-01-22

From 2006-01-22

Bring Your Bible Challenge - Week 1

Parents, I now have a good idea of how many kids bring their Bibles to Journey Land. We are starting our challenge at 15%. Great news, we can only go up! Remind your kids to BRING THEIR BIBLES! We do use them in class.

The Lords Prayer in Sign Language

One of the concepts your children will learn in Journey Land is the Lord's Prayer. So, tomorrow, I'm subbing in the Music and Memory class and we are going to use this video in class to learn the Lord's Prayer in Sign Language. I'm posting it here so you can practice at home if you'd like.

Bring Your Bible Challenge

On any given Sunday, if I asked kids to show me their Bibles, I would have 3 kids that would have their own Bibles.

So, we will begin the Bring Your Bible Challenge this Sunday morning for the elementary students in Journey Land. We've advertised this to the kids, they know it's coming.

Parents you can help your children by reminding them to bring their Bibles this Sunday and every other Sunday morning.

I will keep track of the Bibles brought and at the end of each 6-week rotation, I will reward the class that had the highest percentage of personal Bibles with a party.

If your child does not have a Bible, I can recommend several. If buying a Bible right now is a hardship, I have quite a few I can give away. Every child should have their own Bible and know how to use it.

Journey Land Bible Class

Last Sunday I got the rare chance to teach the Journey Land Bible story class. The 4th/5th worked hard, looking up and reading a variety of Scriptures that talked about Jesus Baptism, Temptation and the Calling of the Disciples. Here are a few pictures of your kids as they study the Bible.

Elementary Sunday Mornings - What Should My Child Know October/November

Two weeks ago we started a new rotation in Journey Land. This rotation focuses on Jesus baptism, Temptation, and the call of the disciples.

By the end of the rotation, your child should know:
Story: Christ's Baptism, Temptation and Disciples,
References: Matthew 3-4:22, Mark 1:1-12, 3:13-19, Luke 3-4:13, 6:12-16, John 1:19-50, 3:22-36
Memory Verse: Matthew 3:17, 1 John 4:7-8
God's Plan: God's plan for Christ's ministry was for Christ to "fulfill all righteousness" by being baptized, resisting temptation, and picking disciples to spread the "good news" (gospel) about God's Love.
Spiritual Concept: Baptism for remission of sins
Bible Facts: Names of the disciples
Culture: Worship in Jesus' time, what was the synagogue like?
Maps: Judea and Jesus' ministry

This information is meant to be used as a resource for at-home study and discussion. If you have additional questions about the elementary material, please contact me.

Journey Land Art Center

This rotation our children are learning about Jesus baptism, the temptation, and the calling of the first disciples. Here, in Art Class, children learn about sin and baptism. They are making soap to learn how sin is repelled by forgiveness just as dirt is repelled by soap. Enjoy these pictures of our third graders in Art Class.

Rabbi Bob Visits Journey Land

Sunday morning, we concluded our "Unto Us a Savior Is Born" rotation. Each six weeks, as we conclude a rotation, we will have a day dedicated to wrapping up and assessing the unit we are concluding as well as kicking off the next unit. Here are the pictures from this Sunday. As you can see, each child met as a group with their group leaders. The group leaders played a few fun review games with the kids in order to determine how much of the unit the children remember. All group leaders report that our children did quite well! Your kids did especially well using a map to retell the story of Jesus' birth.

Then, we had a special guest, Rabbi Bob. You can see Rabbi Bob in these pictures. We want to help the children know what it was like to go to a synagogue. Rabbi Bob visited with us and helped us understand some of the Jewish traditions and culture, such as:
1) The Torah is the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
2) That we always stand in synagogue when scripture is read. (We will be practicing this tradition this whole rotation out of respect for God's Word).
3) That the prayer shawl symbolizes a personal temple and that is why it was worn over the head when a Jew prays to God.
4) That the Rabbi would stand to read Scripture, because that is from God, but, would sit to teach, because the teaching was from the Rabbi.
5) That by the time a child was 10 years old they would have memorized the Torah.
6) There are three doors in a synagogue but the middle one is reserved for the Messiah only.

The children and adults all loved the visit from Rabbi Bob. In fact, there were many questions from the kids, which will be answered over the course of the next six weeks on a special slide "Rabbi Bob Says" slide during the opening assembly of Journey Land each week.

If you have a question for Rabbi Bob, submit it to me via the comments or at kwcoccfm@gmail.com.

AND, A HUGE SPECIAL THANKS to Bob Ethington who did a wonderful job playing our friend, "Rabbi Bob"!

Also, big thanks to my husband for building the synagogue set on Saturday that added to the day!

Inside Journey Land - Unto Us a Savior Is Born

This is a peak into four of the six workshops presented during the "Unto Us A Savior Is Born" rotation. Each age group travels to a different workshop each week, after starting in the opening assembly where we review and practice the memory verse. The other two workshops are Storytelling and Music and Memory.
Maps and Culture: Learning about the Holy Land and the languages Jesus spoke
Arts and Crafts: They reviewed the names of Jesus and made a candle with the names to take home.
Games: This review class did a walk through on map of Israel, practiced their memory verse and played Jeopardy to review the lessons they have learned.
Theater: The students practiced and performed a script that told the story of the birth of Christ.

"Unto Us a Savior Is Born!" - Elementary Rotation #1

These are the objectives that your child should be familiar with by the end of the 1st rotation, which concludes in mid-October.

Theme: God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to save us.
Scripture Reference: Matthew 2, Luke 2, Micah 5:2

Memory Verse: John 3:16, Luke 2:52

Application: Like Jesus, we should grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.

What your child should know at the conclusion of the 6 weeks:
1) Children will know the names of all four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
2) Children will know the story of Jesus birth and childhood and be able to recall the story.
3) Children will know the meaning of the words: gospel, Messiah, prophet, salvation, wisdom and stature.
4) Children will be able to explain the meaning of the name "Jesus" ("the Lord Saves") and recite several other names by which Jesus is known.
5) Children will be able to recite the two Bible verses.

Other facts they will begin to learn and understand:
1) Children will begin to have a general understanding of the geography of the Holy Lands, in particular, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Nazareth as well as the location of the country of Egypt.
2) Children will understand that the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and New Testament in Greek.

Journey Land Begins Tomorrow Morning

Wow! It is finally here. The first day of Journey Land, our new elementary children's curriculum in our newly remodeled elementary children's wing. I have chatted with group leaders and teachers over the weekend. They are so excited to get underway! We have many more plans for the classrooms and will be adding over time, but, I have to say, they look good. Your teachers are excited to have these rooms to assist them in teaching the children the Word of God.

Just tonight, Todd Morte, Maps and Culture Workshop teacher, said he is getting so excited about teaching tomorrow. He was ready to share with the kids some Hebrew words, new songs, a map of the Bible lands where Jesus was born, and help the children write their names using the Greek alphabet. WOW! Talk about really knowing more about place and culture that Jesus lived in during His time on earth.

Patty Peck is so excited (and hopefully that is not nervous) she put out an email to the whole church asking for prayers of blessing over these classes. Patty would know a lot about this new ministry, her WHOLE family, teenagers and all, are all teaching this rotation. What a blessing it is to have a family come together to serve our precious children.

Elesa Mason was putting finishing touches on the story room mural just this evening and then heading home to prepare the Music and Memory class.

I hope that you involve your children. Journey Land is an important, creative, and well-done edition to our ministry, and hopefully one of the best resources that you, as a parent, may have to develop a love of God's Word in your elementary child's life.

What Is Rotation Workshop Bible Class

Most of you know that we are beginning a new Sunday School approach within the next few, short weeks! You've heard me use the catchy phrase, "the creativity of VBS, with the stability and depth of Bible Class". But, do you really know what that means?

I showed the following presentation to a group of our workshop leaders last Thursday night in preparation for the first workshops to begin in September. They really caught the vision for this style of Bible class and have been emailing me with questions and decorating ideas every since. The presentation is about 15 minutes, but, I invite you to watch it and then, ask yourself, "where do I fit in"? This style of ministry is unique and capitalizes on your individual gifts. We have teachers signed up and ready to go but still have a lot of opportunities for your involvement. Also, Middle School and High School students are jumping in to help out, since, they only miss a few weeks of their own Bible classes.

Take a minute to watch! Help us know what you think about this. Post a comment when you are finished watching the presentation.

Workshop Rotation Bible Class

Journey Land - Taking Our Elementary Children on a Journey Through the Bible

Think about your Sunday Bible classes growing up. What did you do? How did the classrooms look? What did you learn? Were you excited to be there? What would have made them better?

Now, think about Vacation Bible School. Did you enjoy it more? Why? What was different? Did you have a larger variety of experiences at VBS? Were there decorations? Did you feel pulled into the lesson, sometimes even with an attempt at recreating the setting of the story?

If you had to choose Sunday Bible class or VBS, what would you choose?

I believe we are walking with our children on a journey. While a child journey's through life, several things are needed. Parents who love and support them, smart people who educate them, physical belongings that keep kids safe and secure, and a Biblical foundation that allows them to, as fully as possible, interact with God in our world and become fully His.

September 8, Journey Land opens. Journey Land is VBS and Bible Class all rolled up in one, just for our elementary kids. Journey Land takes children on a journey through the Bible, giving them the Biblical foundation they need for their journey through life. It has the creativity and energy of VBS with the stability and depth of Bible class.

If you want the easiest teaching job you've ever had, join the Journey Land team! Here is what you will do:
1) Journey Land teachers choose from several class options: theater, storytelling, maps and culture, art/science/cooking, games, music and memory, and computers. They are assigned to that particular team.
2) A Journey Land teacher will prepare one VERY GOOD lesson that will be presented six times in six weeks. One lesson, six classes. You will even have your own classroom to go all out on the decoration, if you want!
3) Depending on how many partners you have for your class, you may have a break of 6 to 12 weeks between each teaching rotation. Then, you get to join the excitement again!

So, take your pick! Where would you like to teach? Teaching teams are forming now and we will have our kick-off meeting in about two weeks.

Are you the type of person that loves being part of a child's life? Do you want to guide them on their journey? Join our team of guides and take your own individual group on their journey each week. Guide committments are longer so that the guide can really get to know the children they are leading and become part of their lives.

See you on the Journey ...

Memorial Church of Christ Field Trip

Today, a group of KWCOC teachers and parents attended services at Memorial Church of Christ to watch their Sunday Bible Class program in action. Memorial began using the workshop rotation model of teaching about a year ago. For those that have not heard me talk about it, the workshop rotation model works a little like an overgrown VBS. Each week the children visit a different "workshop", which is much like the 15 minute centers in VBS. However, these workshops last one hour and are designed to draw in children through different learning styles. Examples of workshops include: Theater, Storytelling, Maps and Geography, Crafts, Cooking, Science, Games, Computers, and Music.

The curriculum presents the Bible stories in chronological order through the use of large themes. Each themed unit has workshop material for six centers. Each theme, such as Creation, is then broken down into smaller bits, such as God creates the world or Cain and Abel. Since the pieces of the story may not be presented in chronological order, two centers focus on review of the stories in order to help children solidify their learning and comprehend the Bible story in the overall time line of the Bible. Each theme has six centers, meaning each rotation lasts six weeks.

It seemed that the KWCOC parents and teachers were very excited about this style of ministry. They saw the stregnths of the model to be: 1) teachers prepare one lesson and teach it six times, 2) it's creative and draws in the kids, 3) the Bible story can really be emphasized while still teaching creatively, and 4) it plays on the children's stregnths in learning. There were probably some other ideas mentioned, too, that I'm not remembering right now. Some negatives that we noticed: 1) it is slightly confusing for the kids to figure out where they go each week, 2) spaces have to be creative and thought through, which does take a lot of help and support, 3) slightly more help volunteer help is needed each year. Jennifer Reinsch, the Children's Minister from Memorial, spoke to each of these issues.

The KWCOC children that attended Bible classes also seemed to enjoy themselves! They asked if they could come back again and said the class was really fun! We even had one youth group member with us and she asked if she could help teach one of the workshops if we were to do this at Kingwood.

When we get back from camp, the children's area should be nearing completion. At this point, we need to make a definite committments as to which curriculum or style of ministry we will use for our elementary classes, begin organing the teaching teams, as well as to design the decorations in each classroom.

Lastly, I noticed, and maybe others did too, how willing the teachers at Memorial were to "show off" their classrooms and children during Bible class. We were invited to sit in part of one lesson. Every teacher seemed to love what they were doing and seemed VERY EXCITED to share that passion with our crew.

Thanks, Jennifer, for showing us around your wonderful program. And, thanks KWCOC members for taking the time to drive down to Memorial and take a peak at what could be next for us. It was so exciting to see you all there!

For His Kids,
Shannon Rains
Children and Family Minister
PS - Pictures will be coming soon!