I have spent many hours looking for lesson plans, curriculum, and craft ideas for my Sunday School class. However, I finally figured out all I really needed for teaching Sunday School was my Bible.
Teaching Sunday School to a group of children ranging in age from 5 to 13 is fun, insightful, never boring, and a bit challenging.
Most of the curriculum out there is geared to larger groups separated by grades or age levels. When teaching Sunday School in a one-room setting, trying to adapt these plans was more work than was worth it. Then I attended a Charlotte Mason homeschool retreat and the light bulb turned on!
If we want our children to know the Bible, we simply need to spend time in the Word together.
We are currently working through the New Testament books of the Bible. One each Sunday, in order from Matthew to Revelation.
Typically I read, then they narrate, and then we discuss what we have read. I have a coloring page ready for when the younger one is with us. She is still listening and even participates in our discussion, but her little hands are busy. It is amazing how much she “gets”!
Rather than crafts that are just going to get thrown in the trash whenever they do finally make it out of the car, I wanted something the kids could take home, share with their parents, and remember what they have learned along the way. So, I provided each child with their own Bible Journal (just a plain sketchbook). I will be posting all about our Bible Journals soon.
Here is how we usually spend our 30-45 minutes together:
- Introduction – I introduce the book we are in that week, who wrote it, and any background information they would find helpful in understanding what we will be reading that day.
- Bible Journals – They write the name of the book at the top of the page and then the author and time line underneath.
- Characters we will meet – If there are specific people we are going to read about, I will mention them and anything I feel like would be helpful about them.
- Scripture – Sometimes I read the entire section for the day, sometimes I split it up into sections.
- Narration – The children simply tell me the story back.
- Questions – I try to think of questions, some open-ended and some specific, that will get the children thinking about what we read and lessons they could learn.
- Bible Journals – They draw a picture that illustrates what we read or something they want to remember from the scripture. I have also given them the option of writing a prayer if there is something they want God to help them with based on our reading.
Some weeks I have brought in some resources like a Bible Atlas so they can visualize where Jesus traveled. I also showed them an image of an ancient fishing boat when we were talking about how fishing was done or where Jesus was sleeping during the storm. It has been so much fun to watch their faces as something comes to life!
How do I prepare?
I pray about what to share and I look through the next book in the Bible. After I decide the scriptures we are going to look at, I spend a little time going through the notes in my Study Bible and look through other scripture references it may suggest. I figure out when I will have the children narrate and think of some questions ahead of time to help get the discussion started.
This whole process takes me maybe an hour. Sometimes I have worked on several lessons at a time to get ahead when I know life is going to be crazier than normal.
The children are growing in their faith and in their knowledge of the Bible.
Our discussions are sometimes deep, sometimes filled with more questions than answers, and sometimes simple. But the important thing is they are growing.
The kids are really enjoying creating their journals and I have enjoyed spending time in God’s word together. I may be the one teaching Sunday School, but many times, they are the ones teaching me.
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