What's Happening?

What’s happening in Sunday School these days? If you get a chance, go upstairs to see the two Sunday School rooms. One is set up for storytelling/drama/video use and the other for art and games.

The storytelling space is called the Courtyard. Soon it will have a “well” in the corner. Designed to resemble a first century courtyard in the area where Jesus walked, students will explore the biblical story through drama, video and listening or retelling. Items used to decorate were “found” in the building and in the garage.

The Art Space is set up for art projects and games through which the story will be explored. The shelves are stocked with art supplies and there is a shelf of games, too. The table is covered with paper, and old shirts are nearby to cover clothes during painting or other potentially messy projects. Soon the walls will be covered with completed projects.

This month -- December -- the students will spend their Sunday mornings preparing for the Christmas Program to be performed on Christmas Eve at 7pm.

Curriculum or lesson plans, come from a collaboration of both teachers and Debe Nelson, Christian Education Coordinator. Resources are often from www.rotation.org, a favorite website. The website offers an abundant supply of lesson plans and ideas for use with the Workshop Rotation Model. The Workshop Rotation Model, or WoRM, is based on the premise that we are all gifted in different ways, thus, we all learn best by approaching the material using different media. The Multiple Intelligences Theory holds that while one person may learn best by hearing the story, another might learn best by doing an art project based on the story or concept. The theory also holds that we all learn best through repetition. So, the story for the month is explored through a different media each week for four or five weeks. That way, whether a student is in Sunday School and church two weeks or four in a month, the student will have the opportunity to be exposed to the story more than once.

I learned about WoRM by participating in a workshop in Cedar Rapids Iowa in 1999. I have had great success in using the model in the past. Students begin to say they can’t wait for Sunday School the next week to see what they get to do. I’ve even had students beg parents not to make them leave at the end of the morning. I’ve also had adults come to me and ask to participate in the ministry as a teacher!

So, come upstairs some Sunday soon and check out the Courtyard and the Art Space. Or, watch some Sunday morning for the students to be in the kitchen exploring the story through a cooking project. Or, volunteer to work on a woodworking project or a sewing project or to video tape the students as they act out a story. Everyone, including teachers has fun with WoRM!

See you in Sunday School with a friend!

Peace, Debe Nelson