Church History Parents' Guide Schedule and Overview
CHURCH HISTORY
PARENTS’ GUIDE
Sample schedule of classes -- type in your own dates for the current year.
Date Topic Special Notes
Sept. 8 Opening Gala Movie Night, entire parish Quo Vadis
Outdoor theater with bonfire
9 Pentecost/Philip & Eunuch
16 Stephen
23 Conversion of Saul
30 Peter and Cornelius
Oct. 7 Council of Jerusalem
14 Spread of Gospel
21 John/Revelation
27 Movie Night (after vespers) Ben Hur
28 Paul and Journeys All Saint’s Party after Church School
in Social Hall – bring costumes
Nov. 4 Paul and Journeys
11 Peter
18 Dormition
25 Persecutions
Dec. 1 St. Nicholas Festival 10AM-12noon Rehearsal of play following
2 St. Nicholas Play Congregation during coffee hour
Nursing Home afterwards
9 Constantine
16 Elevation of the Cross
23 St. Mary of Egypt
30 Canon of Scripture Memory Work: Books of Bible
(Gospels and Acts for ages 3-7)
Theophany jars after Church School
Jan. 6 Athanasius/Creed
Council of Nicea 12:30 PM Three Kings Party
13 Chrysostom/Liturgy Memory Work: Creed
20 Three Hierarchs Homeless Bags after Church School
27 Cyril of Alexandria/Councils
Feb. 3 St. Nina/St. Patrick/Councils
9 Movie night after vespers El Cid
10 Fall of Rome
17 Byzantine Empire/Justinian Memory Work: Trisagion Prayers
(3-5 only thrice holy)
24 Rise of Islam
March 2 Icons/St. John of Damascus Art Day after Church School
9 Monasticism/ St. Anthony/St. Seraphim
16 Cyril and Methodius/ Baptism of Russia
23 St. Gregory Palamas Memory work: Jesus Prayer
30 The Crusades
April 6 Fall of Constantinople
12 Movie Night after vespers Becket or A Man for All Seasons
13 Protestant Reformation
20 Protestant Reformation
- PASCHA – no Church School
- Easter Egg Hunt and Cookout after Liturgy
May 4 Armenia/Antioch
11 Ethiopia/Alexandria
16-18 Camping Trip: No Class
25 Greece/Constantinople Memory Work: “Lord Have Mercy”
5 languages (3-5 only one)
June 1 Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria
8 Japan Rehearsal during opening exercises
15 Ukraine, Russia, OCA Rehearsal during opening exercises
21 Rehearsal after vespers Balailaka on the Onion Dome
Movie night Scarlet and Black
22 End of Year Play Parish and Nursing Home
Awards Presentation
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENTS
Several families have requested in past years a parents’ guide to help them in continuing their children’s Christian education at home and reinforcing what is being taught in Church School. The following constitutes some suggestions you can use in your homes but, be creative! Look at the topics yourselves and you’ll probably think of many even more exciting activities for you and your child(ren) to enjoy together. This is geared to the smaller children (ages 10 and under); older children still have memory work and should begin reading the Scripture lessons and maybe even biographies of some of the saints (e.g. from the church library) of the time period. There is a puzzle with each lesson for the older children plus coloring pages and activities for the younger.
Remember each day to celebrate family prayers in your icon corner and to reread (or retell) the story we read in Church School at least once during the week. After the weekly suggestions, look through the stories, coloring icons, recipes, songs, maps, and fact sheets to help you with each week’s “homework”, but don’t ignore the church library, public library (lots of great children’s picture geography books, about every possible country), your own library, and the Internet for even more enrichment.
It is very important even for the very young child to have daily prayers (Do you have a family icon corner? What about setting up one in his room?) and Bible (or Bible story) reading, maybe right after dinner or at bedtime. Do you say grace after each meal? Each day they can practice crossing themselves, lighting candles, burning incense, etc. And on Saturday night, in preparation for Liturgy the next day, what about a time of private confession to the Lord? You could even “pray the hours” on days when you are home: 7 AM (First Hour) thanking God for His light, 9 AM (3rd Hour) thanking Him for His Holy Spirit, 12 Noon (6th Hour) thanking Him for His crucifixion, and 3 PM (9th Hour) praying with the wise thief, “Remember me, O Lord, in thy Kingdom.” Very little time spent, but a habit begun. Don’t forget a Jesse Tree and Advent wreath to bring Nativity closer to home.
In addition, don’t forget our parties, pageants, and the camping trip. These are designed to be part of the curriculum and real learning experiences, but fun as well! The Balalaika on the Onion Dome, performed with puppets and sung, will musically review the entire year for all of us.
RECIPES
CLAYS PAINTS
SALT DOUGH FINGER PAINT (4 WAYS)
2 cups flour Use pudding with food coloring!
1 cup salt Mix liquid starch and food coloring.
about 1 cup water Mix 3 T sugar, ½ cup cornstarch, and
food coloring 2 cups cold water. Cook over
bath oil, vegetable oil, peppermint oil low heat, stirring, till thick.
Mix flour and salt. Add water Pour into muffin tin. Add
slowly and mix with your fingers until food coloring to each cup.
it makes dough. Knead in a few drops
food coloring and a splotch of oil (if SAND PAINT
desired). Store in air-tight container. Add dry tempera paint to corn meal.
Sprinkle over areas “painted” with thinned white glue.
SELF-HARDENING CLAY
1 cup sand Shake off excess.
½ cup cornstarch
1 tsp powdered alum PASTES
¾ cup hot water PRIMARY PASTE
Food coloring if desired Mix ½ cup water and 1 cup flour
Mix sand, cornstarch and alum in a bowl. Spoon into a jar
in large pot. Add hot water and stir or squeeze bottle to store.
vigorously. Add food coloring if
desired. Cook over medium heat PAPIER MACHE PASTE
until thick, stirring constantly. 3 cups water
After cooling, store in airtight container. 1 ½ cups flour
Mix flour with cold water until lumps are gone.
SAWDUST CLAY
2 cups fine sawdust Dip pieces of newsprint in paste and mold around
1 cup flour surface to be shaped. Air dry.
Mix sawdust and flour in bowl
or bucket. Add a little water at a time, CORNSTARCH DOUGH
stirring till it is stiff but pliable. Knead 2 cups cornstarch
till it’s elastic and easy to shape. Store 4 cups baking soda
in airtight container. Air dry. 2 ½ cups water
Mix cornstarch and soda in large
pot. Add water. Cook, stirring, over medium
heat until thick like mashed potatoes. After
cool, knead on wax paper for 5 minutes. Store in an airtight container.
Air dry.
For your interest, with older students each
week, you can review the timing of events.
This is a more detailed timeline:
