Ages 8-10 Epistles,Feasts, Sacraments Overview
EPISTLES, FEASTS, AND SACRAMENTS
AGES 8-10
This sample schedule is provided for the benefit of Church School directors. Feel free to fill in your own dates and teachers!
Teachers:
Schedule of Classes:
|
Date |
Lesson/Activity |
Teacher |
Special Notes |
|
September 7 14 21 28 |
Nativity of the Theotokos Elevation of the Cross Romans Romans |
|
Memory Work: New Testament Books |
|
October 5 12 19 26 |
I Corinthians I Corinthians II Corinthians Galatians |
|
|
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November 2 9 16 23 30 |
Ephesians Philippians Colossians Entry of the Theotokos I and II Thessalonians |
|
All Saints Party after Church School |
|
December 6 7 14 21 28 |
Tentative I and II Timothy Titus/Philemon Christmas Pageant Nativity of our Lord |
|
St. Nicholas Party
Parish and Nursing Home Painting of Holy Water jars |
|
January 4 11 18 25 |
Theophany Hebrews Hebrews James |
|
Three Kings Party after Church School
|
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February 1 8 15 22 |
Meeting of the Lord I Peter II Peter/Jude I,II,III John |
|
Memory Work: 12 Major Feasts
Make Homeless bags
|
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March 1 8 15 22 29 |
The Revelation Baptism Chrismation Annunciation Confession |
|
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April 5 12 19 26 |
Palm Sunday Pascha No Church School Eucharist/Liturgy |
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Candle Decorating Workshop
Pascha! Prosphora Workshop |
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May 3 10 15-17 17 24 31 |
Marriage Orders Camping Trip ages 6-12 No Church School Ascension Pentecost |
|
Theme: Journeys of St. Paul
Make “Kneel-upons” Birthday Cake for the Church |
|
June 7 14 20 21 |
Holy Unction Requiem/Burial Play Rehearsal Closing Exercises |
|
Koliva Workshop After vespers, with overnight Play performance |
|
August 2 3-7 9 |
Transfiguration Vacation Bible School Dormition |
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GENERAL NOTES:
Classroom supplies: Each class is supplied with the following items; if you use the last of something, please either replace it or let me know so I can replace it. If you need special craft supplies for your lesson, just submit the receipt to me for reimbursement:
Paper plates, small and large Scissors
Paper, plain and construction Tape and dispenser
Stapler and staples Paper bags
Glue Crayons and/or markers
Popsicle sticks Chenille sticks (Colored pipe cleaners)
Bible for each student 8x10 color print of icons of major feasts
Map of world in Paul’s day
There’s also lots of felt in the closet, 12x12 pieces of all colors; if you want to make banners, all you need to supply is the background piece and the hanging rod or coat hanger.
Teaching schedule: I have tried to accommodate any scheduling needs that you have communicated to me ahead of time in the schedule. However, we all know that there will be last-minute needs; please trade with someone if you cannot teach on your assigned day and then call me and let me know who’s traded with whom so I don’t panic at Liturgy when I don’t see you there!
Paperwork and insurance regulations: Each of us must “apply” each year for our volunteer position; our references will be checked as per diocesan regulations. We will also have a parent volunteer who could come into any classroom at any time as required by the insurance company.
Opening Exercises: Church School director will supervise this or delegate it when she will not be in church. Church School children and teachers are dismissed first from liturgy; children come straight across for snack during opening exercises and teachers can take 10 minutes to eat before coming over. We will review material from previous weeks, teach songs, rehearse plays, play games to augment lessons, or hear memory lessons during opening exercises. Memory work will also be done: books of New Testament and major feasts.
Curriculum: There are 3 types of lessons this year: feasts, epistles, and sacraments. While the theme of the lesson should be adhered to, the actual ideas in the curriculum are suggestions; if you have a creative idea for a craft or game or discussion (along the appropriate topic), please follow your own drummer. There should be enough here for you to work with; you can also play games as learning tools, such as “Jeopardy” or “Who Wants to be a Bible Scholar?”
For the benefit of the entire parish, when you teach a feast day lesson, please have the students design and make a felt banner. There are plenty of 12x12 pieces of felt in the closet to make letters, doves, people, etc.; just refill the bin if you finish off a color or let me know to purchase that color. We have 13 background banners with dowels attached. There are also adhesive felt letters for lettering. If you make these for each feast, we’ll have an entire set at the end of the year to decorate the Social Hall or Church School.
Church doesn't have space for banners? No problem! Why not take the icons provided with each feast lesson and give each student an icon for his icon corner at home by either:
- Print on paper and use Mod Podge to attach to wooden plaques, either stained or painted
- Print on shipping labels and attach directly to wooden plaques, then spraying with clear spray
For feast lessons, 2 other ideas you could use any week would be:
- Print the words to the Troparion on index cards, give each student a card, and see if they can line up in order; or
- Have them tell you the story, the first student giving one line, the next picking up where the first left off, etc. You can pass an object (e.g. ball) from student to student as each speaks.
For epistle lessons, there are several games that could be used any week to aid in memorizing the verses. On the week a verse is being introduced, write a few words on each of several index cards, give one to each student, and see if they can put it together. As more verses are learned, you can review your class’s verses (These are different at different age levels and therefore do not make good opening exercise material.) with several games:
- Epistle Bowl -- make 2 teams, the first player from one team begins a verse; can the first player from the other complete it? Give points to the teams; a cheap prize?
- Bible Advance – students line up against the opposite wall; mark a finish line about 15 feet away. Each player in turn must either finish a Bible verse you begin or recite a verse from your reference. If he is successful, he may advance one giant step toward the line (as big as he can). First player to reach the finish line is the winner.
- Musical Bible – Players are seated in a circle. A Bible is passed from player to player as music is played. When the music stops, the player must recite a verse of Scripture or he is out. No verse may be used more than once. The last player remaining in the circle is the winner.
- Missing part – Write each verse learned so far on an index card. Cut the cards in half. Hide the second half of each card all around the room. Hand out the first halves to the students and ask them to find their missing half (or halves). The first to find his portion of Scripture is the winner. When all are found, have students read all out loud to review.
For sacrament lessons, one effective tool any week is to write the parts of the service on index cards. Can the students put the service in order? I’m sure you will think of many other ideas!
Workshops: We have 5 workshops planned this year learning traditional Orthodox ethnic “skills” that coordinate with our curriculum: baking prosphora, making koliva, decorating holy water jars, making kneeling cushions, and decorating Palm Sunday candles. These will take place after Church School in the Church Hall.
Movie Nights and Parties: We will have supper after vespers on Saturday night while showing a small children’s movie. Older children should bring a sleeping bag for a lock-in with “feature” presentation; we must have at least 2 adults at each overnight.
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 glue
SELF-HARDENING CLAY
1 cup sand for a sand effect. 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 strips 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,
stirring till it is stiff but pliable. Knead
till it’s elastic and easy to shape. Store
in airtight container. Air dry.
CORNSTARCH DOUGH
2 cups cornstarch
4 cups baking soda
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.
Having trouble learning the 12 Major Feasts? Make a Feast Catcher and plan until you can name each icon. Can you also name the date?
- Print your Fortune Teller.
- Cut out the Fortune Teller along the outside line
- With the printed side up, fold the square in half horizontally and then vertically, open the folds.
- Turn the square over.
- Fold each corner over so they meet in the middle, do not let them overlap.
- Leave the square folded, and flip the square over.
- Now fold the corners into the center – make sure they do not overlap.
- Fold the entire square in half and poke your thumbs and forefingers in under flaps.
- Bring your fingers together so the Fortune Teller forms a peak –
Tiny icons to color are provided below for any projects you might want to do:
