Activity (Series A2 - Lesson 6): King Xerxes' Scepter

Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Unit A2
Lesson 6: Esther's Brave Decision (Esther 4:1-17)

As part of this lesson the children will make King Xerxes' Scepter:
For this project you will need a paper towel roll for each child, yellow construction paper, decorations for the scepter (sequins, fake gems, glitter, etc.), glue and a stapler. The paper towel roll will be the base for the scepters. Wrap a large piece of yellow construction paper around the paper towel roll to give a gold look. Glue the paper onto the paper towel roll. Each child should cut a square of yellow construction paper approximately 3.5"x3.5". Attach one corner of the square with glue and/or stapler on the diagonal to the end of the paper towel roll to give the scepter the appearance of having a big diamond on the end. Decorate the roll and "diamond" with jewels. Glue on fake gems, sequins, glitter, etc. Explain to the children that King Xerxes would reach out his scepter to a person in order to give them permission to speak.

Activity (Series A2 - Lesson 5): Lion Head

Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Unit A2
Lesson 5: Daniel in the Lion's Den (Daniel 6:1 - 28)

As part of this lesson the children will make lion heads:
For this project you will need a paper plate for each child, orange/yellow tissue paper, small pieces of pink tissue paper, six brown or black pipe cleaners per child, masking tape, three buttons per child and markers. The paper plates will be the head of the lion. Glue on the buttons as eyes and a nose. From the bottom of the nose draw two opposing semi-circles to form the jowls. Glue a small piece of pink tissue paper below the nose where the jowls start to make a tongue. Poke the six brown pipe cleaners, three on each side of the lions face, through the plate far enough to tape the ends down on the back of the paper plate. The pipe cleaners may need to be bent somewhat so they do not stick straight out.

Then take the orange/yellow tissue paper and glue small pieces around the face to make the lion's mane. The older children make like to glue their tissue paper as tufts to make a 3D mane (shown left).  It may be easier for young children to simply glue tissue pieces  down flat. Option: lion head can be made into wall hanging by taping yarn in a loop on the back of the lion head.

Activity (Series A2 - Lesson 4): Mission Field Game

Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Unit A2
Lesson 4: Isaiah's Vision of God's Throne (Isaiah 6:1 - 13)

As part of this lesson the children will play the Mission Field Game:
For this game you will need a box, a "Ball Bible" for each child, and room to run. The box represents a foreign country that doesn't allow God's Word to be taught to it's people. The "Ball Bible" (or craft foam "Bible") is God's Word. Two children are Enforcers of the country. The rest start on the opposite side of the room from the box and try to bring their Bibles to the foreign country without being tagged by it's Enforcers. If a child is tagged they must go back to the opposite side of the room, then try again.

*Instead of using balls, have a quick craft making small "Bibles" out of craft foam. Simply write "Holy Bible" on the front and/or add a Isaiah's words, "Lord, I will go! Send me."

Sunday Schoolhouse Unit A3 Released!

The third installment in the Sunday Schoolhouse series, Year A - Unit 3, is now available.  Subtitled "Stories from Jesus' Life" -- this third book covers Bible stories from the New Testament Gospels.  Like the previous volumes in the series, it contains reproducible sheets with seven sessions of Bible lessons, pictures, dramas, and worksheets.

Go to the main Sola site HERE to order.

Sample Session - Sunday Schoolhouse Series A2

Check Out a Sample Session:
Classroom Resource Book - Year A, Unit 2
(on the Story of David and Goliath)

Here's a sample from the Sunday Schoolhouse booklet A2, with a lesson on the story of David and Goliath.  Each lesson in the Sunday Schoolhouse Classroom Resource book includes four pages: 1) Story Page, 2) Coloring Page, 3) Drama Page, 4) Worksheet Page -- all fully reproducible.

To download the sample pdf, click: HERE.

Activity (Series A2 - Lesson 3): Fiery Wagon Wheel

Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - Unit A2
Lesson 3: Elijah is Taken Up into Heaven (2 Kings 2:1-14)

As part of this lesson the children will make a fiery wagon wheel:
For this project each child will need a standard size blue, brown, orange and red piece of construction paper; scissors, glue, and markers. Have a coffee can available in the class room to trace the outer part of the wagon wheel. The blue construction paper will be the background on which the wheel, flames and prayer will be placed. Take the brown construction paper and outline the coffee can to make a circle. Cut out the circle (save the rest of the brown paper), then cut a circle out of the middle of the brown circle you just cut making a ring about 1" thick. This is the outer part of the wagon wheel. With the left over brown paper cut three strips long enough to crisscross the wheel making spokes. Lay the blue construction paper lengthwise and glue the wheel to the right side of the blue paper. Do not glue down the left side of the wheel, this way the flames can be tucked underneath.

Glue the three brown strips of paper crossing in the middle on the wheel making spokes. Using the red and orange construction paper cut out flames in varying lengths. Glue the flames on the left side of the wheel tucking the ends underneath so that it looks like the flames are coming out of the back of the wheel. Write the corresponding lesson prayer listed on the bottom of page 12 on the top left of the blue paper.

For younger children you may want to pre-cut the rings for the wheel and print out copies of the prayer from page 12.

Using Confirmation Tests

The first unit of Sola's Confirmation Series (on the Apostles' Creed) was released this Fall as a "beta" test curriculum.  About forty congregations are testing it out this year, responding with feed-back.  A second "beta" unit on the Sacraments will be ready for January classes.

I have been distributing by email unit tests and study sheets to those who are trying out the materials.  I thought it might be helpful to say a few words about how I use tests as part of the over-all structure of the Confirmation program.

I tend to approach teaching the Creed as three "sub-units" — with a test following each section/article.  Since I expect students to do memorization, breaking the series into three units means that there is not too much to memorize at once.  For example, I schedule a Fall series on the Creed with 13-14 sessions laid out like this:

Session 1 - Creed (Intro)
Session 2 - Creation
Session 3 - Providence
Session 4 - Stewardship
TEST - First Article

Session 5 - Incarnation
Session 6 - Redemption
Session 7 - Resurrection
TEST - Second Article

Session 8 - Justification
Session 9 - Sanctification
Session 10 - Election
TEST - Third Article

I often have an "Intro to Confirmation" day at the very beginning (in which I describe the ADTRC prayer and the program requirements), but that may not be necessary in every location.  The schedule above allows me to start on Rally Sunday, and go to just before Christmas.  The test nights usually also feature a special "fun" activity/treat: ice cream, pizzas, etc.

The "Study Sheet" is something I hand out the week prior to each test. The students are not allowed to use the study sheets for the test.  These study sheets can also be used by leaders to check answers -- since I have not prepared a separate "answer key."  I usually do a short "family feud"-type review activity the week before the test as well, just prior to handing out the study sheets.

I have posted all the study sheets online on this blogsite (link HERE).  I also have the actual tests themselves, which will eventually be put into a Leader's Guide for each unit.

Sincerely,

Pastor Steve King
Director, Sola Publishing
320-963-3536

Activity (Series A2 - Lesson 2): Stone Craft

Sunday Schoolhouse Series Activity - A2
Lesson 2: David Fights Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1 - 49)

For this lesson the children will make a stone craft:
For this project you will need heavy cardstock (8x11 or so) for each child, scissors, five small pebbles for each child, craft glue, a small piece of yarn for each child, and markers. Each child will cut a pouch shape from their cardstock. This will represent David's pouch. Then they will glue the bit of string across the top to look like a tie. The children should glue the five pebbles on the pouch and write "The Battle is the Lord's - 1 Samual 17:47." Small children could use "stones" cut from felt and have the verse printed on paper for them.