A positive aspect about teaching Sunday school occasionally is that I'm more inclined to be creative in presenting the lesson than if I were to teach every week. It's hard for me to be creative all the time.
This past Sunday, I combined 3 lessons (in the prescribed teaching manuel) and took ideas from my experience in kids' ministry and drama at my church, as well as modifying Resurrection Eggs, to present the Easter story. Dividing the room into four sections, I had themed areas to capture the interest of the children. And to change things up even more, what we sat on varied.
First area: I wanted the feel of life in the city (Jerusalem, that is); baskets of food to represent people out shopping, lambs (and flannel board) to bring in story of the temple. Sat on mats. Covered Palm Sunday, Jesus clearing the temple, and perfume poured on Jesus.
Second area: feel of Upper Room; table set with some food items to represent Passover meal. Sat in chairs. Covered Judas being paid 30 pieces of silver, Passover (breaking of bread), praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Third area: feel of sadness and pain at Crucifixion. Sat on a blanket. Covered Jesus being beaten, crown of thorns, and nailing to Cross.
Fourth area: feel of the garden, to represent tomb in the garden. Sat on benches. Covered Jesus burial, stone rolled away, and empty tomb.
It was a lot of work to put it together, but I had fun. And it was enjoyable seeing the reaction of the adults when they came into the room!
Got two rows applied on the window wall.
Day Two: Finished two rows on the long wall. It was interesting cutting tile to fit around the outlets.
Day Three: Did third (and last) row.
Almost finished. Thought we had enough quarter-round to finish the row, but came up short. That means one more day of tiling before we can start grouting.
Second area: feel of Upper Room; table set with some food items to represent Passover meal. Sat in chairs. Covered Judas being paid 30 pieces of silver, Passover (breaking of bread), praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Third area: feel of sadness and pain at Crucifixion. Sat on a blanket. Covered Jesus being beaten, crown of thorns, and nailing to Cross.
Fourth area: feel of the garden, to represent tomb in the garden. Sat on benches. Covered Jesus burial, stone rolled away, and empty tomb.
It was a lot of work to put it together, but I had fun. And it was enjoyable seeing the reaction of the adults when they came into the room!
