Values of the Walk With Me Curriculum
Our
Sunday School curriculum, Walk
With Me, for preschoolers through eighth graders provides everything
you need—leader’s guides, children’s resources, music CD’s,
visual aids—and lots of creative ideas to make learning fun and to
make the Bible come alive in kids’ lives.
This
curriculum was developed over five years and is definitely unique.
The values of Walk With Me are:
1.
Centered
on a Reformed interpretation of Scripture —
emphasis on the Lordship of Christ and our role as God’s covenant
people
every
story in the Bible tells us about God and every story must be
understood as part of the one story of God’s redemption and
restoration of this fallen world through Jesus Christ
aims
to be faithful to Scripture and to make the Reformed faith come
alive in our everyday experiences as children of God
2.
Grows
faith—nurtures
and encourages children and youth to make a personal commitment to
Christ and to build on that commitment.
Know
-- learning the content. We
want children to know the Bible and the teachings of the church.
Grow
— more than knowledge. When
we hear what God has to say to us, it changes our hearts.
Show
— changes lives. The
teaching has a real impact on lives and the way children live out
their faith each day of the week.
3.
Instills
knowledge
(biblical literacy, Reformed beliefs) but also challenges children to
respond with heart and lives.
4.
Builds
community
leaders
and children are encouraged to become a small group together by
caring for each other, encouraging each other, challenging each
other, and to have fun together
everyone
should feel loved, accepted, and safe in these small groups
wants
children to realize that God’s family includes people from all
parts of the world, from all cultures, and from all races
6.
Prepares
kids to share their faith with others —
includes activities that provide ways for children to respond to what
they’ve learned by acting and serving
7.
Makes
learning enjoyable
8.
Respects
diverse ways children learn.
How
do children learn? The
answer to that question can be almost as varied as the children in your
Sunday School. Some learn
best through words. Others
learn through music. Still
others learn through nature or through movement.
Sessions in the Walk With Me curriculum try to respect the many ways children learn. Walk With Me sessions include a wide range of activities that speak to children with the following types of learning styles (based on Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences). The learning styles represented teach children who are:
Word Smart — learn best through verbal activities (listening, reading, or speaking), including discussions, worksheets, writing, reading, storytelling, and word games
Number
Smart —
learn best by exploring patterns and relationships through
activities such as problem solving, logical puzzles or games, making
charts and graphs, or putting things in sequence.
Picture
Smart
— learn best by visualizing concepts.
These kids enjoy viewing maps, slides, pictures, videos, and
diagrams; making jigsaw puzzles; and expressing their ideas with
shape, color, and design.
Body
Smart —
learn best by using their bodies, acting things out, using puppets,
moving—anything hands-on.
Music
Smart —
learn best through sound, music, and rhythm—playing musical
instruments, writing their own songs and raps, listening to
recordings, singing, and so on.
People
Smart —
learn best through doing things with others, cooperating and working
in small or large groups, role playing, conversations,
brainstorming, and other interactive exercises.
Self
Smart —
learn best by working independently through such thins as writing in
a journal, meditating, reading, and reflecting.
Earth
Smart
— learn best through activities connected to living things and
natural phenomena, through nature walks, examining plants and
animals, nature experiments, and activities that focus on ecology.
Preschool
(3 and 4 year olds)