How to teach a class with different age groups?

How to teach a class with different age groups? An ideal class has a moderate number of learners all in the same age group, right? Right so, imagine you are an only teacher and have a 2-year-old, a 4-year-old, a 6-year-old, two 8-year-olds, three 10-year-olds, and a 12-year-old. How do you teach a class with different age groups? This is without a doubt a real and big challenge, but it is possible. It might take more effort than usual, but it is possible.

Spiritual messages to teach:

Creation.

Learning Objectives: They get an understanding of how things came to be and that God made everything for us because he loves us.

Adam and Eve.

Learning Objectives: They get to learn the importance of rules; rules are there to keep us from harm. Every decision we make has consequences, both negative and positive, and we must live with the consequences.

Cain and Abel.

Learning Objectives: God has placed us to be our brother’s keeper, and God wants us to love and take care of each other; that is what it means to be our brother’s keeper.

Noah and the Ark.

Learning Objectives: In this lesson, the importance of being obedient is echoed throughout, and this is what needs to be emphasised. Noah and all of his family were saved by being obedient to God.

Abraham and Sarah.

Learning Objectives: Abraham and Sarah left their family home for a place God would show them; this is an indication of their obedience to or for God. God promised Abraham three things. Abraham remained faithful to God even though he waited long for some of the promises to be fulfilled. Abraham was so faithful to God that he was considered God’s friend.

Baby Moses.

Learning Objectives: It gives the children an idea that, just like them, all biblical characters were born and raised by their parents, guardians, or relatives, and this makes biblical characters more relatable to them.

Moses and the Israelites in the Exodus.

Learning Objectives: This lesson highlights the call of Moses: that God provided a saviour for the Israelites’ through Moses. God worked through Moses for the salvation of the Israelites.

Hannah prays for Samuel.

Learning Objectives: Hannah asked God for a baby, and when the time was right, God answered her prayer. God listens when we pray and, at his time, answers us.

David, the shepherd boy.

Learning Objectives: David was a young boy who had a responsibility given to him by his father. David was faithful to his father’s request of tending and taking care of his flock; God gave David the strength to take care of his father’s flock. We have day-to-day responsibilities at home and must ensure we are faithful children like David, and God will give us the strength for our day-to-day responsibilities.

David and Goliath.

Learning Objectives: We must, like David, always be courageous, know that God is with us everywhere we go, and always trust in the Lord.

Baby Jesus.

Learning Objectives: This lesson makes them relate to Jesus, who was as strong, fearless, and cool as Jesus was; he too was a baby and a young boy like them at some point.

Baby John.

Learning Objectives: Like in the previous lesson, they are again able to relate to John the Baptist.

Jesus is my friend.

Learning Objectives: This lesson can be taken from the account of the life of Christ. Christ came to earth because he loves everyone and wants everyone to be his friend.

The parables.

Learning Objectives: These lessons are earthly stories with heavenly meanings—impactful messages that even a two-year-old can understand.

In the classroom:

As you already know, teach BE ON TIME, BE PREPARED, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. Pray on your own before your children get to class, ask God for strength, talk to him about how you feel, ask him for guidance, and pray for your children.

Opening prayer: You’ll decide who opens. You or any capable child in the classroom.

Exercises our smiles: Make funny faces and funny sounds.

Things will be done differently in this classroom setting; making use of the older children will be beneficial for you. The older children will hand out worksheets and crayons; they will be your little assistants. When they are done with their handwork, they will assist the younger ones with their handwork or anything they need assistance with. You will see whether everything is being done correctly.

The idea of having the older children assist you helps you create a sense of order in the classroom; the older children, in the same way, are modelling a behaviour for the younger children, and the older groups have a sense of responsibility; they feel needed by you, and this makes them feel good.

Songs we sing:

“Wheels on the bus.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnRK9giGyBE

Divide the children into groups and have the older children be the drivers of the bus; that way, they won’t feel like they have to sing baby songs but rather are assisting the babies in singing their songs.

“Father Abraham.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On20xSFp0VY

“Behold, I stand at the door.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rtv1SXy9c8

“Stand up and shout it if you love my Jesus.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLuvJCu7WDk

 

Lesson time: Cain and Able.

For this type of class, you will need to have visual aids. Your visual aids must be clear for the younger groups and have visual aids that are appealing to the older groups.

Remember to bring the lesson to life, consider your different types of learners, and ensure that the lesson appeals to them and the different age groups.

Use simple words; do not say, “Cain killed his brother and his brother died!” that will put the little ones in despair; rather, “Cain hurt his brother badly.” If you are as lucky as I am, you might have a little boy in your class who knows the lesson and keeps shouting, “Able died! Able died! Able died!” Remind him calmly to be quiet and listen, and remind him that he is disturbing his peers from listening. If that doesn’t work, let him assist you with the visual aids; keep him busy.

Worksheets and Crafts:

For worksheets and crafts please check on Pinterest. Divide your worksheets and craft in three categories; little one, young ones, and the older ones. This makes it easy when you are searching for crafts, worksheets, and visual aids.

Activities and Games:

Have them act out the lesson that could keep them busy; get some clothes to dress up I you can.

Have an angry face and smiling face cut and pasted on a wall (they need to be slightly large); have the little ones point out who Cain is and Able is. Clap and hooray when they get it correct.

On the other side of the class, you can have slightly large faces cut out and pasted on the wall. One face is Cain’s face and the other Abel’s. Divide the older groups into two teams; team Cain and team Abel. Have them pick one member in each team each player must assemble the features on the faces blind folded. The members of every team must help direct the player quickest team wins.

 

How to teach a class with different age groups? It can be a challenge, but take it on. You will be surprised at the fun you’ll have with them and how much you will learn from them and this experience. Always come to class with an open mind and expect the unexpected. Remember to resemble Christ in all you say and do. Teaching is no walk in the park; pray to God and ask him that you continue in strength. “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. If not you, then who? More than anything, enjoy yourself, forget you are grown up, and have FUN. How to teach a class with different age groups? Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy all the best.