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.

 

How to teach youth class?

 

How to teach youth class?

How to teach youth class? At this age, children are at an adolescent stage, a time of risky behaviour. According to the “fuzzy trace theory,” adolescence is a time of risky behaviour simply because the frontal cortex of a child or teenager is not yet mature. As youth teachers or youth ministers, we must consider that this stage, like any other, comes with a series of crises: identity vs. confusion, confusion over who or what one is. How to teach the youth class? How do we guide them through this stage? Bring them to a level of understanding of who God is. And why do they NEED God in every aspect of their lives?

Spiritual messages to teach them:

At this point, as youth ministers or youth teachers, we must understand that they have issues they face on a personal level. Each of them faces different issues and has a different way of understanding facts or information.

 

According to the fuzzy trace theory, an adolescent reasons, judges, and then makes a decision. I believe it works that way with all of us. We must teach them to look to the word of God so that when they reason, they may reason according to the word, judge according to the word, and make decisions that are in alignment with God’s word.

 

In youth class, children are equipped with the knowledge of how to face life in a Godly way and how it is beneficial for them to be in the Lord and live according to God’s word. Introduce them to God and his word, make them understand the importance of God, and make them fall in love with them both. We have 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. Start anywhere; the word is your canvas.

In the classroom:

Of course, if you are a youth teacher, you MUST be on time for class and prepared for the lessons, games, or activities for the day. For this particular age group, you need to have boundaries and rules and ensure that you are disciplined in how you follow your class rules. When you are disciplined, trust me, they will be too. Amanda, what do you mean by boundaries? They must understand that you are here or there for them, but you are not their buddy, and you are not their friend. Never cross that line. Discipline is an issue a lot of them have at this stage; help them maintain it. Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

If you work as a team of teachers, you must discuss and have a set of rules before hand, and a lot of the time, it is better if they or the kids’ come up with class rules and you make sure they are maintained.

Pray, pray, pray, pray for them. Always pray together as a team, ask for strength from God, and ensure you have a co-teacher or co-teachers. Because this group can be a handful, it is wise to have a male and female teacher. A male teacher can relate well to the young boys, and a female teacher can relate well to the young girls. Be open-minded; be ready for any question or concern.

Songs we sing:

“If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands.” Unfortunately, this one does not fly in youth class. This is the time when they get to learn new choruses from your chorus book or new hymns from the hymn book. Ask them what they want to sing and give them a say; this makes them feel heard, understood, and wanted in the classroom environment.

Lesson time:

When teaching this particular group, it is much better if you sit in a circle on the floor or on chairs and maintain eye contact with them. If you stand over them, they’ll definitely feel intimidated by you, just like the younger groups. Sitting in a circle at eye level gives a warm, inviting, comforting feel. I'm sure we all want our youth to feel that way in youth class.

Ask them questions that make them think; ask them questions that ignite their curiosity; ask them questions that ignite discussion, because that is how they learn. Allow them to ask you questions too; you will be surprised at how much you can learn from them. If you do not know the answer to the question, be honest; you do not know the answer. Do research and come back with the answer the following week.

Always have recaps, just to have them remember what they learned about the previous week. If possible, have them read from the text we are learning from; each child can read a verse from the text. This encourages them to bring their bibles to church, and if they do not have any, speak to brethren in the church who can assist with bibles.

Activities or games:

• Musical chairs: an all-time classic. The point of the game is that the kids have a chair to sit on; they’ll go around the chairs as the music plays, and when the music or sound stops, they must be on a chair. The trick is that there is one less chair. Those without a chair are out.
• Tick-tack-toe: We all know how to play this game. The difference here is that each team will use cups, and their cups will be differentiated by colour. Before the player places their cup, they must flip a bottle of water, and at each flip, it must stand straight up. Only then can a player make a move. You must flip before you move.
• Place a cup: Each team will have different coloured cups, e.g., the red team will have red cups and the blue team will have blue cups. A member of each team will be chosen to represent each team. 10 or 20 cups will be stacked for each player, with one white cup at the bottom. The object of the game is for each player to ensure they get the white cup at the top of all the cups. The quickest player wins.
• Bouncing Pongs: Each team must choose at least two players from their team: one to throw balls and one to catch. Both players must stand at least 2 metres apart. The object of the game is to ensure that the player catching ping pong balls catches all the balls their team member throws. The quickest team wins. The contesting teams will play simultaneously.

 

I have been assisting my husband with the youth class for almost two years now. It has been such a delight for us to work with this age group; getting to see and understand the world through their eyes and guide them has been an honour for us. We have been blessed with a good group of kids, and it is our prayer that they may grow to become good grownups in the world and even in the kingdom of God. How do you teach a youth class? It can be daunting and stressful at first, but if we allow God to use us, bearing in mind that all we do is for the glory of God and his kingdom, How do you teach a youth class? Nobody really knows; only God does. Ask him, let your hair down, become a vessel, and have fun, fun, fun, fun. I wish you a fruitful youth class.

 

How to teach pre-teens?

 

How to teach Pre-teens?

How to teach pre-teens? At this age a child is extremely socially aware; their image matters, and the views or opinions of those around them matter to them. They are at this age involved in something they are passionate about. They have a sense of independence they want to rely on their own guidance and thinking and that of their friends too. At times they are fearful and confused on whether they fit in; the world can be overwhelming at this point for them and this can cause an array of anxiety, and loneliness. How do we teach pre-teens?

Spiritual messages to teach them:

God cares:

Jonah and the whale.

Prodigal son.

John 3:16.

Romans 8:

ü  Learning Objectives: For pre-teens at the moment, it feels as though nobody cares but, remind them and make them understand that God does, more than anyone else God cares. They must understand that nothing can separate them from the love of God.

Perseverance:

Jesus’ relationship with those in the world.

Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.

Lazarus resurrected.

ü  Learning Objective: The world is a cruel, cold, hard, and harsh place. We will face hard times and it may seem as though the odds are against us at times. They must understand through these lessons that Jesus went through the same hardships but persevered because, he allowed God to be his strength and guide. Like Jesus they can preserve if they allow God to be their strength and guide.

Importance of responsibility:

The foolish manager.

Parable of the talents.

Wise & foolish virgins.

The Good Samaritan.

ü  Learning Objective: The world can be misleading most of the time. Through God’s wisdom and guidance from his word we can bring warmth to those in the world, and we can be the light they need and by so doing, by being obedient to God we gain or ourselves an eternal rest an abundant quality of life with him.

What does God think of us?

Those who obey him are his children. – 2 Corinthians 6:18.

Jesus thinks children are part of the congregation. - Luke 18:15-17.

He created us in his image –

Those who obey him are a people of his own possession. –

ü  Learning Objectives: These lessons are meant to affirm who they are in God, and how special they are to God. They matter and have a greater purpose in life.

Worship service:

Difference between Old & New Testament worship.

Offering in the Old Testament & New Testament.

Different forms of service to God in his Church.

The Tabernacle and The Church.

How God wants to be worship in the Old & New Testament.

ü  Learning Objectives: These lessons are meant to highlight the importance of worship, and how God is to be worshiped, and we worship God according to his commands.

Christianity:

Why are we called Christians?

What is the church?

How can one be part of the church?

Who is the owner or the head of the church?

ü  Learning Objectives: Through these lessons they learn that Christianity is a gift given to us by God through his son Jesus Christ. They learn that through Christ we become a people elect, that is the Church his Church. Church of Christ because he died for it to save, and establish it. One can only be part of the Church through immersion baptism, that is how we are saved. There is only one head of the body of Christ, one head of the Church and that is Christ Jesus.

 

In the classroom:

Yes, yes, yes teacher you know the drill…Be on time, be prepared for your lesson; make sure you have everything you need and more, the class is clean and you are ready for a fresh start. Remember pray for yourself before they arrive for class, talk to Gd about your concerns and fears, and pray, pray, pray, pray for your kids’.

Songs we sing:

“Wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in God.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0RUoGQrngw

“Stand up and shout it.”

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

“I am in the Lord's army.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FqmiGwTqh4

They may not be as enthusiastic as they used to be about singing but keep being enthusiastic. Remember you set the tone and the atmosphere in the classroom, remember and keep to your routines, consistency is key. Right after singing you can have an ice breaker something active you could play just for five minutes; do what I say not what I do.

Lesson time: Prodigal Son.

What we must remember or bear in mind with this age group is that they are hard to please, so we need to make sure our lessons are wholesome. I know they should be wholesome for every age group but this age group all the more. Okay, what do I mean by wholesome? We need to ensure our lessons cater to all learning types; we need to ensure we have done our research on the lesson so that we can answer any question that may come our way. We need to ensure that we are prepared; know and understand the lesson. Another big factor is ensuring that all visual aids, worksheets, crafts, and games are age appropriate.

It is always a good idea to ask your class who knows the lesson you are about to teach, if there are any have them tell what he or she remembers from the lesson and then, you can teach. I like dress up so, I would dress up like the father in the story, and tell the story while moving around in the class. While telling the story ask them, what they think happened next. This just helps keep them engaged, excited, and attentive because that’s what we want right?

Remember another way of asking questions to find out if they were listening is during hand work; when they are colouring-in or doing their crafts. Ask questions that make them think about the moral of the lesson, and ask questions that apply to their daily lives, how they would apply the moral of the story in their daily lives.

Afterward we could colour-in, then get a craft done. If there is time I could have them act out the story.

Worksheets:

Crafts:

Activities:

Acting out the lesson.

Musical chairs.

Quizz.

How to teach pre-teens? Come down to their level, remember what it was like for you; being a preteen. They are sensitive, show compassion, be understanding, and patient with them. Remember we are sowing seeds, and not every ground is like the other, others need a little bit of patience, prayer, and compassion. Be consistent at all times, if you have means of discipline in your class make sure that they are applied for everyone. How to teach pre-teens? Have fun, laugh, play, jump, let them challenge you too. Enjoy teaching your pre-teens with love.

How to teach 9-to-10-year old's?

 

How to teach 9- to 10-year-olds?

9- to 10-year-olds are active; they are diligent in anything they do; they take pride in their work; and they are cautious in whatever they do or say. They want to be recognised as socially acceptable. Their physiological needs are prevalent at this age; they want to belong, they want to be loved, and they want to be recognised by those in authority and those around them. They are becoming more sensitive to the environment, so, teacher, how you treat them and how you show love matter more at this age. How do we teach these 9- to 10-year-olds? They are proactive, but little explores how we engage them.

Spiritual messages to teach them:

Sin:

Galatians 5:19-22.

Israelites building a golden calf Exodus 32:6.

David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11-12:1-23.

Jezebel killed the prophets (1 Kings 18–19:1–18).

• Learning Objectives: The idea here is for kids to understand what sin is, where it comes from in the heart or mind, and the consequences of sin.

Salvation:

John 3:1-21.

Isaiah 9:6-7.

• Learning Objectives: What is salvation? Why do we need it? And how does it apply to us or to them?

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit their roles in our lives:

John 1:1-4 and 29–34: Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22–23: The Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 12:3–11: God.

Luke 15:11–32: God.

• Learning Objectives: Learners’ must understand at this age the roles of God and that in the different roles they play in our lives, they are still together God.

What is the Gospel?

• Learning Objectives: They must, at this age, understand what the gospel is?, how it applies in real life?, and even to them.

What is the Bible?

• Learning Objective: They must understand how the Bible came to be. The authors of the Bible: why were these accounts written, and who inspired the authors? They must understand how it has been divided and the number of these books.

What is prophecy?

• Learning Objectives: They must understand what prophecy is, why, and how God used prophets. Why do we have minor and major prophets in the Bible, and why do we no longer have prophets today?

Importance of prayer:

Jesus cleanses the temple (Matthew 21:12–17).

Jesus prayed all night (Luke 6:12–16).

Jesus prayed in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32–42).

• Learning Objectives: Through this lesson, learners must understand the importance of prayer. Jesus did it to strengthen his relationship with the Father. We, too, must pray to strengthen our relationship with the Father.

Parables:

• Learning Objectives: Through these lessons, they must understand what ‘parable’ means and why Jesus taught parables. They must understand the moral of every parable.

In the classroom:

Yesss, teachers, even with this age group, we MUST be on TIME and PREPARED even for this age group. Actually, all the more for this age group because they will ask you questions concerning the lesson, so you goooottta be prepared. If they ask you a question you are unable to answer, let them know you don’t know, and you can answer it next week. Make sure to do research and answer this question the following week because you are trying to prove yourself honest and trustworthy.

Opening prayer: At this age, I think they would know how to pray; if not, go right ahead.

Songs we sing:

At this age, they do not like to sing much because it makes them feel or think they are childish. At this age, we try singing grown-ish songs.

“Wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in God.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0RUoGQrngw

“Stand up and shout it.”

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

“I am in the Lord's army.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FqmiGwTqh4

I like playing an icebreaker before a lesson for this group just to get their minds active and thinking. Teachers, we must remember that when we teach, we encourage our learners to think; they must think, and when asking questions, we ask them questions that make them THINK. We do not ask questions to find out if they were listening.

We play a listening game; do what I say, not what I do. If you do what I do, you are out.

                          

Lesson Time: Parables.

Choose any parable and teach the lesson. At this age, they love to act out scenes and explore other characters. After teaching the lesson, have them act out the lesson; if you can, get them each script and clothes to dress; it makes it more exciting. If need be, have sound effects in the background.

Worksheets:

Depending on the parable you choose, have at least two different worksheets for them to colour in. The first worksheet could be a normal colouring worksheet, and the other could be a word puzzle or join the dots worksheet. Check these out on Pinterest and search any topic, and you will find what you are looking for.

Crafts:

With this age group, crafts are a breeze; you do not have to watch over them when they handle sharp or messy items. Give them challenging crafts—something to paint, glitter, paper Mache, etc.

Activities:

• Bible Pictionary: They are placed in teams of two or three, depending on the number of kids. Each member of a team will have a turn to explain a character from today’s lesson by drawing him or her on a paper or white board. The team member can’t speak; they ooonly draw out the character while their teammates try to figure it out.

• Quiz: Have them in teams, depending on the number of kids. One member of a team must be chosen to represent the team; he or she will answer a series of questions you will answer. The winning team is the team with the most correct answers.

• Musical Chairs: An all-time favourite.

 

How to teach 9- to 10-year-olds? Remember, they are at an age where they want to explore; they want to learn so they can know. Give them the benefit of enjoying the adventure of learning. Come to their level, forget being allll grown up and serious when with them, explore with them, but at the same time instruct them. They are at an age where they will test your limits as a teacher, maintain classroom routines, and maintain classroom boundaries. Let your no be, no, and yes be, yes. Besides that, enjoy teaching your 9- to 10-year-olds.

 

 

How to teach 7- to 8-year-old's?

How do we teach 7- to 8-year-olds? They are talkative; getting them to calm down and listen can be a challenge. At this age, they think they know a lot and want to share what they know with everyone. They like to sing as much as they like talking. They like using their hands; making something for themselves to put their name on gives them a sense of pride, so crafts and worksheets are a big deal for them. At this age, they like to prove how grown up and wise they are, so they like having class duty or helping in the classroom. They go out of their way to prove their goodness, and at times they blame others for their wrongdoing. Most of the time, they are eager and excited, and some can be animated, so how do we teach 7- to 8-year-olds?

• Spiritual messages to teach them:

·        Introduce God;

The provider, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Ø  Learning Objectives: For them to understand that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. They are one, but they play different roles in our lives, and it is important for them to understand these roles.

• Sin:

Adam and Eve.

Cain and Able.

Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.

Christ being tempted in the wilderness or desert.

Ø  Learning Objective: For them to understand, we have choices to make; we have a choice to obey or disobey, and both of these choices have consequences. Sin is disobeying God, and this has a consequence.

• Fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22–23.

Ø  Learning Objectives: The fruit of the Spirit is not a fruit but rather attributes that grow; these attributes are what set God’s children apart from those who are not by their behaviour.

• Honesty:

Ananias and Sapphira.

Judas Iscariot.

Jacob and Esau.

Jospeh’s brothers.

The Story of Achan Joshua 7.

Ø  Learning Objectives: Through these stories, they must understand the negative consequences of lying or being subtle with the truth and how God dislikes dishonesty. Dishonesty doesn’t at times affect just you but those around you.

• Giving attitude:

Parable of the talents.

Offering of the poor widow.

Boy offering his lunch for the 5000 Matt 14:14-21.

Christians in the early Church offered for the needy.

Ø  Learning Objectives: At this age, a lot of them think everything is about them, and they tend to have an attitude of entitlement. These lessons work on this attitude of selfishness and entitlement. We give not because we have more, but because we understand that God wants us to be blessings to others. We give for God.

• Matter of the heart:

Samuel anoints David as king.

Saul becomes Paul.

Jacob becomes Israel.

Parable of the sower or farmer.

Ø  Learning Objectives: No matter how much good you do, if your heart is not right for God, then you are wasting your time. This is what they must understand: “God looks at the heart.”

• Gratitude attitude:

Hannah gave Samuel over to God as an act of gratitude.

Paul gives thanks in the middle of a storm (Acts 27).

Jesus gave thanks before 5,000 were fed.

Ø  Learning Objectives: Inasmuch as we teach them to ask from God and trust that he provides, they must learn to thank God and be thankful. Gratitude. “Count your many blessings and name them one by one.”

• Importance of prayer:

Hannah.

Cornelius.

Christians prayed for Peter’s release from prison.

Hezekiah prays because he is told he is about to die (2 Kings 20:3).

Elijah asks God for no rain (1 Kings 17:1).

Ø  Learning Objectives: Praise God, repent or ask for forgiveness, Ask for your needs, and Yield trust in the Lord. They must understand that praying is a way we talk to God about anything. Prayer is a powerful weapon God has gifted his children with, and through it, he answers.

• Listening to authority:

Samuel hearing Eli’s voice.

Eph 6:1–3: Children, obey your parents.

Saul obeys the word in Acts 9.

Woman at the well.

Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt.

Ø  Learning Objective: God has blessed us with two ears—ears to listen. When we listen, we learn, and when we learn, we apply what we have learned, and when we apply what we have learned, we become wise. They must understand that listening to God and all authorities is cool and wise.

• “The royal law, loving your neighbour as yourself:”

The parable of the lost sheep.

The parable of the good Samaritan.

The story of Abgail.

Ø  Learning Objectives: Putting others first can be a difficult concept, even for adults. It is a concept that must be taught at an early age. They must understand that not everything is about us and that it is okay to let your sibling have the last slice of pizza. What is the point of receiving God’s love and not sharing it with your neighbour?

v  In the classroom:

I am sure you are tired of hearing, or rather reading, “PLEASE BE ON TIME!” Please do it; it matters and has a positive effect on your kids’. It shows them that you care and that they matter to you. When you get to class, pray first on your own, talk to God about your fears, concerns, and anxiety, and also tell him about that difficult child. You know that ONE. Trust me, he knows how to guide you through it. Ask for wisdom, guidance, and strength. As you already know, all materials MUST be ready for use.

Opening prayer: If they know how to pray, ask one of them to. If not, you pray.

Exercise our smiles: make funny faces and sounds.

Songs we sing: Remember, we sing to get them warmed up and excited for class. What songs you sing with them are completely up to you, but they must be age-appropriate.

"Behold, I am standing at the door." is our absolute favourite song right now.

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

“If you are happy, you know it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6LoRZsHMSs

“Stand up and shout it.”

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

I have pasted all these videos or links so that you can get the tune of the song.

v  Lesson time: Cain and Able.

This is a straight-forward lesson. You can tell it with visual aids so that they can get an idea of what happened in their heads. I taught this story a few years ago; I worked on it for weeks, and I just like giving my kids’ or learners the experience. I thought maybe we could act this one out. If I could, I would have brought live sheep for Able. I had lamb and sheep cut out, stuck wool on them, and we were good to go. I got old clean sheets and head wraps for Cain and Able to dress up, and for Cain, I cut out some fruit and coloured them in. I had a white sheet for God as well.

I told the lesson, asked a few questions, discussed it, and then it was fun time. We dressed up and acted it out. Ooh I used one of the tables in the classroom as an altar of sacrifice.

 

• Worksheets & Crafts:

Worksheets: https://za.pinterest.com/pin/183169909828379215/ https://za.pinterest.com/pin/647462883945192712/

https://za.pinterest.com/pin/797559415278349707/

Craft: https://za.pinterest.com/pin/34410384646294094/ https://za.pinterest.com/pin/13792342596749758/

Songs to sing: I honestly do not have anyyyy songs that go with this lesson, but you could sing this one.

“I’ve got joy down in my heart.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LylgwOEI7AY  

• Activities to play:

• You could hide one of the sheep or lamb cutouts and have them look for it.
• Have them work in teams and ask questions based on the lesson.
• Have all the kids in a circle except two; those in a circle must hold hands. One must be in the middle and the other outside the circle. The idea is that those who hold hands in the circle must protect the one inside the circle from the predator outside the circle. The predator must get the one in the middle at all costs. Just like the Devil does with God’s children.

 

This age group will keep you on your toes; they will let you know once they get bored. Try looking for new games and songs once in a while. Have extra worksheets if you can, just in case. From time to time, have a change of scenery, go outside, have them run, jump, and play; if possible, put the tables and chairs away, sit in a circle on the mat, and have the lesson. Teaching 7- to 8-year-olds can be a slight challenge since they get booooooooored after a while. Research often and think outside the box. How to teach 7- to 8-year-olds? When or if you’ve hit a brick wall, pray, ask God this question, and ask for his guidance and strength. Enjoy them while you can….soon they’ll be jetting off to youth class, yes, those 7- to 8-year-olds.

 

How to teach 5 to 6 year old's?

 

How to teach 5 to 6 year old's:

“I am first.” “WHY? HOW? WHERE?” These are just some of the words, phrases, and questions that come out of a 5- to 6-year-old's mouth. At this age, they are inquisitive and adventurous; they want to know and understand things, so they will ask, “WHY? WHERE? HOW?” Just to name a few, they will ask because they are that age. At this point, it is important for them to prove themselves to their peers and those around them, so being first and being on the winning team is a verrrrry very big deal. They are at this level, learning how to relate to those around them. How do we teach this inquisitive, adventurous, and zealous age group?

Spiritual messages to teach them:

• Sharing: God's love, toys, etc..

Ø  Learning Objectives: They must learn to share, and that sharing includes caring, sharing toys with friends and siblings, and sharing the love of God through their actions.

• Obedience and Disobedience:

Adam and Eve.

Cain and Able.

Jacob and Esau.

Joseph and his brothers.

10 commandments.

(Just to name a few, there are mannnny more in the Bible.).

Ø  Learning Objectives: They must learn the difference between being obedient good and being disobedient bad. They must understand that since they are children of God, they must seeeeek to be obedient in every way they can, and being good is more beneficial than being bad.

• Promises of God:

I did the 7 promises of God with my kids in 2021, and they loved it. Each promise can be done for like two weeks, just so that they understand the concept. We acted most of them out; we had a speaker, and I found sounds of the animals if the lesson had animals in it. It was an experience.

I am your strength – Samson.

I will never leave you – Daniel in the den of lions.

I hear your prayers – Hannah, or Abraham and Sarah.

I will fight for you – Fall of  Jericho.

I will always love you - Prodigal Son.

I will provide for you – Abraham and Isaac.

Ø  Learning Objectives: Here they will learn that God keeps allll the promises he makes. They must understand that these promises are for all God’s children, and God’s children are those who obey him, so their reward is that they just need to trust in the Lord, and he sorts everything out for us. Something I need to keep reminding myself of ever so often.

• Jesus is my friend—the call of the disciples.

Ø  Learning Objectives: This should encourage them to have a close relationship with Jesus and to follow him as the disciples did.

In the classroom:

Teacher, please, please, please BE ON TIME! Your learners’ must always find you in the classroom so that you can welcome them each by name and give them a big bear hug. The classroom must BE CLEAN and ready, all worksheets, crafts, and stationery must be ready; you can’t start looking for them just before they are about to colour in or work on a craft. Any additional materials, like visual aids, must be ready as well. This is just to make your job easier.

Opening Prayer by You:

I make my kids exercise their smiles because, when they walk in, some of them are grumpy and some of them are annoyed that they are in Sunday school. We make funny faces and funny sounds; this gets them laughing and smiling.

We sing just to get them excited for class.

"Behold, I am standing at the door." is our absolute favourite song right now.

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

“If  you are happy, you know it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6LoRZsHMSs

“Stand up and shout it.”

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

I have pasted all these videos or links so that you can get the tune of the song.

Lesson time: Jesus is my friend—call of the disciples.

I recently did this lesson with the 3 to 4-year-olds, and they had a field day. I was fortunate enough to have big basins or tubs at church, so I used only two; one boat was for Peter and Andrew, and the other was for James and John.

I printed out, cut, and coloured in as many fish as I could. I tried making a makeshift net, and right after working on it, I was asked what it was. I easily chucked it and used the red Netlon mesh that retailers use to pack citrus fruit or vegetables. We normally keep those at home. I had nets, and I was fortunate again to have flexible plastic straws—you know, the kind that bend at the top. When you put a string of wool through it, bend it, and at the front end hook a money pin, it looks like a fishing rod.

I told the story and had visual aids in hand. As I told the story, I sang “Fishing for Jesus.” Man, were they excited. I then asked for volunteers; I needed Peter and Andrew in one boat and handed them their nets, and the same with James and John.

I had a speaker in the back round playing an aquarium sound, so it sounded like we were on the beach fishing. I scattered the fish I had coloured in on the floor, and the boys fished. As they fished, I explained how nets worked, how they fished back in the day, and why they fished. I wish you could have seen their faces. They sang the song Fishers of Men throughout the Sunday school session; some played with the nets and fish.

 

Worksheets & Crafts:

https://za.pinterest.com/pin/413064597066450922/

I have given only one worksheet here, but it is very important to have at least three worksheets. If you have nothing else to do with them, they can be coloured in again. Also, if you have those kids who will colour everything red and say, "Done, teacher," you can give him or her another to work on.

https://za.pinterest.com/pin/68328119338423907/

If possible, each can make a fishing rod as explained above and hook it onto the fish.

Songs to sing:

For this lesson, the only song I sang with them was “Fishers of Men.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT-fry-aRos

Activities to play:

You can hide a fish—just one. Have each of them look for it around the class.

 

Keeping up with this age group can be challenging; they have a lot of energy stored up in their bones. The idea isn’t about keeping up; it is about enjoying Sunday school with them, having fun first, and then they will follow suit. I remember having problems with discipline with this particular age group. I stumbled upon a puppet, brought it with me to class, introduced it to the class, and asked that they name him. I used this puppet when I needed them to settle down; they listened to the puppet more than me.

Puppets work for all age groups except 11 to 12. For toddlers, you can get finger puppets. Any ideas or opinions they come up with for the good of the class, listen and acknowledge if they are great ideas. Instill them. Another thing is, at this age, since they are so inquisitive, reason with them and communicate with them. Explain why you say “no” and "yes." Explain and discuss with them. Discussing things gives them a better way of understanding “why?” and teaches them to reason and communicate as well. Enjoy teaching you 5 to 6 year old's'.