Matthew 5:16
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
As she ate breakfast Mary Rose was thinking about the events happening that Saturday afternoon.
The Bible Class Open House from 2–4 PM.
This was a special time when everyone one in the congregation had been invited to go on a tour through all the Bible class rooms. The teachers had worked especially hard with preparations making sure their room décor emphasized the Bible lessons for that particular quarter. Mary Rose and her parents along with others were welcomed by the deacon over the Children’s Bible Education. He handed them a paper to guide them as to where their tour began.
It was fun to see so many of her classmates walking around with their parents.
Once they had gone through the Cradle Roll class they walked up to the 2 and 3 year old class room.
Brightly displayed on the door was a circle of smiley faces with a different student’s name under each one in small print. Mary Rose read, “Emily makes God smile.” The unique thing about these smiley faces is that each one opened up to feature a different face of a young child who attended this Bible class. In the middle of the circle referenced Matthew 19:14 and words that said, “2’s and 3’s…Make God Smile!”
Their lessons were about people in the Bible who behaved in good ways that made God happy. They also learned how God wants them to behave and that He sees us in all we do. Hebrews 4:13.
One lesson on display was about the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:30-37 Mary Rose listened closely as the teacher explained a little about the process of their class and she especially listened when she told about the “Peek-A-Boo” Picture. It was a picture all covered with different pieces of colored paper attached with Velcro. During the lesson, after adding a Bible figure onto the magnet wall each student took their turn taking a piece off the covered “Peek-A-Boo” picture, and placing it in a basket and going back to their seat. With each piece taken off eventually the main picture for the Bible lesson was revealed. Mary Rose got to take all the pieces off to see that this picture was of The Good Samaritan. They also learned that God sees us in all we do, so we want to be sure to make God smile and be kind like the Good Samaritan.
Mary Rose liked the idea of the little ones getting excited about the picture as they took pieces off.
There were also extra behavior pictures on the table for a reinforcement game.
The pictures were of different things that would make God happy or sad.
The teacher showed one of the pictures at a time and the children had to tell if the behavior would make God happy or sad.
If the picture was of a good behavior the students would then go over to the big smiley face on the floor.
If the next picture was of a behavior that would make God sad they then went over to the big sad face.
One picture was of an empty toy box. All the toys needed to be picked up.
Each student had been given paper toy pictures to be put inside the box. So they ended up being good helpers and making God happy with their good attitude and good behavior.
Mary Rose thought that if she was age 2 or 3 she would enjoy this Bible class VERY MUCH!
After having gone through all the classes many positive things were said and remarks made about all the different ways and levels there are to learn about the same lesson. After refreshments they started for home and Mary Rose was looking forward to a wonderful Bible class the next morning. She wished she could be a helper in the 2 and 3 year olds class and see them in action as they learned about being kind like the Good Samaritan and especially with their “Peek-A-Boo” Picture.
“Maybe you can help me before long when I take a turn teaching them.” Said her mother.
Mary Rose was VERY pleased.
Greetings!
To my Sister Bible class teachers,
I have always thought a Bible Class Open House would be wonderful!
It would take a lot to pull it off but very much worth all the effort.
One year the Sunday and Wed Bible teachers of the 3rd and 4th grade, (one of which was myself) paired up, worked, and organized a Saturday Bible Class Open House for our specific Bible class. ALL the parents showed up to take a peek into what their children had been learning in Bible class. Even some of the elders and their wives came. Students handed out the itinerary and first on the list was the auditorium where our 13 Bible students were lined up ready to go! We were so proud of them and wanted to show them off just a bit by having a small presentation that involved the students telling about and reciting some of the things they had learned that year. Everyone loved it! Then we moved on to the class room. The first stop was a mystery Bible question with a bookmark prize for whoever answered correctly and was presented at the end during our refreshment time. As teachers I am sure we all have highlights from every year we have taught and this for me was certainly one of those times.
Having done this Bible Class Open House for one class, at some point I would love to see a full-fledged Bible Class Open House for all the Bible classes. Young, old, students, parents, teachers, even those who may or may not be thinking about teaching a children’s Bible class would be encouraged by this. It may also be a way members of the congregation could see where some of the church budget is being put to good use. They may be able to see where there is a need and ask how it may be filled.
The magnet board wall was made by our amazing 2 and 3 year old teacher, Kim Hall! She got the paint at Lowe’s Home Improvement Store. Painted over with wall color.
The pictures of different behaviors I reused from old Bible class materials. I have a file labeled Behavior. That is where I keep all kinds of little gems I run across that may be of use sometime. I cannot tell you how many times I have dug around and found just what I needed for a visual aid just because I stuck it into this file.
Oh the possibilities!
The visual aid being featured this month is the “Peek-A-Boo” Picture.
Here are some steps to follow to make one of your own. Note – (The picture itself is never cut. Only the paper covering the picture.)
Supplies:
- One larger sized Lesson picture.
- Bright paper with or without design for lesson picture paper covering.
- CLEAR STICKY VELCRO (Wal-Mart carries clear sticky Velcro in their sewing isle.)
Instructions:
- Lay lesson picture on top of paper for covering. Trace outline of lesson picture onto paper covering. Lay picture aside until step #8
- Cut outline of lesson picture from paper covering that you traced onto paper covering.
- Draw heavy cutting lines on top of the cover paper, drawing however many pieces you may want in this cover. But do not cut. (The amount of pieces depend on how many students you may have. Each student needs to at least have one or more pieces to take off.)
- Before cutting drawn paper cover pieces apart, number each drawn piece of the covering from top left to bottom right. This will act as an aid for putting pieces onto picture after they have been cut apart.
- Before cutting drawn, numbered paper cover pieces apart, laminate the cover and lesson picture separately. Trim outside edges even.
- Before cutting drawn, numbered, laminated paper cover pieces apart, stick one side of Velcro to back of paper cover pieces in center of uncut pieces. Then add the other side of Velcro to the first side of Velcro already stuck onto laminated cover pieces.
- Before cutting paper cover pieces apart, lay laminated paper cover with clear sticky Velcro side down, onto front of laminated picture so edges of picture and cover paper are even.
- Remove cover of picture and cut each piece apart and add back onto lesson picture. #1 being added to top left hand corner and #2 added to the right of #1 until picture is covered.
- You may want to store pieces in a large zip lock along with picture.
Wishing you many blessings in your study and Bible classes!
Free Downloads here!
Serving in Christ,
Gwendolyn Schnell
She enjoys opening the Word of God with various ages, but children are one of her all-time favorites. Gwen has had the pleasure of putting the Word into the hearts of children for over 40 years and loves it still! Gwen also loves to conduct personal home Bible studies.
Gwen has been married to her husband Dan for over 45 years. He has been the pulpit minister at the Owasso Church of Christ in Owasso Oklahoma for over 26 years. They both love working with this congregation. They are richly blessed with 3 grown children who along with their spouses love and serve in the Lord’s kingdom in various ways. Gwen and Dan are even further blessed to have Jonathan, Matthew, Micaiah, Lydia, and Esther Rose join the ranks making them Grandma/Nina and Opa!
Gwen enjoys lectureships, outdoors, good movies, reading, crafting/sewing, organizing, pizza, and a comfortable chair.
She is the author of the book, Mary Rose & Me Learn Bible Truths Together! Mary Rose will help you love God, others, and yourself! Check it out at the link below!
https://www.amazon.com/Keaac-Womens-Pieces-Crewneck-Sleeve/dp/1943245150#customerReviews
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Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!