Grades 4 and Up: A Multifaceted Approach
At Christ Church, our Church School program for grades 4 and up (typically through 7th or 8th grade depending on preferences, participation in confirmation, etc.) combines several different tools to provide maturing youth the skills they need to be full and informed participants in the wider parish community. This includes learning vital Bible skills (locating Bible citations, understanding supplemental resources), exploring Church History and liturgy, and engaging more deeply with core stories of our faith through advanced Godly Play practices.
Choosing A Bible: The Bible Buffet Approach
By the time they arrive in the Upper Elementary school program, many of our children ar
e confident readers with the skills needed to begin honing their Bible mechanics, but we don’t just give each child the same Bible. Instead, our Bible Buffet approach encourages each young person to consider what makes our sacred text compelling to them.
Do they want to explore maps and timelines? Would illustrating and journaling about the text help them engage? How do different translations help 0r hinder them?
Following a period of exploration and observation, our young people are presente
d with the Bible that fits them best – and that makes learning to use it and turning to scripture more exciting (and more likely!) than just giving each child the same Bible. It also honors their unique approaches to learning, their particular interests, and serves to highlight the gifts God has given them
Godly Play – And Then Some
Godly Play is a powerful way of engaging with the Christian story and language system throughout all phases of life, but for our upper elementary students, their familiarity with the core Godly Play materials means that they’re ready to go deeper. To meet this need, this class engages
with “side-by-side” and synthesis stories, compare Godly Play depictions with different Bible translations, and more.
Meet The Ministries
An important part of participating in Christian community and developing a mature faith is exploring lay ministry – because we are all called to participate in ministry based on our unique gifts. With this in mind, our upper elementary Church School group is encouraged to explore different ministries, including singing with the choir, serving as a lector, being an acolyte, or assisting with the altar guild.
Please email Bird for more information about this program
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