Welcome to THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S NETWORK

**** A service of ChristianCrafters.Com ****

"For where two or three come together in my name,
there am I with them." -- Jesus


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


To reply, or to post a new topic:

Delete ALL TEXT that is NOT PERTINENT to your response before
posting your message. Please title your message to reflect the content.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


SSTN # 65 - May 27, 2003


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:


1) Class Evaluation Forms?
2) Five yr old who tells lies
3) Planting A Seed Ideas   
4) Jesus' Ascension
5) Buggy for Jesus Songs   


--> USA Patriotic Catcher


6) Jesus' Ascension   
7) Free, Gently Used Curriculum
8) Miracles of Jesus Lessons    
9) Planting a Seed

--> First Aid "Others" Kit

10) Rotation discipline & clicker training   
11) Elisha and Heavenly Host Army?
12) Armor of God snack ideas?
13) Intercessory Prayer...Great Commission Lesson
14) Tolerance, compassion...LOVE


<>< <>< <>< <>< TODAY'S SSTN POSTINGS: <>< <>< <>< <><


1) Class Evaluation Forms?

Can someone recommend a good source for the following evaluations forms -
1.  teachers' evaluations of the director and, 2. students evaluations of
their teacher
Thank you,
Cindy Fiscus, Hyannis MA

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

2) Five yr old who tells lies

I was a chronic "story" teller as a child, and even into my teenage years.
One thing that a Sunday School teacher once used with me, is every time I
would start telling one of my "stories" or a "lie" she would stop me as
soon as possible and tell me I want you to stop talking for a minute, and
than she would say "The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in men who are truthful." Proverbs 12:22. If the Bible
approach is not working, remind the child about the story of The Boy Who
Cried Wolf and how no one believed him and came when there was a real
emergency. Hope this helps!
Sarah in California


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

3) Planting A Seed Ideas   

Here are just a few ideas for the person who wanted suggestions about a
Planting The Seed theme. You could start with the Parable of a Sower,
related to Mark 4:1-20 and have the children make seed and decorate seed
packets out of construction paper. You can make them easily by cutting two
rectangles out of the paper one slightly large than the other, stapling
them down the sides, Then drop in a  seed of your choice, and fold the
larger rectangle over and tape in place. Write Seeds of Faith, Or Sowing
Seeds of Faith, or something else similar on the packet and color it in.
You can also make your own plant markers using fun foam shapes glued to
the top of popsicle sticks or tongue depressors. Or you can have each
child take home a Styrofoam cup full of soil, and put a seed in the soil
with some water, along with directions how to care for the seed later on.
MSSS crafts has a whole section of ideas for stories and otherwise on the
Parable of the Sower. After the Parable of the Sower, you can do the
following lessons in order; Parable of the Seed related to Mark 4:26-29;
and the Parable of the Mustard Seed related to Mark 4:30-34. Hope this
helps! Sarah in California

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

4) Jesus' Ascension

A great idea dealing with Jesus' Ascension is to use a large sheet of
butcher type paper and lay it flat on the floor so children can reach it
to work on it. Have children draw grass and trees at the bottom of the
paper, they can also draw flowers. Or you can use Easter grass for the
grass, and fun foam shapes for the flowers. If you are planning to glue
Easter grass and the fun foam shapes, I would recommend that you use a
large piece of cardboard, like a refrigerator box that has been flattened
instead of butcher paper. Kids can also color in water, or glue blue
plastic wrap to represent water at the bottom of the page. Let them add
animals, houses, or whatever else they want to the bottom of the paper to
represent earth. Then have children glue cotton balls near the top of the
paper, but not quite at the top. The cotton balls represent the clouds,
and if you put them not quite at the top of the paper, they will help
represent the heavens. Using a coloring sheet of Jesus (whether you take
it from the internet (which there are many) or you take it directly from
your curriculum, cut out the figure of Jesus, and attach it to a
construction paper strip that is the slightly longer than the cardboard or
butcher paper that you are using, cut a slit near the top of the butcher
paper or cardboard that is the width of the construction paper strip,
repea towards the bottom of the paper. Slide the construction paper strip
into the slots from the front so that Jesus can be moved up and down by
pulling on the construction paper strip. As you tell the story pull the
strip down and watch Jesus ascend into the heavens. Hope this helps! Sarah
in California


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

5) Buggy for Jesus Songs   

Here's a song that I created to talk about bee's and Jesus to go with a
fun foam bee art project. If you are looking for non-religious bee songs,
there is a good listing of them at:
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems53.html that and other insect
related songs can be found at:
http://www.coe.iup.edu/worldofkindergarten/BI/songs.html all of which are
easy for young children to learn the words.

Here are the words to the song I did, feel free to use it in any manner
you choose:

I'm a busy bee,
a busy bee,
a busy bee,
I am a busy bee,
because Jesus loves me.

I'm a grateful bee,
a grateful bee
a grateful bee,
I am a grateful bee
because Jesus loves me.

I like to buzz around,
buzz around,
buzz around,
I like to buzz around,
and spread the word of God.

Hope this helps!
Sarah in California

--from SSTN: The Archives contains a really cool "Buggy - Bee-liever" song
too. It's based on the Monkey's Believer song from the 1960s. Check it out
here:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/archive24_Mar02.html 


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


--> USA Patriotic Catcher

Kids will learn the answers to eight basic USA citizenship questions such
as, "Why did the Pilgrims come to America?"; What is the US Constitution?,
and "What does the First Amendment guarantee?". A great activity for July
4th! Kids can make it and take it home! Print out as many patterns as you
need for a onetime fee of only $3.00. Once you've purchased the pattern
you'll receive instructions via email on how to download it from the site.
Available only online. No waiting and no shipping costs!

Find the USA Patriotic Catcher at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html#usacatcher 


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

6) Jesus' Ascension   

Sharon asked about something for Jesus' ascension.  I bought a new metal
cookie sheet and covered it with paper on which I painted ground, sky,
etc.  On the back of a figure of the Lord, I put a magnetic strip.  As the
story was told, I moved a metal up the back side of the cookie sheet and
the figure went "up into the air" You do not have to have a new pan,
though.  If you cover an old one, it will work as well.  However, I also
use my pan to play Bible Millionaire.  I line the values up, lowest at
bottom, and up.  Using magnetized thumbtacks, the kids get to move up to
the next level as they answer the questions.

Helen Setser

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

7) Free, Gently Used Curriculum

Hello There
Would you please post a note for people in need of gently used Sunday
School Material. The material is Wesley and goes thru the ages of Toddlers
through adults.
My e-mail is
kkp371@cs.com
Love In Christ Pam

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

8) Miracles of Jesus Lessons    

I posted a Storyteller script and activity I used as part of our Miracles
rotation at rotation.org.

http://rotation.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=1206067121&f=4576068121&m=6946045772


If you have any questions or would like to know other miracles we used
email me at basaltone@lycos.com

Teri Smith


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

9) Planting a Seed

There is a whole curriculum published by the Presbyterian Peacemaking
Program, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) titled Sowing Seeds for Peace. There
are 6 sessions with crafts and activities for each. I've used it as a VBS
at 2 churches and will be glad to share additional supplemental materials
and ideas if interested in them.

Sabrina:) 
sabrina_evans@stgeorgenash.org

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><


--> First Aid "Others" Kit

Holds a Band-Aid, a stick of Gum, a Lifesaver candy, an Eraser, and a
Toothpick. Discover why, follow the link below to learn more:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/craft_first_aid.html 

Children can make it and take it home. Print out as many patterns as you
need for a onetime fee of only $3.00. Once you've purchased the pattern
you'll receive instructions via email on how to download it from the site.
Available only online. No waiting and no shipping costs!


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

10) Rotation discipline & clicker training   

Thank you all for your responses to my question about rotation discipline.
I especially appreciate the encouragement to be a shepherd, as I have
avoided doing that - in my mind, it seemed like a babysitter and I needed
a new perspective :)

About the clicker training - someone had asked how I give out the tickets.
Research shows that the clicking sound itself is actually received by a
more "primitive" part of the brain, and unlike speaking, does not have to
be translated by language faculties.  Timing clicking to the exact moment
of appropriate behavior is very important, as the brain ties the behavior
and reward together very precisely.  For this reason, the timing of the
click is important, but the giving out of the tickets is not.  I give out
clicks for some things that are not instantaneous - such as bringing a
guest, their Bible, etc., and some that are instantaneous - such as a
wonderful answer to a question, great acting in a skit, and more commonly,
kind behavior to another child, respectful behavior in a group, and so on.
  I simply point the clicker at the child while clicking. What has amazed
me, in my dogs as well as in the children, is how there is rarely
confusion over who is getting a click - they are all watching and
replicating the good behavior.
I started clicking to avoid interrupting the story, skit, whatever, for
positive discipline, and so I wait until the appropriate moment to give
out tickets.  The children always remember how many clicks they get, and the
other children keep them honest.

Less this seem too manipulative, I was very honest with the children and
told them what and why I was doing it.  I told them a little about brain
function, and that clicking builds "paths" in the brain to help make
respectful behavior come more naturally.  I don't allow discussion of the
number of tickets they have, the prizes, etc., with each other during
class time, and although they know the rewards are coming, I want them to focus
on the behavior.  I also don't allow the children to play with the
clicker.

For more information, the website is www.clickertraining.com.  I also
found that it works very well with the "Direct Instruction" method of teaching,
and there are several places on the web to read about that too.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

11) Elisha and Heavenly Host Army?

Hello....I am looking for a lesson on Elisha and the Heavenly Host Army.
Which is the scripture II Kings 6:8-18.  This is for children ages 3-6.
Any help or direction would be a tremendous blessing.  Please email any
ideas to jtm6@earthlink.net.


Thank you,
and God Bless
YSIC,
Tina

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

12) Armor of God snack ideas?   

Our theme for Family VBS is the Armor of God.
I'm looking for snack ideas to go with this theme.

Thanks
Lois

--from SSTN: Lois, your question inspired "BreastPlate Brittle". You can
find it listed in the Crafts-Yummy Devotion section at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/page6.html 

This snack idea is now part of the "Armor of God Series" at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/sermons.html 

Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

13) Intercessory Prayer ...Great Commission Lesson

Intercessory Prayer - Great Commission - Prayerwalking - Combined Lesson
Idea

Here are two resources that I used to put together a great lesson on the
Great Commission combined with Intercessory Prayer (praying for your
neighbors and for the world to come to know Christ) combined with Prayer
Walking (walking through your neighborhood or school, etc. and praying for
each home or person).  These two activities worked wonderfully together
and were easily done within a 45-minute time frame.  Don't forget, with
little ones you need to define the term "intercessory".

A.  Every Home For Christ is an organization that has a vision for
spreading the gospel throughout the nations.  They offer a World Prayer
Map for no cost (free!!!) and will send you as many as you need for your
Sunday School class, family or prayer group.  The map shows every country
in the world and lists the name of the country's leader, the total
population, and the estimated number of born again Christians living in
that country.  It offers tips on how to pray for those countries, personal
prayer tips, and a blank space on the map so that you can draw your own
neighborhood or school and pray intercessory prayer for those areas.  It's
a great tool.  Even my non-reader 4 year olds were fascinated by the map
and my 3rd and 4th graders couldn't put it down.  Contact:  Every Home for
Christ, POBox 64000, Colorado Springs, CO  80962, phone:  1-800-423-5054

B.  On Sarah's Christian Crafter's website there is a project for Easter
Egg Globe by Wendy Olson.  I adapted this project using Mark 16:15 for the
Great Commission.  The eggs are easy to blow out, it is easy to use simple
blue craft paint on them in advance.  Instead of using sponges to paint the
eggs, the kids used markers so we didn't have to wait for them to dry.
The markers showed up just fine on the light blue eggs.  I had a small
globe on hand for them to look at while drawing.  Then we used pipe
cleaners to make the hanger (tied into a small bow) and hot glued the
hanger onto the egg.  Even with 4 year olds, not one egg was broken
(although I had extras in case) after they were cautioned to be very
careful.  The kids LOVED THIS CRAFT, as did their parents, too.  Even an
adult class would probably get a kick out of this.

C.  You could extend this lesson into a longer period or an extra day by
then going on a prayer walk around the block.  If you see a house with
unkempt yard... maybe the person is sick or elderly or a single parent
without time to mow - you can pray for their finances and health.  If you
see toys in the yard... a family with young children - you can pray for
their children in school, stong family, etc.  You can notice many things
just by observing carefully and praying for what you see.

Keep up the good work Sarah.  Your site is a great blessing!
Sally in Wichita

--from SSTN: Thank you, Sally. Please remember me in your prayers.
ysic, sarah keith <><

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

14) Tolerance, compassion...LOVE

Re. the "Sunday School Teacher" who responded to: Tolerance, compassion,
acceptance, understanding, LOVE

I am speechless, well practically. I will remind you again, look at your
Bible. Where does it say, "When  someone is a really really big pain drop
them like a hot rock" or how about  this, "Put up with the child who is
being a pain for several years...but, if the school thinks he is a pain
and his parent's don't discipline him....well, give up...Sunday School is
a place of order" Can you not hear how ridiculous you sound? I realize you
didn't ask for advice...but, I will tell you that if you feel as strongly
about this child as your email suggests...I wonder if maybe you need to
take up a new ministry...one without the trying challenges of
children....I say that with kindness....they can zap your patience I
understand...but it's what they need.
I hope you take this in the spirit it is being written in....we have to be
"for the children" after all, they are our future...all of them...not just
the ones who are "good' and "easy to teach"
Kym

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

--> Is SSTN helping you?

If you are finding SSTN helpful to your ministry, then please help to
support it. Just one dollar per month will help to pay my expenses.

To help keep SSTN going and to learn more, go to this webpage:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/ministry_support.html 

Or, mail your US check or US money order to:

Sarah Keith <><
ChristianCrafters.Com
438 East Ilex Drive
Lake Park, FL 33403
USA

(In the memo section of your check write: 'SSTN Subscription'.
Please include your email address.)

Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

--Copyright 2002 S.A. Keith--All Rights Reserved. ----
Please read the complete copyright information at ChristianCrafters.Com.
You will find the link at the bottom of the homepage.

SSTN Posting Guidelines:  
http://christiancrafters.com/SSTN_guidelines.html 

Publication in any medium, commercial or noncommercial, is strictly
prohibited without prior written permission. SSTN has contributors from
all over the world who share their ideas. If you reprint any of the ideas
from SSTN or ChristianCrafters.Com in any medium (websites, magazines,
newsletters, etc.), you must contact the submitter, and
ChristianCrafters.Com for reprint permissions. Any materials used must
also include the submitter's name and where the ideas were gleaned from.
The opinions expressed in the SSTN e-Newsletter are not necessarily
endorsed by ChristianCrafters.Com. SSTN reserves the right to edit and or
exclude information from the SSTN e-Newsletter.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

SUBSCRIBE--UNSUBSCRIBE - and Change of Address directions:

--To SUBSCRIBE or to add a new email address to the SSTN e-Newsletter:
Go to the 'Sunday School Network' page at: 
http://www.ChristianCrafters.Com/page3.html 
If you are subscribing your friends, make sure you have their permission.

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE, see below:

Return to the Archives List