Easter & Beyond: Peter is forgiven

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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At FUMC on Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings, our Christian education for children is based on the Workshop Rotation Model. This means that kids spend six weeks learning a particular Bible story, each week encountering a different kid-friendly multimedia workshop. When they are done they really know the stories!

In March, we are studying an Easter related story. Easter comes once a year, allowing us the chance to focus on a different aspect of Easter.
(View the last couple of years of Easter stories here and here.)

This year our focus is on Easter through the eyes of Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples. The big question to ask your kids:

What happened to Peter that gives us a powerful message
of what Easter is all about?

Jesus and his disciples share breakfast on the beach (John 21)
Jesus & his disciples have a post-Resurrection breakfast on the beach

Reading all the various parts of our story takes lots of jumping around in the Bible. (Good practice!) Read our story in John 13:33, 36-38 and John 18:15-18, 25-27 and John 21:1-17.

Here are the schedules of workshops for March

For Sundays at the downtown location…

Date Our workshops…
3/3 Enjoy worship and Communion with your family
Drama Art Games Cooking Video
Room 215 Room 212 Room 211 Social Hall Pine Room
3/10 3rd grade 5th & 6th grade 1st grade 4th grade 2nd grade
3/17 1st grade 4th grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade
3/24 4th grade 2nd grade 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade 1st grade
3/31 Enjoy Easter worship with your family!

What’s happening in each workshop?

  • In the Drama Workshop students will enact the story of Peter’s denial and restoration using shadow drama.
  • In the Art Workshop students will create a cut-paper collage using symbols from the story and the Japanese design principal of “Notan” (dark and light).
  • In the Games Workshop students will participate in a quiz game (using the game wheel) to reinforce their knowledge of story details.
  • In the Cooking Workshop students will create Peter’s Trail Mix and tell the Easter story with each ingredient.
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the live-action video The Gospel of John, enjoy popcorn (can’t have a movie without popcorn!) and explore the story of Peter’s denial and restoration.

For Saturdays at the Green Wood location, here is the schedule…

Date Workshop Activity
3/2 Puppets Wrap up the story of Joseph and his brothers by acting out the story with puppets.
3/9 Cooking Workshop Create Peter’s Trail Mix and tell the Easter story with each ingredient.
3/16

Update!

 Due to a plumbing problem Green Wood is closed this weekend.
3/23 Video Workshop Explore the story of Peter’s denial and restoration while watching the scripture come to life in the live-actor video, The Gospel of John.
3/30 Cooking Workshop Focus on the Resurrection story of Easter making “resurrection rolls.” Experience the empty tomb, just as the women did on the first Easter morning!

What did you think of doing six-week Rotations? Please, give us your feedback!

If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI

Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Jesus eats breakfast with his disciples an illustration by O. A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland from the Standard Bible Story Readers: Book 4 (in the Public Domain).

Joseph and his brothers and their family problems… what can this mean for us?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

A good idea for a New Year’s resolution (or for any time of year!) — include faith conversation with your family. Receive help in this endeavor by subscribing over on the right. Enter your e-mail address to have posts sent directly to your inbox. What could be more important than working on your faith journey together!

When kids experience Workshop Rotation Model Christian education, this means they are learning and having fun at the same time! Scroll down to learn more about the workshops we used for a “Rotation” on the story of Joseph and his brothers.

Joseph's brothers sell him to passing traders on their way to Egypt
Joseph’s brothers sell him to passing traders.

To kick off the new year (it was January) we returned to the Old Testament, and studied the sequel to our Jacob and Esau story from late fall. We heard about Joseph, the 11th (and the favorite) son of Jacob! Read about our story in Genesis 37:1-36, 39:1-5.

We spent two Rotations on the Old Testament account of Joseph. The first Rotation focused mostly on Genesis 37—Joseph, his brothers and the infamous coat. (The second Rotation focused on the story in Egypt.)

Joseph and his brothers is a familiar story of family struggles: favoritism, bragging, sibling rivalry, and brothers gone bad, but this is also the story of God having a greater plan. God’s love knows no boundaries. Things can look pretty bad, but God is never far away. Recalling Joseph’s story can help us get through our own difficult times.

Here is what happened in each workshop

  • Joseph's brothers react to his dreams
    Joseph’s brothers react to his dreams
    In the Drama Workshop students focused on learning the story sequence by hearing about the story characters and their feelings and by enacting the story.
  • In the Cooking Workshop students learned about “crushing” experiences—those that can break us down and can separate us from family and friends. They learned that good can come from what seems like bad and we are never separated from God!
  • In the Video Workshop students watched portions of the animated video Joseph King of Dreams. They compared the video to the Bible story. Did it follow the story correctly?
  • Handle bag puppets in use by kids
    The “brothers” puppet tell their father about finding Jospeh’s coat.
    In the Puppet Workshop students used “handle-bag” puppets to re-tell the story of Joseph and his brothers; how a special coat and strange dreams cause trouble in Joseph’s family.
  • In the Games Workshop students participated in a game that involved answering questions, singing, acting, drawing, and sculpting! A Cranium®/Trivial Pursuit® type of game. In the process of having fun, they were learning about story details.
  • Building "peace houses" for the Joseph story
    Building “peace houses.”
    In the Art Workshop one year students created a backpack clip-on to remind them of the story and it’s message. In another year, we turned Art into Wood working and students created “peace houses” to remind them of creating peace among their family.

Why are we doing different workshops for the different times we’ve taught this story? There are several reasons including:

  • We used the Rotation Model for a lot of years! Stories repeated every six years.
  • Our focus for a Rotation changed (we’ve gained new understanding!)
  • The person who led a special workshop (like wood-working!) wasn’t available to help us out.
  • We know our kids. We know what will, and won’t work with them.
  • We’ve got a new idea! Usually something we gained from Rotation.org!

Explore more Rotation Model goodness! Where many of the lessons described above can be found in their entirety. (And they are free!)

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Photo credits…
Copyright photos are from my archives.

Studying the Last Supper

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

At FUMC our Cool Disciples experience Rotation Model Christian education, as they learn about Bible stories and concepts through kid-friendly multimedia workshops.

In this season of Lent we are studying the story of the Last Supper. Since Easter happens annually, we get to spend time on a different aspect of the Easter story every year. In other years we’ve covered the Garden of Gethsemane, the Empty Tomb/Resurrection Appearances, Easter through Peter’s eyes, and the overall sequence of the events of Easter week.

The Last Supper is the last meal that Jesus and his disciples share prior to Jesus’ death. Read about the story of the Last Supper in Luke 22:7-20.

A frozen picture of da Vinci's Last Supper
From the Photography workshop from the last time we did this Rotation. These kids have now graduated from high school! They were in 6th grade in 2005.

Here is how we studied this story:

  • In the Art Workshop we discussed the celebratory meal that Jesus shared with his disciples. Kids decorated a glass plate; a plate to use at your next special meal.
  • In the Cooking Workshop students will help make and experience a “mini” Seder meal, the meal that Jesus’ and his disciples were sharing at the Last Supper.
  • In the Photography Workshop students will use a technique called “Frozen Picture” to experience the Last Supper (as painted by Leonardo da Vinci).
  • In the Video 1 Workshop (for 1st – 3rd graders) students will watch a video with puppets called How Can I Celebrate Passover? A Young Christian’s Introduction to the Seder.
  • In the Video 2 Workshop (for 4th – 6th graders) students will watch the live-action video The Last Supper.

This Rotation comes around again in 2018. I wonder what workshops we’ll use this year?

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Photo credits:
The Last Supper re-created, copyright 2005, by Alice Nuttall.

Moses: Let My People Go!

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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Hebrews are enslaved in Egypt
Let my people go!

Rotation Model logoOn Saturday nights and on Sunday mornings at FUMC our Cool Disciples experience Rotation Model Christian education. They learn about Bible stories and concepts through kid-friendly workshops that each focus on different learning styles.

In February 2012, we are continuing the story of Moses. Last month we learned about Moses from his watery beginning in a papyrus basket, to his dramatic experience as an adult meeting God in a burning bush. God wanted Moses to bring his people, the Israelites, out of Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus 3:9-10).

We saw Moses reluctantly agree to lead God’s people to freedom. And this is where we pick up our story for this month. As we will see, freeing the Hebrews from Pharaoh’s grip is not an easy task. It involves frogs, and gnats, and flies! And a mysterious “passing over” with protection provided by the blood of a lamb. Read about our story in Exodus 5:1-6:13, 7:1-12:42. (It’s another long one. Stay tuned for Here is another reading plan to break it into manageable chunks!)

This is where the “Schedule” used to appear — which grades were visiting which workshops over the course of this Rotation. However it was removed as it was sort of out of date 🙂 Our current schedule of workshops, for whatever Rotation we are currently on, can be found on this page.

For prosperity, here is what we did in each workshop for this story: (Be sure to catch pictures of the action!)

  • In the Art Workshop students will create comic strips that tell the story using their thumbprints (Ed Emberley style).
  • In the Cooking Workshop students will make unleavened bread and discuss the Passover and the Israelites’ departure from Egypt.
  • In the Games Workshop students will participate in a Bible Bowling game as they learn story characters, events and story sequence. Which team will win – the Gnats, or the Flies, or the Frogs?
  • In the Music Workshop students will learn a silly song about the story. The words to B-I-N-G-O never sounded like this!
  • In the Video Workshop students will watch portions of the animated video The Prince of Eygpt. I wonder how closely the creators of video follow the story as told in the Bible?

If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI

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Photo credits:
Line drawing of Hebrews enslaved, from the book The Big Picture Bible Time Line by Gospel Light. Used with permission.

Break down the Moses story into study-able chunks

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Moses as a baby is discovered by Pharaoh's daughterThe stories about Moses are sizable! They cover 40 chapters in the Old Testament book of Exodus! How should they be taught?

Using the Workshop Rotation Model, we have chosen to teach Moses in sections, beginning first with a Rotation that covered the early years: Moses’ birth and his float among bulrushes — to his burning bush experience as an adult.

Then we followed up with the sequel — a Rotation about Moses and the plagues on the Egyptians! We had conveniently planned these Rotations so that we could follow up what happened in the last plague (Passover!) with a Rotation on the Last Supper.

Read the first part of our story in Exodus 1:1-4:17. Yep, it’s a big story. Break it down; read a bit of it every night at the dinner table. Hey! That makes me think that I need to post a family reading plan. Stay tuned! Here it is!

For prosperity, here is what we did in each workshop for our Rotation on Moses – Birth through the Burning Bush.

(We used these Workshops in January 2012 and in January 2018 — we repeat stories every six or so years. )

  • In the Art Workshop (2012 & 2018) students created a variation of the ancient Jewish art form of micrography to create a burning bush scene. (Micrography uses very small writing to create shapes and designs.) Focus on the burning bush portion of the Moses story
  • In the Cooking Workshop (2012 & 2018) students heard the story about Moses from a portion of a video, What’s in the Bible, Vol. 2 Let My People Go. Then they made something to take home to tell the story of Moses – edible baby Moses baskets.
  • In the Drama Workshop (2012) students participate in enacting the burning bush portion of the story. (Watch for a possible video clip?)
  • In the Games Workshop (2012) students will play a review game modeled after Cranium, focusing on events in our story. This game involves using a life-sized game board!
  • In the Storytelling Workshop (2012) students will hear the story via a “visitor” posing as Moses from Bible times. (I hear he’s been growing his beard to look the part!)
  • In the Video Workshop (2012 & 2018) students watched portions of the animated video Nest Entertainment: Moses, enjoy popcorn (can’t have a movie without popcorn!) and learned story details.

Why are we doing different workshops for the different times we’ve taught this story?

There are several reasons including:

  • Our focus for a Rotation has changed (we’ve gained new understanding!)
  • We know our kids. We know what will, and won’t work with them.
  • We’ve got a new idea!

Explore more about Rotation Model goodness!

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Photo credits:
Illustration from an old story Bible, via Wikimedia Commons, is in the Public Domain.

Looking for a study of Psalm 23?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Our 1st – 6th graders at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI) do Sunday school in a novel way via what is called the Workshop Rotation Model. They learn about Bible stories and concepts through kid-friendly multimedia workshops that each teach the story from a different learning style. Here are the workshops we used when we studied Psalm 23. (You can see which Bible story we are currently covering here.)

A Shepherd leads his flock to still waters

Since we have studied this story a couple of times — we repeat stories every six or so years — there are multiple descriptions for some workshops. Where available, I’ve linked to the lessons we used. They live on in perpetuity at the website for all things Rotation: Rotation.org.

Check out this Bible passage on-line here. And peruse a growing list of opportunities to foster faith learning at home using this story.

  • In the Art Workshop students discussed the word pictures found in Psalm 23 and used watercolors to paint a visual image of the psalm. Link to the lesson.
  • In the Cooking Workshop students will learn about sheep and shepherds, focusing on Psalm 23:1. Design sheep-shaped sugar cookies. Will kids be able to recognize their sheep?
  • In the Games Workshop (2011) students participated in two games. First a relay race called “Follow me to the Lord’s House.” Then Pictionary to work on learning Psalm 23.
  • In the Games Workshop (2017) students participated in a Psalm 23 Olympic obstacle course.
  • In the Newsroom Workshop students will create and videotape a news broadcast on a portion of Psalm 23 (verses 4-6). Link to the lesson.
  • In the Puppets Workshop students will use puppets to act out using Psalm 23 as comfort in a time of trouble. In this workshop the focus is on verse 4.
  • In the Storytelling Workshop students will learn about sheep and the tough job of a shepherd, from a storyteller dressed as a Bible times shepherd. They will play a True/False quiz game involving herding “sheep.”
  • In the Video-Making Workshop students created background and characters with Legos and other materials, and then created a video of a Psalm 23-like story, using their created scenes.

If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI.

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Photo credits:
One of a set of photographs of a shepherd life, illustrating the Twenty Third Psalm,
created by the Photo Dept. of the American Colony (Jerusalem), circa 1900 to 1920. Access the original in black and white via Library of Congress, in the Public Domain. A colorized version via Waiting for the Word at Flickr.
Any other photos are copyright, from my archives.

Studying Psalm 100: The workshops we used

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Rotation Model logoWe use the Workshop Rotation Model to teach kids about Bible stories. We are helping transform their lives.

One of the stories we’ve taught is Psalm 100. That’s right – the whole Psalm! (Okay, so it is short, with only five verses. Hey! How about making it a project to learn-it-by-heart?)

Did you know that the fast way to find a psalm is to open up a Bible in the middle? Try it and see! (Or read Psalm 100 on-line here.)

Psalm 100 is about being joyful!

A child shouts for joy in a wave at the beach

Here is the way we are exploring Psalm 100…

Workshop Activity
Games Workshop Use remote control cars to run a relay to help learn Psalm 100.
Missions Workshop Learn about mission work and participate in a service project to pick up around the church grounds. I wonder what mission work has to do with Psalm 100? (Sounds like a good topic for a blog post! Updated: Read it here.)
Photography Workshop Discuss and take photos to ultimately create a photo collage of the seven imperatives in this Psalm: Make, Worship, Come, Know, Enter, Give, Bless.
Science Workshop Participate in science experiments about sound and make musical instruments to make a “Joyful Noise.”
Video/Music Workshop Watch portions of the video Sister Act and discuss the importance of praising God through music.

 

Check out some of the lessons we’ve used.

If you are in the area please join us for the fun learning at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI

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Photo credits:
Rotation Model logo, used with permission, has been slightly altered.
Shouting for joy by Michael, is licensed on Flickr under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0).
Any other photos are copyright (unless noted otherwise), from my archives.

Workshops for Daniel and the Lions

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

A lion waits for lunch

Daniel is a long story in the Old Testament so we are focusing on how Daniel’s habit of prayer helped him when he experienced a den full of lions!
Read about our story in Daniel 6:3-23.

Here is where the “Schedule” used to appear — which grades were visiting which workshops over the course of this Rotation. However it was removed as it was sort of out of date. 🙂 Our current schedule of workshops, for whatever Rotation we are currently on, can be found on this page.

For prosperity, here is what we did in each workshop for our Daniel and the Lions Rotation:

  • In the Games Workshop students participated in a quiz game using the life-sized board game and the game wheel. Spinning for your color determines how far along the board game you get to move, if the team correctly answers the question! Questions such as: If Daniel had decided to hide his prayers to God, how do you suppose he would have felt about himself?
  • In the Art Workshop students created mosaics of a story image, using paper “tiles.” A question they discussed: If you were Daniel in the lions’ den, what would you pray for?
  • In the Video Workshop students watched portions of the animated video The Roach Approach: The Mane Event. They enjoyed popcorn (can’t have a movie without popcorn) and explored questions such as: When was the last time you were faced with a den of lions?
  • Daniel is caught praying!In the Photography Workshop students “enacted” various scenes from the story. They “froze” so the scenes could be photographed. A question they faced: How did Daniel trust God?
  • In the Puppets Workshop students used puppets to enact modern-day situations where choices must be made. They discussed questions such as: Daniel was an old man by the time of this story. How important do you think it is that Daniel had years to prepare his faith?
  • In the Cooking Workshop students mix-upped a snack mix of “Lion Chow” – with each ingredient representing a portion of the story. They talked about issues such as: What does it mean to you, to trust God?

Check out the growing list of opportunities to foster faith learning at home using this story.

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Photo credits:
A lion waiting for lunch by Peter Harrison, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.