Beginning in January 2013, a new Bible Class Program for our children will be launched, after three years of preparation and development. There are several key persons who have made this possible and deserve our thanks, but for lack of space and fear of overlooking someone, thank you to each of you “off the record.”
“Stepping into the Bible,” written by PBL members for PBL families, is a Bible education and experience for children Age 3 through Fifth Grade. The program is designed to develop and strengthen a living faith in the hearts of our children by walking them into the settings, narratives and truths of the living messages of God’s Word! The experience will immerse the kids into the Bible stories as the hallway and classrooms are transformed into the stories to enhance the learning and help it to “stick.”
Divided into five age groups (Ages 3-4, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grades 2-3, Grades 4-5), each age level will be taught inside a Bible setting for four weeks. After four weeks, each age group will rotate to the next room (Bible setting) while another age level comes in behind them. At the end of 20 weeks, all five age levels will have been taught in each Bible setting; for the next two weeks, the students will be taught in other parts of the building while the classrooms receive a makeover and are transformed into their next Bible scene.
As you can see, the new curriculum does not follow a traditional 13-week quarter system. It has the children moving into new settings every four weeks, covering the entire Bible in about 6-3/4 years. Since children learn in different ways, various methods of instruction will be utilized, especially during the Wednesday Night Highlights each week. Teacher Binders will be produced for every four-week session, and the Binders will contain everything that the teachers need for that four-week session (and the materials in the Binder will universally apply the lessons to all age levels). Included in the Teacher Binders will be the Lesson Objective, Facts, Narrative and Reinforcements; the weekly Take-Home Sheet, Memory Verse and Review Questions. Along with their corresponding Resource Bin, every teacher will be completely equipped to help their students “Step into the Bible.”
There are now and will be in the weeks ahead multiple opportunities for every member to help out and get involved. Please respond when volunteers and assistance are sought, and please keep this entire endeavor in your prayers.