Author Archives: Margaret Norris

As you begin your new school year with your children’s worship program, take a step back. What worked well this past year? What did not? Remember: it’s okay to pull objects or stories out of the environment that new students would need a lesson on before working with them. Even returning students can benefit from a “back to basics” start.

Also, reconsider the story response shelf. Open response items, such as blank paper and crayons, may need to disappear for a while. Guided reflection materials are an easier way to explore a story while becoming acquainted (or re-acquainted) with this process. Some resource books have story patterns in the back that allow copying for classroom use. These patterns can be reproduced for the first few weeks as new participants become used to story reflection.

Blessings, Margaret

Many churches have “children’s packets” to engage younger participants in the corporate worship experience.  One thought that came out of a recent workshop discussion involved further tying the children’s worship stories from “children’s church” into corporate worship.  How? Add a page to the children’s worship packets. These pages would be blank except for naming the church’s children’s worship center at the top.  An example title could be:  “Hands on Worship:  story reflection page”. The rest could be left blank, with the possible exception of a large blank square or rectangle to fill in.  Then, when a child is sitting in corporate worship, he/she could reflect on a past children’s worship story and sketch it out on the page. The storyteller during “children’s church” could talk about the use of these pages as a tool of reflection.  Letting parents know their purpose could further help these pages be used for story reflection. This process is further reinforcement of presented stories, is an undated resource page that can be refilled as needed, and is a way to provide another avenue to engage children in the Bible while in corporate worship.

Good morning, friends.  For many of you, the hardest part of guiding children in the worship experience is through the reflection activities that follow story telling.  I found an idea in Brethren House Ministries that could help in this area:  sequence cards.  I like this activity, because it helps children break down the story in their minds as they recreate it in front of them.  It also is a stepping stone to processing the story by children who need a new way to retell it.  Here are the directions given:  ” Cut a piece of construction paper in half lengthwise.  Each child will use one of these strips (4 1/2 x 12).  To divide the strip into fourths, fold it in half, then in half again.  Draw lines on these fold marks.”** I would have these strips pre-cut and as an option on the art shelf.  Before dismissal from story time, the storyteller may demonstrate this process to the participants.  These divided construction paper squares will look a bit like the panels in the Sunday Comics, which tell a story.  Their job is to tell a story, too:  to choose the story presented that day or on a previous day by breaking down the story into segments.  They then record different pieces of the story on the squares in front of them, either using words, pictures, or both.  If they need more squares, they may obtain a second strip.  If they wish, they may cut the squares and mix them up for a friend to figure out the correct sequence.  They may reflect on their favorite wondering question for their last panel. And, they may want to use the cut-up panels to make a book.

This activity is an open-ended exercise that reinforces Bible stories in new ways for the children.  It’s just another tool to add to the tool box of reinforcement options.

May we all be open to the treasure trove that these Bible stories offer.  Happy storytelling!

**Sequence strips are found in God’s Wonder-full World Learning Activities, Brethren House Ministry, St. Petersburg Fl., 1985, page 6.