Using the Theme Throughout the Year

USING THE THEME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
2004-2005

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”
ROMANS 12:2

Symbol: world/globe with a cross on it
Icon: Transfiguration

Opening Day – decorate classrooms and bulletin boards using the theme. Borders and decorations can be found at a teacher’s store or can be made by you or the children. Each child’s name or picture can be placed around a world map or globe as they enter class on the first day.

Incentives – Using a chart with each child’s name on it, place a sticker for each behavior you are trying to encourage (attendance, being on time, memorization, class participation, attending extra services, etc.) When this chart is filled up, reward the child with a small gift or use a points system to save up for bigger gifts or outings. For inexpensive gift items check out U.S. Toys (1-800-255-6124 – (www.ustoy.com) or Oriental Trading Company (www.oriental.com).

Creative Festivals – see downloadable lesson plans provided by AODCE (www.antiochian.org/christianeducation/)

Celebrate Baptism Days (the process of transformation begins at our baptism) – Put together a list of students’ baptism dates (you can get this from the church records). The week before each date send a card to the student and offer prayers or holy bread at the Liturgy in their honor. Offer suggestions to their families on how this special day can be celebrated – invite their godparents to Liturgy, carry a lighted candle up to Communion, have a party, bake a cake, give a gift, look at pictures or watch the video of their baptism day.

Lives of the Saints - Celebrating the feast day of any of the saints can be an opportunity to study their life and see how they did not conform to this world. A skit or play would be a fun way to learn about their life.

End of the Year/Recognition Day – Use the theme as the central part of the certificate or award being given. Decorate certificates and scrapbooks with the cutouts from the bulletin boards. Any gifts given to teachers or students can reflect this year’s theme.

“TRANSFORMING” ANNUAL ACTIVITIES

Halloween – transform it into a celebration of the saints! Children can dress up as a saint, put on skits of their life, and create carnival type games that tie into a specific
teaching about their life.

Thanksgiving – transform what is usually an individual family celebration into a parish-wide celebration! On a date before the Advent Fast begins, invite the whole parish to a traditional Thanksgiving meal prepared by the children. Each class, under the supervision of their teacher and parents, can shop for, prepare, cook and serve a specific item on the menu. Tables can be decorated by one class, set by another, and entertainment provided by another. This event is a great time to collect canned goods for Thanksgiving baskets to be delivered to the less fortunate.

Christmas – transform your celebration for the kids in keeping with the “reason for the season”. Use only scripture-based carols, invite St. Nicholas to the party instead of Santa, and instead of giving them gifts ask them to bring a gift for a less fortunate child. A study of the original meaning of many of the Christmas symbols can provide the content for your pageant/play or activities for the celebration following.

Pascha – transform the agape meal by reviving the custom of families bringing their basket to church on Pascha to be blessed and shared. The food that goes into the basket is what the family has been fasting from during Great Lent.

Baking Holy Bread – transform the wheat into bread, which will be transformed into the Body of Christ! Each class can take a Sunday to offer the bread for the health of, or in memory of, someone they all know.

Godparent’s Sunday – transform a normal Sunday into “Godparent’s Sunday”. Have godchildren invite their godparents (and godparents invite their godchildren). Celebrate this special relationship by receiving Communion together. Children can make a gift or card to give to their godparents. Activities can be planned during a luncheon or coffee hour following liturgy.

These ideas are only suggestions to tie in the theme with Church School activities for the year. If you have an idea that can add to this, please share it with the rest of us! E-mail the Christian Education office at AODCE@aol.com