Printed Resources
Published Resources: General
The sources for items mentioned in the published resource section are as follows, unless otherwise noted:
- Antiochian Bookstore (201) 871-1355
- Orthodox Christian Education Commission
(OCEC) (1-800) 464-2744; www.orthodoxed.org
TOPIC: DIVINE LITURGY
A unit of study on the Divine Liturgy can be easily accomplished over several weeks by exploring in greater detail what the margin notes offer in The Divine Liturgy for Children, the activities of companion The Divine Liturgy Activity Book, and the Divine Liturgy segment of the Teaching Pics.
1) Teaching Pics.
For Creating/Grade-Spanning
Forty 8 x 10 photos in the categories: Divine Liturgy, Sacraments, Great Fast and Pascha, and Feastdays comprise this package. On the back of each is a description of the photo and suggested activities in regard to the lesson being taught with the photo. These are useful additions for adult classes as well. Antiochian Bookstore ($35.00).
2) The Divine Liturgy for Children, and The Divine Liturgy Activity Book.
For Creating/Grade-Spanning
The first book offers the words of the service, and margin notes telling the children what to listen for, look for and think about. Line art illustrates the book. The Activity Book offers activities for preschoolers as well as middle and high school students, although not so coded. The Divine Liturgy books are $5/apiece, from the Antiochian Bookstore, and sometimes sold only in sets.
3) The OCEC fifth grade text, Our Life in the Church
For Creating/Grade-Spanning as well as Read/Grade-Specific
This is an additional resource; student book $7.50, teacher book $8. Another resource is the OCEC optional third grade text, We Worship God in Church, student book $7.50, teacher book $8, both available from the Antiochian Bookstore.
TOPIC: CONFESSION
For a unit on Confession, the books "Making Things Right," and "If We Confess Our Sins" can be used for younger, and older children respectively. The "Teaching Pics" can add the dimension of illustration to the unit, as there Confession pics in the Sacraments category with
suggested activities as well.
1) Making Things Right.
For Creating/Grade-Spanning
It is good to focus on repentance and the Mystery of Confession at least once a year. The twelve lessons of Making Things Right are well constructed and God's abiding love is woven throughout. For Grade 2 but adaptable to all elementary. Available from the Antiochian Bookstore. The prices are: student book $5, teacher book $10, and activity packet $3.
2) If We Confess Our Sins
For Creating/Grade-Spanning
For grades 5-7, offers an overview of the Christian life and the Mystery of Confession, self-examination guide, and Bible readings; available from the OCEC for $3. For either of the Use with the Sacraments segment of Teaching Pics.
TOPIC: ICONS AND FEASTDAYS
1) Come Bless the Lord Icon Packet.
For Creating/Grade-Spanning
The forty glossy colored icons are printed on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper and come with an explanation of the event or person depicted. The major feastdays are included. These are useful for framing when the feastdays are celebrated, and are a valuable supplement to any educational effort. The packet is available through OCEC for $15.
TOPIC: DOCTRINE
1) A Visual Catechism of the Orthodox Church by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos.
For Creating/Grade-Spanning
The book provides the basic tenets of Orthodoxy from creation to the Church in 58 pages each with a sentence and full-color illustration. The second part of the book gives a fuller analysis of the 58 statements, and is suitable for adult classes. The book is a handy general resource and has been used with children who have had no prior classroom introduction to the faith to help them "catch-up" with their classmates. Available at $16 from: St. Nikodemos the Hagorite Publication Society, (724) 375-7867.
Published Resources: Age-Specific
HIGH SCHOOL
1) The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
For Creating/Grade-Specific
The first text of the new OCEC series offers firm knowledge of the Orthodox faith, and encourages spiritual maturity. It is comprised of four units of six lessons each that cover doctrine, church history and scripture, spirituality and morality, and liturgy. It is very easy to use with a teacher manual that offers scripted lesson plans, all required worksheets and visual aids. In addition, the teacher manual offers paragraphs of background reading to help educate the presenters, or to supplement the lessons presented to an adult class. The student book is written in two parts. Part I offers 24 four-page lessons with illustrations and graphics that invite participation. Part II contains four resource sections: 1) "Feast Days and Icons," 2) "Saints," 3) "Briefs," and 4) "Glossary." The student book is $15.95, teacher book, $21.95, available from the Antiochian Bookstore.
2) "Interim Curriculum Units"
Ready/Grade-Specific
Several units of seven lessons each called "interim curricula," have been produced over the last few years, in many cases created by using booklets for vacation church and modifying the lessons. They cost about $6 each. Some have a bound booklet to be purchased at an additional cost. The units arelisted at the right. Consult the OCEC for further information.
3) Celebration: Feasts and Holy Days (not shown).
Ready/Grade-Specific
The liturgical year is explored in this work that offers interesting lesson plans and cooperative learning structures. Also appropriate for adults. Teacher book, $10., student book, $8.75, available from the Antiochian Bookstore.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
1) "Interim Curriculum Units"
Ready/Grade-Specific
Several units of seven lessons each called "interim curricula," have been produced over the last few years, in many cases created by using booklets for vacation church and modifying the lessons. They cost about $6 each, with a possible bound booklet at an additional cost. The units are listed to the right. Consult the OCEC for further information.
PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN
1) A Way of Life
Ready/Grade-Specific as well as For Creating/Grade-Specific
Written as a homeschool program to teach Orthodoxy to preschool children, the extensive book offers instruction, stories, and coloring pages (that include the icons of major feastdays) that take the child through the liturgical year, the Divine Liturgy, and all age-appropriate aspects of the faith. The book presents lessons that follow the liturgical year; however, units of study can be easily comprised as well. Available from the OCEC for $18.
2) The Icon Book (not shown).
For Creating/Grade-Specific
The coloring book is an educational resource for preschool and higher grades as it offers line art of 25 icons, and explanations of each. Available from the Antiochian Bookstore.