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SSTN  # 18 - February 25, 2002

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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:

1) Veggie Tales Offer   
-> Easter Story cards
2) Inexpensive rewards/awards
3) Discouraged Teacher
-> Praise-Amations!
4) Explaining the Trinity   
5) VBS - Hallelujah Hop
6) How does rotation work?       
7) Ideas to incorporate into Baptism
8) Christmas tree to Cross
9) Need Zaccheaus Craft Idea   
10) Small church, large fluctuation in children
11) Veggie Tales
12) Large fluctuation in attendance

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1) Veggie Tales Offer   

Good Morning Sara,
Just wanted to drop you a line concerning an offer from downy fabric
softener.  Visit the web site at www.downey.com and you will get complete
details.  It may be something the teachers may be interested in who visit
your web site.

Love and peace,
Ahreita Griffin
Charlotte, NC

--from SSTN: Thanks for the heads up, Ahreita. I haven't been able to log
into the site. I hope the other teachers will have better success. ;o))
ysic, sarah <><

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The Easter Story - Cards 

10 Egg-shaped cards that tell the Easter Story - When the cards
are cut, colored and assembled, players can play Easter Egg Scramble and
learn the Easter Story! Reproducible so your whole class can make a set!

In the Curriculum section: 
http://www.christiancrafters.com/kt_kit.html 


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Ask your friends, pastors, and coworkers to "Get in the LOOP!" in SSTN:

L-eading kids to Christ,
O-ffering advice
O-pen discussion forum
P-roviding free resources.

Invite them to join. Point them to this page:

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2) Inexpensive rewards/awards

>Q: "looking for inexpensive rewards/awards  for our children...would like
to have >something that we can build on."

A: I saw craft fair item that might work.  Sun catchers were made from a
recordable CD, with 1) a hanger strung through a drilled hole at the top,
2) a patch or fabric iron-on attached to each side over the center hole,
and 3) charms or clear pony beads on strings hung from multiple holes
drilled along  bottom edge.  The final look was similar to a bright and
shiny Indian Dream-catcher.  It would look great hanging in a window from
suction cups or hooked over the curtain rod.

You could decorate according to age and sex of student, and pre-drill any
number of holes along the bottom.  Reward beads and charms could be
pre-strung on short lengths of plastic lanyard with a knot at the bottom.
(The artist used clear.)  Your students would then only have to insert the
un-knotted end into their disc, then making a single knot.


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3) Discouraged Teacher

hey all,  to the fine lady who has the wide age group and is getting
discouraged.  :here are a few thoughts:  First of all, the reason the
situation is getting discouraging may be because you are doing the work
your self.  parents need to be involved with their own kids learning.
Sunday school was started for kids without parents coming...it is like
trying to run a car without all the parts, of course it isn't going to run
smooth.  So, tell the parents you need their help and that what ever age
group doesnt have a group of volunteers to help for that week, those kids
will have to sit in church for that sunday.  this will not hurt them at
all.  I know, cuz I had to learn to sit still in church services when
there no one to teach my age group.  Don't get discouraged, but do
perserver in having others share the load.  hang in there. It would help a
lot too, if you could get the pastor to back you up...praying for you, a

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Praise-Amations!

Remember those cartoon flip cards that you roll between your hands to make
them animate? With Praise-Amations, children will be excited to see their
praise cartoon mini-movies come to life as they roll them between their
hands. 27 Reproducible patterns to make and do with your entire class!

In the Curriculum section: 
http://www.christiancrafters.com/kt_kit.html 


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4) Explaining the Trinity   

My husband explained the trinity to my 11 year old by using an egg. You
have the (1.)shell (2.) the white (3.) and the yolk. But it takes all
three to make the one! Hope this helps.

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W.W.J.S.? Gospel Catchers

There's something much worse than cooties...it's called sin!  Now kids can
make Gospel Catchers rather than Cootie Catchers! A fun and innovative way
for kids to learn to share their faith with their friends!  Includes 4
Gospel Catcher patterns to make: the Colors of Christ (Gospel Colors), the
Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the Promises of God. Follow this
link to learn more:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/kt_kit.html 

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5) VBS - Hallelujah Hop

Last year our small church Sunday school decided to come up with our own
cirriculum.  Our theme was The Hallelujah Hop based on the 50s.  There is
a great children's music tape out with the same name- 50's songs with the
words changed (like Sister Act).  We based the lessons on the basic
beliefs of the Church.  Our youth did skits based on each theme every
night.  Our teachers were responsible for finding their own handouts,
worksheets, etc.  I was in charge of all the crafts for the week and
another lady was in charge of the snacks.  The older youth did recreation.
It worked out very nicely and everyone had a great week!!  Julie-Degraff,
OH

--from SSTN: Julie, if you can share the ideas with the network, we'd love
to hear more. ;o)) ysic, sarah <><

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6) How does rotation work?   

hi. i'm a preschool teacher from the philippines, and we have a
congregation of 300, but that's only for sunday worship. only a hundred
attend sunday school. how does this rotation method work? we only have a
handful of teachers and i must say i'm getting a bit burned out because
i'm the only one handling preschool. i can't even get an assistant teacher
to help with the "more energetic" kids.

--from SSTN:  this link will give you the info you need:
http://rotation.org/outlook.htm 

ysic, sarah <><

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7) Ideas to incorporate into Baptism

Gift your child with a Faith Tool Box. Get one of the big, red ones at
Walmart for about $10. Over the years you and your child will add
reminders of their faith like books; baptismal candle/napkin; small
crafted items; faith symbols like a shell, dove, lamb; pins; cards; a
video or photos of their life in the church.....

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8) Christmas tree to Cross

A rough cross can be fashioned from the trunk of the Christmas tree and
displayed during Holy Week. Before Easter service(s) attach chicken wire.
On Easter morning invite folks to bring fresh flowers to adorn the cross
symbolizing life.

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9) Need Zaccheaus Craft Idea   

thanks in advance.  Need asap.  Ages 2-6.
Ellen Stephens

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10) Small church, large fluctuation in children

We are doing something which I feel is very effective.  Different segments
of the class are geared towards different age groups.  I do not announce
that this is for this group or that group, but I target a certain group.
We have children that participate in the lesson guiding their friends
through memory verses, doing the puppets and the skits and running the
games.  (These children submit to training twice a week.)  The most
amazing thing happened.  What I thought was geared to the younger kids has
grasped the attention of the older ones and vise versa.

I have been the Children's Director at our very very small church for 2
years and there have been those times of discouragement.  God knows our
children better than we ever will.  I encourage you to seek His face for
His perfect will for His kids.

Toni in Michigan

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11) Veggie Tales

I am interested in the Veggie Tales VBS..who do I get in contact with?
Please contact me privately at morningfreedom@yahoo.com.

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12) Large fluctuation in attendance
   
My suggestion is that you pair up an older child and a younger child and
actually help the older to teach the younger. While they are helping the
younger ones they do two things, (a) they have to put the lesson into
words that the younger ones can understand, thus having to think it
through for themselves, and (b) they are learning to "serve one another".
This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but I keep
ending up in churches where they segregate by age no matter how small the
group. Having each child have a "job" helps too. Use the children as much
as possible to help you. If all you do is stand up front and tell the
story they get restless. Involve them with puppets (small inexpensive
ones), flannel boards each person has a character to add at some point in
the story so they have to listen to be able to add their character or
piece of the story), acting or retelling the story (this method gives you
a good concept of any misconceptions they may have of the story and it's
quite entertaining).Ask for volunteers to help you during the week to cut
out things for the craft, make room decorations, etc. Make a  "job chart"
for class time that involves passing out craft materials (glue, scissors,
parts,etc.), cleaning up, passing out snack, and helping the little ones
to sit quietly through the story. Cooperative effort and the need to be
needed usually keeps children coming and interested because they feel
important, needed. It also trains them to be workers and not watchers.
Dorie  Neenah,WI

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