Whether you teach in a private faith-affiliated school or you teach Sunday school once a week after church, you may need to know the finer points of making up religious lesson plans that accommodate the ages and needs of your students. Depending on how old your pupils are and how well-versed they are in the canon of your religion, you might want to create lessons that are easy to understand yet also build on knowledge they already have. Your lessons likewise might reinforce their faith and prepare them for sacraments that could be in line for them in the next few years.
If you are teaching very young pupils, such as those from kindergarten through third grade, your instructions may center on teaching them the basics. Prayers, creeds, the names of saints or deities in your religion, and other fundamental components can be taught to young students in a way that they can remember them later as they progress through the catechism instruction. You could even make learning these facts a game and have them play to see how many they can remember each class session.
They also may be expected to know basic movements such as blessing themselves or genuflecting when they enter the sanctuary. Because they may not know the difference between their right hand, which is used to bless themselves, or their right knee, which they bend to genuflect, they might want to watch and imitate you as you do these movements. They are then ready to participate in worship services.
Middle school, high school, and university students already know these basics. However, they may struggle with some of the guidelines of the church, such as the ones that frown upon premarital sex or using drugs. They might want to know why the church even cares about what they do in the privacy of their own homes. Your lessons may need to be geared toward tackling those issues.
Adults likewise might struggle to understand the principles of the church with which you are affiliated. They may want to know why the church does not condone divorce or why couples are encouraged to stay together even in the face of infidelity. These difficult questions might be answered by referring to church doctrine.
The most straightforward way to reach your students could be just to outline your points of instruction and to tackle each one individually. You could be as factual as possible. You also may reference catechism teachings to back up your own instruction.
Many churches have online resources that you can refer to as you make up the lessons. You might find sample plan outlines as well as references and footnotes to print sources and websites. You could even borrow examples to include in your own.
Devising lesson plans that are religiously based does not have to be a challenge. You might make it easier by using these tips. These directions also could help you reach out to people of all ages who otherwise might be unclear about the principles of the faith or the church with which you are affiliated.
If you are teaching very young pupils, such as those from kindergarten through third grade, your instructions may center on teaching them the basics. Prayers, creeds, the names of saints or deities in your religion, and other fundamental components can be taught to young students in a way that they can remember them later as they progress through the catechism instruction. You could even make learning these facts a game and have them play to see how many they can remember each class session.
They also may be expected to know basic movements such as blessing themselves or genuflecting when they enter the sanctuary. Because they may not know the difference between their right hand, which is used to bless themselves, or their right knee, which they bend to genuflect, they might want to watch and imitate you as you do these movements. They are then ready to participate in worship services.
Middle school, high school, and university students already know these basics. However, they may struggle with some of the guidelines of the church, such as the ones that frown upon premarital sex or using drugs. They might want to know why the church even cares about what they do in the privacy of their own homes. Your lessons may need to be geared toward tackling those issues.
Adults likewise might struggle to understand the principles of the church with which you are affiliated. They may want to know why the church does not condone divorce or why couples are encouraged to stay together even in the face of infidelity. These difficult questions might be answered by referring to church doctrine.
The most straightforward way to reach your students could be just to outline your points of instruction and to tackle each one individually. You could be as factual as possible. You also may reference catechism teachings to back up your own instruction.
Many churches have online resources that you can refer to as you make up the lessons. You might find sample plan outlines as well as references and footnotes to print sources and websites. You could even borrow examples to include in your own.
Devising lesson plans that are religiously based does not have to be a challenge. You might make it easier by using these tips. These directions also could help you reach out to people of all ages who otherwise might be unclear about the principles of the faith or the church with which you are affiliated.
About the Author:
We have all the resources to help you choose the right religious lesson plans. Get in touch with one of our experienced staff right now by visiting http://jesusinhome.com.