DISCIPLE ZONES UPDATE!
What are Disciple Zones?? Click here to find out!
Disciple Zones Update
November was busy as our children studied the story of Jonah and the Whale in Disciple Zones. We had some excellent discussions about God and the choices we make.
In Apostles' Arcade we used a variety of games to explore the story including Kid's Choices, a jump rope rhythm and word games. Sandy Schultz and Steve and Denise Kostka made it a fun and thought-provoking zone!
In the Bibliomax, the kids were able to view the story in the form of a Hanna-Barbera cartoon, with a discussion following and some work on events sequencing. Thanks to Beth Schumacher and Donna Reddy for their leadership in this activity.
Puppets were used to recreate the story in the Praise!Puppets zone. Many thanks to Jan Bruski and The Puppet Workshop crew for their dramatic expertise.
The computers were powered up for fun and learning in kingdom.com while the kids experienced the story with the help of some software including the Kids Play & Learn Bible and Bibleland.com. A big thank you to Sue Dawson and Stephanie Maytag for their guidance and help with this unit.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Please note that there will be no classes for Jesus' Place, and Disciple Zones on December 23 and 30. We will resume our normal schedule on January 6.
DZ Wants YOU!
Hey! Check out the DZ Schedule Board to see how you can help out with Christian Education at ECUMC!
There’s a plethora of opportunities just waiting for you including:
- Sign up to Shepherd for the 2001-2002 DZ year! You will be able to connect to the kids and help them grow spiritually. It’s a two hour commitment per month.
- Sign up to be a workshop leader in a Disciple Zone! Our new units will be The Lord’s Prayer; Creation; Jonah and the Whale; and Mary, Mother of Jesus. This is a four hour commitment spread over a month.
- Sign up to teach our little ones in Jesus’ P.L.A.C.E.(People Learning About Christ Everyday)
This is a two hour commitment each month.
As you can see, you can do a lot in just a little amount of time, and really make a difference in the lives of our kids. Please prayerfully consider serving in one of the above ways. Our kids need YOU!
We are now in the process of recruiting teachers for January through May. It is only a four week commitment to teach in a Zone! Please look out for You Can Count On Me's to appear in October issues of Opportunities or visit the schedule board in the across from Fellowship Hall. Winter/Spring Teacher Training Night will be on Thursday, January 10, 7:00 pm.
What are Disciple Zones?
Changes are underway at ECUMC to implement a new program for Sunday morning education. It is called Disciple Zones, and is based on the Workshop Rotation Model. This model has a proven track record in increased Sunday School attendance and church membership. It is user-friendly for both teacher and participant. The basic premise of this approach is that regular classrooms are transformed into workshops. At ECUMC, we will feature:
Acts II Drama Zone, Thou Art! Studio (Grades 4 - 7), Apostles' Arcade Bible Skills and Games, kingdom.com Computer Zone, Bibliomax Audio/Visual Theater, Creation Station (Grades K - 3) Art Zone, David's Oasis Music and Storytelling, Galilean Gourmet Food and Science Zone, and Praise! Puppets Puppetry Zone.
Students will arrive at the 8:45 or 10:00 hour and will look on the schedule board to see to which zone they will go that particular Sunday. Each child will stay with their grade level and have a guide or shepherd to stay with them from week to week. There will be one Bible theme taught each month. For example, September could be the story of Noah. Students would rotate through 4 different zones (one each week) to learn the story. Grades K-3 might go to Creation Station, Praise! Puppets, kingdom.com and Bibliomax, while Grades 4-7 might go to Thou Art! Studio, Apostles' Arcade, David's Oasis and Galilean Gourmet to learn Noah's story.
This model offers a chance to meet the needs of all learners and teach through repetition. Students will have the opportunity to learn from a variety of teachers while maintaining the consistency of a familiar face through the guide or shepherd. In addition to Disciple Zones, we will be offering adult Christian education at various times on Sunday mornings.
This new program will change the way we teach, not what we teach! We will have new and exciting zones to share the Good News of our Lord, Jesus Christ! We will strive to help our children grow in their relationship to God and in their discipleship to Jesus. Please take a few moments to fill out a Gifts-Sharing sheet. To be successful, this program will need the support and involvement of the entire congregation!
