Video: Girls Playdoh creation (Mark 10:13-16)

(Let the creativity and application fly!)

Video: Boys's Playdoh creation (Mark 10:13-16)

WOW wk13, 2/27/2011 - G4/G5 Class

Howdy,

Hooray! This is the week 13 to wrap up our G4/G5 children Sunday school class for Spring quarter of 2011.
I'd like to thank all the parents for your support along side this "journey" - exciting and biblical-based learning for the boys and girls I hope.

To encourage the students, I prepared a sweet treat (in a brown bag) for the class; They can only enjoy the treat after lunch (只許午飯後吃). :) [天性, 孩子喜歡吃糖!]

Today's theme: Jesus blesses the little children.
Mark 10: 13-16
[10:14 對門徒說、讓小孩子到我這裡來、不要禁止他們．]

Main point is that Jesus loves everyone and YOU are important to Jesus - including little children regardless of their age, physical size, race, etc.

As usual, we practice 5W (What+Who+When+Where+Why) and 1H when reading through the passages;
E.g.,
What? : Jesus want little children to come to Him, and blesses them.

One of the passage about:
耶穌看見就惱怒 about the fact that 門徒便責備那些人", because 有人帶著小孩子來見耶穌.

Next, a hands-on activity - Playdough session, to allow Boys and Girls team to bring the story alive via hands-on crafts. Each team is given 2 cans of Playdough to work with.

They are to use the playdough to design and make figures, objects, to tell the story of Mark 10:13 to 16.
To encourage full participation, we ask the students to focus on, at least,
a) verse quotation
b) creativity
c) artistic rendering
d) application - give examples of what Jesus's teaching is about.

Here is the final Playdough 3D creation from Boys and Girls;
and

We'll show another video when the students are working on the Playdough later.

Memory Verse: Mark 10: 14b
"讓小孩子到我這裡來、不要禁止他們．因為在　神國的、正是這樣的人。"

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

LUNCH: Fried rice with egg and bacon.

Once again, it's been a joyful ride to learn the bible stories with your child.
Keep praying for them as they grow in the loving environment of your home with God's words nurturing them.

KLUP!
-Sam

OK< week 13, EOQ celebration for the Class

A bit of "sweet" reward for the entire Class. :)

Jesus bless the children

WOW wk12, 2/20/2011 - G4/G5 Class

Howdy,

Time fly!! Here we are - at the week 12 of this quarter; Next week is our wrap-up week.

This week's theme: Jesus accepts everyone. (isn't it ? as recorded in John 3:16) It reminds me of the passage: 約翰福音 3:16,
[神愛世人、甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們、叫一切信他的、不至滅亡、反得永生。]

Today, the main character is in Luke 19: 1-10 verses, where Zacchaeus (撒該) climbs a tree to see Jesus. (撒該: 稅吏長 (chief tax collector)、是個財主 - typically hated by his fellow brothers, since Zacchaeus was despised by the Jews of Jesus' day because they represented Roman oppression.)

So the Jews called Zacchaeus a "sinner"! (when Jesus decided to go to Zach's house... 他竟到罪人家裡去住宿)

Here we go : 5W1H (What-Who-When-Where-Why-How) practice as we go thru the verses.

Zack (as the students like to nickname ) serves as a chief tax collector, who represented Roman authority (or oppression rather) to collect money/tax$$$, in which Zack can easily dealt and contracted directly with the Romans, and make him a RICH man!

Next, we presented a short video clip on the Zacchaeus's account.
(You can always find a similar video at Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMMaG5Wn3U )

Now, a team work activity: a puppet show to bring the account alive!
Each Boys and Girls team is to brain-storm a short puppet show session, using the puppets (stuffed animals - see picture below) to act out the story.

To encourage full participation, the main score points include:
a) quoting verses,
b) every one has to act/participate,
c) some level of creativity in character play, etc.

For the Jesus role, it is not appropriate to use any puppet ; Instead, we have a "Cross" symbol to represent "Jesus" so that the students can act out the entire Luke 19:1-10 account story.

And Praise God: as 人子來、為要尋找拯救失喪的人!!

Memory Verse: Revelation 3:20
"看哪、我站在門外叩門．若有聽見我聲音就開門的、我要進到他那裡去、我與他、他與我一同坐席。"
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

It is an invitation from Jesus to accept anyone who is willing to 信他!
So that they 不至滅亡、反得永生。

Next week, we'll have a story/video presentation about Missionary and of course, quarter-end celebration! Hope to see everyone student. God Bless!

KLUP!
-Sam

PS: our class order is much improved! It may not be 有條不紊, however, most students are behaving great. Keep praying for your child.

Jesus WOW (class game action)

WOW wk11, 2/13/2011 - G4/G5 Class

Howdy,

It's week 11 now - firstly, Happy/Sweet Valentine's Day to you'all (2/14 tomorrow)!

Today, we get to see Jesus WOW (Walk On Water - 耶穌在海面上走) :)

In the account of Matthew/馬太福音 14:22-33), Jesus use the opportunity of high wind/waves while 門徒上船、先渡到那邊去, to teach them a lesson of "why did you doubt?".

It is Jesus who instructed the disciples to go on boat to across the other side of the lake.
In the midst of crossing the lake, "船在海中、因風不順、被浪搖撼". Hence the time to test out the faith!

We started out with basic 5W (Who-What-Where-When-Why) and 1H (How) practice as the students read through the passages. It is once again an essential training to impress the mind of students to think in 5 aspects while they are bible-study'ing.

Next, a short video clip is shown to the class - the clip is snapshot of a longer gospel movie, that portraits on the account of "耶穌在海面上走".

When it comes to "How is it possible to walk on water" part, students came up some wild guesses... :) Well - most of them are based on some media impression from the Movies, TV programs, that are trying to find a scientific explanation to it. Blessed are those who accepted it by Faith.

Now, time for a "Cross the Road Journey" action pack: using a remote-control to guide a toy car from one location to another.

We prepare a floor mat that mimic a local community park and each Girls and Boys team is to compete by remote-control a toy car (white sedan in the picture) from spot A to spot B on the floor mat within 3 minutes limit.

The idea is to trust Jesus for HIS guidance for your life journey. Even though sometimes you think that you are in control (remote-control concept).

It was a thrilling ride I suppose. Result?
Boys won! (somehow boys are more mechanically gifted???)

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:13) an encouragement to all of us!
" 我們縱然失信、他仍是可信的．因為他不能背乎自己。"

"if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

And thanks to Girls team who keep the promise to bring snacks to share with the class and they also help serve the lunch (sandwiches) today!!

Snack: Chedder Cheese Cracker!

KLUP!
-Sam

活水的江河來

Somehow a verse just pop-up today,

"信我的人、就如經上所說、從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。"
(約翰福音 7:38) How precious this promise is!!

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Week 11: Jesus walks on water

Miracle?
"耶穌在海面上走" (馬太福音 14:25)

Peter wants to the same - 彼得就從船上下去... and yet Peter did not make it.

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WOW wk10, 2/6/2011 - G4/G5 Class

Howdy,

How profound it is to hear the following words: (from Jesus, of course)
1) You are the salt of the earth (你們是世上的鹽)
2) You are the light of the world (你們是世上的光)

SO questions such as...
who are you? What is your purpose in life?

This week's theme: 馬太福音 5:13-16.

It's the metaphor from Jesus : Light and Salt.
We started out the class by reviewing the Beatitudes, which naturally brings out the Light and Salt verses. Once again, we presented a short video clip on Beatitudes.

Later, a quick Q-n-A session by asking what does light do? what do you use the Salt for?
Points in focus:
a) Light drives out darkness
b) Without light, there is essentially impossible to sustain any life on Earth.
c) God is Light - a true Light
d) Two purposes, at least, of Salt: to preserve and to add flavor
e) To maximize the effectiveness, both Light and Salt would need to "dissolve" itself.

Next is our action pack activity; It's about living out the "Light and Salt" in a board game style; Each Boys and Girls team choose 3 players to begin the journey. As they go down the path, they may land on "Faith Check" or "Community Service".

For the "Faith Check", they are to draw a Faith Card which presents a bible related question on the lessons we have talked from week 1 to week 10. It's similar to a pop-quiz. :) A few questions in the Faith Cards bank - 1) Name 2 gifts that megi brought when they visited Jesus. 2) Give two purposes of Salt as denoted in the Matthew 5:13 to 16 account.


For the "Community Service", we design several practical service calls, such as "Bring snack to class next week to share with the class", which happens to be drawn by "Girls" team.

SO the Girls are supposed to bring some snacks to share with the class.
Each team is to receive a "house block" play-set as they finish a circle around the Light-n-Salt journey on the board.

Since the lunch was canceled due to possible ice storm concern, we enjoy a longer session for the Light-n-Salt board game session.


Memory Verse:
Let your light shine before men, that they may ... praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16)

KLUP!
-Sam

Hope you'all survived the Ice/Snow storm!!

Good for enjoying a cup of HOT Java/Coffee?!

Sun is coming tomorrow!!!

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Prep: Salt and Light (week 10 theme)

Some links:

1) Salt n Light

2) You Are Are the Salt and Light

Week 9: team project, Beatitudes (prep session)

清心的人有福了．因為他們必得見　神!

WOW wk9, 1/30/2011 - G4/G5 Class

Howdy,

It's week #9 - we are more than half-way into the Quarter.

In this quarter, we focus quite a few on the book of Matthew;
Today, it's about the "Beatitudes" that Jesus gives to the crowd and his followers.

Beatitudes? Latin word: "Heavenly Happiness or Blessings". Or often referred by christian (Chinese translation: 天國八福) - 信徒稱之的山上寶訓內容當中
Let's re-cap: 《馬太福音》第5章第3-12節（和合本）

1. 虛心的人有福了，因為天國是他們的。
2. 哀慟的人有福了，因為他們必得安慰。
3. 溫柔的人有福了，因為他們必承受地土。
4. 飢渴慕義的人有福了，因為他們必得飽足。
5. 憐恤人的人有福了，因為他們必蒙憐恤。
6. 清心的人有福了，因為他們必得見神。
7. 使人和睦的人有福了，因為他們必稱為神的兒子。
8. 為義受逼迫的人有福了，因為天國是他們的。

人若因我辱罵你們、逼迫你們、捏造各樣壞話譭謗你們，你們就有福了。 應當歡喜快樂，因為你們在天上的賞賜是大的，在你們以前的先知，人也是這樣逼迫他們.


As usual, we guided students reading through the verses and focus on the 5W (Who-What-Where-When-Why or How). This is a sound practice to help each student to be able to study the scriptures with these 5 aspects.

Next, we show a short clip on a "Beatitudes" presentation using Power-Point slides, to highlight the concept of each "Blessing" as we learn from Jesus, for us to put into practice.

Since there are 8 different concepts (Blessings) recorded in the verses, I'd like to impress the students with "hands-on" doing a project using a White presentation Board.

Each Boys and Girls team has a presentation board (used in Science project at school) and two magazines and a local newspaper to work with. They are to find fitting pictures or words to cut out from the materials (Magazine and Newspaper) provided to bring the "Beatitudes" alive!!

Each team quickly gets into "brain storming" session to design each "Blessing" as noted in the Matthew 5:3-12. I have to admit that Girls seem to come up with much artistic rendering ability or skill than the Boys.


You as parents should be proud of your child - it is my prayer that each one grows in Spirit and in Size while they're going through the elementary school years.

See a video clip below - while students are presenting their work.

And Girls team won! (as you may already figured out - more artistic rendering)

Memory Verse:
Philip. 4:8 "If anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things".
"若有甚麼德行、若有甚麼稱讚、這些事你們都要思念。"

KLUP!
-Sam