Teaching Plan for Preschoolers:
Purpose:
To inspire and encourage teachers of preschoolers to be intentional in their ministry
with preschoolers and their families through Sunday School. Preschool leaders will be introduced
to the fourth book by David Francis, “Connect 3 the Power of One Sunday School class”.
This plan may be used: for training Preschool Sunday School leaders and potential leaders during
a local church leader training event.in Regional and state training, to train leaders for state and
associational training events.
CONNECT 3
THE POWER OF ONE Sunday School class
Developed by Debbie Benson, Kindergarten teacher at FBC Marshall, Texas
PREPARATION:
Room Set Up
Create a focal wall by cutting the letters CONNECT 3 in medium blue cardstock. Take a trash
to treasure item (a large drink take out box from a local fast food restaurant. When open it
looks like a little tool box.) and flatten it back out to use as a pattern. Trace this container on
heavy brown paper. Trace over pencil mark with a medium point sharpie to add detail and
edging. Cut out and set aside. Use a glue stick and adhere the CONNECT3 letters to the
brown paper cut out. If you are going to do this conference more than once, laminate this
shape with letters so that it will be re-useable. Place this on your focal wall. Place a table
underneath the letters for curriculum and handouts. Additional drink take out boxes, travel
cups, coffee house menus, flavored coffees, coffee cups will add interest and contrast to
your display table and overall look of the room.
Display the following resources:
Connect 3
Sunday School Curriculum for each of the three age groups
(including Spanish Speaking pieces)
Bible Teaching for Babies Leader Pack
Bible Teaching for 1s & 2s Leader Guide
Bible Teaching for 1s & 2s Leader Pack
Music and More Enhanced CD for Babies. 1s & 2s
Early Bible Steps
Bible Teaching for 3s – Pre-K Leader Guide
Bible Teaching for 3s – Pre-K Leader Pack
Bible & Me Learner Guide
Music & More Enhanced CD for 3s – Pre-K
Bible Teaching for Kindergarten Leader Guide
Bible Teaching for Kindergarten Leader Pack
Kindergarten Connection
Music & More Enhanced CD for Kindergarten
Set up chairs in three groups (semi circles if possible, or what works best for the room you
are in. Label one group “Babies – Two’s”, the second group “Threes – Pre-K and the third
group, “Kindergarten.” Place a tear sheet with this question written on it “When you hear the
word class, what comes to mind?” next to each of the groups.
PREPARE
Read Connect 3:
the power of one Sunday School class
For Procedure Step 1:Make a 3 signs out of cardstock to label the three groups.
Label one group “Babies – Twos”, the second group “Threes – Pre-K and the third
group, “Kindergarten.” Place a tear sheet by each group with a marker for response to
question. Write this phrase on each of the tear sheets,
“ What comes to mind when
you hear the word class?”
For Procedure Step 2:No
preparation needed.
For Procedure Step 3:Give
out Handout #1 Unit Overview and Leader Guides for
the age group
For Procedure Step 4:Give
out Menu Board 2-A, B, C. Locate information on age
grouping, child/teacher ratios, room arrangements, welcoming ideas, planning,
preparation, prayer, organization, from each age group’s Music & More Enhanced CD
or leader guide. Duplicate the answer sheet, MB2-D
For Procedure Step 5:Prepare
rectangle shapes with white cardstock. Print the
following text on the shapes: Home visits, Post Cards, Telephone Calls, Birthday
recognition, Attend events the preschooler is involved in, and Birth of a new baby.
For Procedure Step 6:Provide
each group a tear sheet and a marker for writing in
their responses.
For Procedure Step 7:No
Preparation needed.
For Procedure Step 8:
Prepare enough Handout #3 for each one in their group.
For Procedure Step 9:No
preparation needed.
For Procedure Step 10:
Prepare a Menu Board Tag for each conferee using
Handout #4.
Gather
Tear Sheets (for reporting group work)
Coffee shop theme related items
Fast food -take out boxes to hold handouts and or tear sheets
Scissors
Water colors markers
Masking tape
Pencils or pens
CD player and music CDs to play as conferees arrive.
PROCEdURES
I. Introduction
(10 minutes)
Step 1: Welcome
Welcome each conferee as they enter the room. Direct them to fnd the age group
they teach in. Encourage them write a response to the question on the tear sheet
located near their group When it appears that everyone has had a chance to
respond, read the question that appears at the top of the tear sheet,
“ What comes
to mind when you hear the word class?”Let
a member of the group share the
responses written. State that it really doesn’t matter what name the group goes by,
the important thing is that Bible teaching takes place.
Step 2: Introduction
Bible teaching is the foundation of the Sunday School movement. Remember the
frst Sunday Schools were begun for the purpose of helping poor children learn to
read and write. Their textbook was the Bible. The children not only had a life
changing experience by learning to read and write, they were able to experience
the
life-changing message
through the Bible.
Over the years the Sunday School movement has been tweaked to meet the needs
of people. Yet the primary purpose of Sunday School has remained the same –
helping boys, girls, men and women connect with God through His Word.
Share that
Connect3 the power of one Sunday School class,by
David Francis is
the fourth and fnal book in the 3D Sunday School series.
David Francis shares how
each Sunday School class can become intentional in connecting with people on three
levels. The three levels are Class, Community, and Commission. After reading this
book you should be able to determine at what level your class is functioning in. You
will also discover ideas for operating at a higher level. You will also be able to decide
whether you want to move to a higher level or stay at the level you are. Remember
each level has value that can’t be achieved on any other level.
II. Class: Connecting with God’s Word
(40 minutes)
Step 3: Class Menu Board
(15 minutes)
Remember your frst visit to a coffee shop? As you stood in line and listened to
others order did it seem like they were talking in a language all unto their own? “I’d
like a sugar free caramel machaitti vente, or make mine a low cal white mocha latte
with a shot of espresso.” Did it seem like everyone around you knew the “lingo”
except you? Just imagine someone coming to your Sunday School class for the frst
time. Would they understand the “lingo” you speak. Would they feel
comfortable coming back another time? Sunday School classes are designed to be
open groups. Open groups encourage people to join in at any point and feel
comfortable. Preschool Sunday School curriculum is designed with a unit overview
that connects each session of the month. Please turn to the Unit Overview page in
your age group leader guide. At a glance you can see how each session is individual
and yet common ingredients – Bible Truth and Concept Area- is present in each
session.
Distribute handout #1, Class-Menu Board. Tell
attendees that they will have 15
minutes to look over the unit of study for the
current month. Choose week one to focus on as
they fll in the information asked for in the
handout. Spend time in your group discussing
how this translates for this age group. As each
group shares be sure to remind them how each
session stands alone, but is connected to the
other sessions through the Bible Truth and
Concept Area.
Step 4: Order up - a class with a “latte” love
(20 minutes)
What makes up your favorite coffee drink? Maybe you prefer decaf, or maybe you
enjoy the shot of caramel or a dusting of cinnamon. A preschool class with a “latte”
love would include some basic ingredients to make it a favorite for the preschooler
and her parents. Invite each group to choose a menu board with ingredient listings.
Follow the instructions on your Menu Board for discovering the key ingredients for a
class with a “latte” love. You will fnd ingredients/resources on the table.
Sum up the importance of each of these important basics for a class with a “latte”
love.
Committed Caring Teachers
Age appropriate space, equipment and resources
Prepared
Prayer
III. COMMUNITY: Connecting with One Another
(30 minutes)
Step 5: Extra Flavors/Add Ins
(20 minutes)
Teachers of preschoolers are teachers 24/7. No matter where we are spotted our
children view us as “teacher”! This doesn’t happen overnight, it develops over a
period of time. Through the class experience that takes place and the “extra add-ins”
that is part of the Menu Board. Check under your chair for an “extra flavor/add-in”.
You can read this “extra” card or pass it a friend next to you to read. As the cards are
read allow for discussion.
Step 6: Brewing Care Groups
(10 minutes)
Care groups can take place in preschool.
Teachers become the care group leaders by
grouping the preschoolers for ministry. Let’s say
that your class has 15 preschoolers enrolled with
two teachers and one director. The class names
are grouped with each leader having fve
preschoolers of which to minister. Any prospects
would be grouped evenly with the
enrollment. Let’s get to “to brewing” and come
up with some opportunities for ministering
within the care group. Allow groups about 5
minutes to write ideas on the tear sheet
provided. Let each group report their ideas and
summarize the many ideas that resulting from brewing. Now were “perking”!
IV. COMMISSION: Connecting to the World
(40 minutes)
Step 7: “Commission”
(10 minutes)
You may be wondering how COMMISSION-Connecting to the World relates to us
who teach in Preschool Ministry. Think about who you have enrolled in Sunday
School as well as prospect names. What do you know about the parent, grandparent,
caring adult in this preschoolers’ life? Are they regular in their attendance? Have you
met them? What needs do they have? (Allow time for them to get a sense of who
they minister to.) Your answers to these questions can lead you to create a “Menu
Board” that will provide for mission opportunities to take place.
Step 8: “Menu Board – Today’s flavor MISSIONAL”
(20 minutes)
Ask each conferee to look over Handout #3 COMMISION- Connecting to the World.
With their specifc age group in mind, brainstorm ways they can be intentionally
missional in their approach to reaching preschool families who do not attend church.
Please be prepared to share one specifc approach and the steps that will be
necessary to be missional. Invite a group that has not spoken frst to begin
sharing their approach. Encourage the groups to write down these ideas for use in
their class/church.
Step 9: Everything on the Menu looks good, so what do I order up?
(10 minutes)
There are more opportunities for missional work than I can do within my class. How
can I order more than just one? This is where you will need to realize that even
when everything on the menu board looks tasty – it’s just not possible to order
everything at once and get the most out of it. Pray and seek God’s guidance and the
wisdom of other teachers in your class as to what to choose frst. It may be that you
are reminded of preschoolers in your class who are being raised by grandparents.
There may be a group of preschoolers in other preschool classes who are also being
raised by grandparents. (Here is where you can get more help by working together
as a Preschool Team!) This may lead to offering a workshop/seminar that focuses on
the needs of grandparents who are parenting grandchildren. To know their specifc
needs, prepare a survey that asks some basic questions that will focus in on concerns
or needs they face. Some sample questions could include:
What is the toughest part of parenting your grandchild?
Is this a short term or long term commitment for you and your grandchild?
What would help you the most as you seek to be both parent and grandparent?
Please share any additional needs or concerns.
The answers to these questions can shed light on other ministry opportunities to
follow up on later. From the information gathered from the survey, enlist the help of
trained counselors to design a workshop/seminar to address the needs.
Organizations (you may want to mention an organization from your region/local
area) would be helpful in securing qualifed presenters for this topic as well as
others relating to families. For further missional opportunity, make it available to the
people who live in your town. A great education minister once told me the best way
to reach the heart of a family for Christ, is to reach out to them during their time of
need.
V: Closing
(5 minutes)
Give each conferee a “Menu Board Tag”. Ask the conferees to think back to the
preschoolers that they minister to through Sunday School. What are some of their
needs? What are some of their families needs? Now think about what we have
covered today. On the Menu Board Tag, write out one idea that will help you in
being intentional in reaching out to this preschooler and his family. Close with prayer
asking for wisdom in ministry with preschoolers at the class level, for opportunities to
create the feeling of community in our ministry with preschoolers and their families,
and for the wisdom and discernment to take it to the next level and be intentionally
missional to better meet the needs of preschoolers and their families at their point
of need. May we be the “cup” you use to bring the life changing message of Your
Word to boys and girls at their level of understanding? In the sweet name of Jesus,
amen.
